This is a fruit-driven Chardonnay from Barossa Valley. Despite no oak treatment, the wine is plump and buttery due to the process of Malolactic fermentation. Put simply, this is where the tart-tasting malic acid, naturally present in grape must, is converted to softer-tasting lactic acid, thus giving a fuller mouth-feel.

To view product page and for more details, click on Earthworks Chardonnay.

After a Morning in the Barossa on Tuesday, John McDonnell of Wine Australia kindly donated this ultimate guide to the valley and its people and we promptly threw it up as a prize on Wednesday morning.

Ebenezer is the increasingly famous sub-region of the northern Barossa where Ben Glaetzer sources the grapes for the increasingly infamous Amon-Ra.

There were a modest five correct answers, one of whom was disqualified for having already scooped a book from the tasting himself. (Well, actually Lar Veale was disqualified for bringing The Shamen and Ebeneezer Goode into things, which we would all rather forget!)

So, from four, Damian Bannon was drawn from the hat this lunchtime.

Congratulations Damian, we’ll be in touch for your address and get that out to you. Enjoy what is a beautiful book.

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of attending the morning Trade tasting of the previously posted Evening in the Barossa, hosted by Wine Australia and Toby Barlow of St. Hallett Wines.

Six whites and seven reds were laid out in front of us, as Toby took us on a verbal and visual tour of the Barossa, around ten different wineries and a breadth of styles that would dispel in an instant any myth that Australia doesn’t “do” terroir.

The Barossa “region” encompasses both the Barossa Valley, famous for it’s Shirazes, and the Eden Valley, with it’s trademark Rieslings. However, both regions are about so much more, with Viognier, Pinot Gris and Semillon featured in the whites on show, and a range of stunning old vines from Grenache to Touriga Nacional (!) contributing to the series of red blends.

Now here’s the geeky (but fascinating) low-down on the land: the whole region in no more than 30km north to south and 25km east to west, encompassing both of the famous valleys. Barossa Valley itself follows a classic topography, with the valley floor varying by a maximum of 100 metres and averaging 274 metres above sea level. The Eden Valley, meanwhile, right next door to the east, has elevations ranging from 380 to over 600 metres, with most of the wine-growing located in the higher sections - this would explain how you can get crisp, steely Rieslings from vineyards only a literal stone’s throw from the powerhouse, deep red Shirazes we’re more familiar with from the Barossa Valley.

More than that, both valleys benefit from hugely diverse soil and rock structures, meaning even grapes grown in the same vineyard can add different attributes to a final wine. Combined with pockets of priceless and jealously guarded old vine plots, many over 100 years old, you can see why the Barossa is capable of stunningly complex, long-lived wines, and a range of diverse styles within.

Now, giveaway time!

John McDonnell of Wine Australia has very kindly donated a copy of “Barossa Wine Traveller” to the Curious Blog, a personal tour guide to the places, characters and flavours of the Barossa, written by Aussie wine authorities Tyson Stelzer and Grant Dodd. It’s a beautifully descriptive and pictoral tour of this fabulous region, bursting with a passion and deep love of this fantastic region. (It’s the next best thing to tasting the wines themselves, and I guarantee will have you reaching for Barossa on your next visit to a wine store!)

To win, simply answer the following question in the comment box below (hint: the answer’s in the question!):

From which sub-region of the northern Barossa Valley does Ben Glaetzer source his Shiraz for the iconic Amon-Ra?

A winner will be pulled from the hat on Friday of this week from the correct answers below.

Final and sincerest thanks to John McDonnell of Wine Australia and Toby Barlow of St. Hallett’s. If you missed the tasting last night, get yourself to the next Wine Australia event, John always puts on a great show.

Heartland Stickleback is part of the portfolio of masterful winemaker Ben Glaetzer. This rich, savoury red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Dolcetto and Grenache sourced from Limestone Coast and Langhorne Creek in South Australia.

To view product page and for more details, click on Heartland Stickleback Red.

Happy Australia Day folks! The 26th of January is the official national day of Australia, which commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788.

We’ve got a lot to thank Captain James Cook for. The world just wouldn’t be the same without the Boomerangs, Vegemite (Marmite) and Jason Donovan. Bless.

To celebrate, we’re knocking 10% off our Australian range until 9.30am tomorrow (Wednesday) morning for anyone who uses the voucher code “australia” at checkout. As well as that, you can now view our most recent tasting video. The Aussie one of course!

Did-you-know?

• Australia’s first commercial vineyard and winery were established in the early 1800’s
• Australia claims some of the oldest vines in the world dating back to the 1850s
• Over 60 designated wine regions produce in excess of 100 different grape varieties
• By volume Australia is the fourth largest wine exporter in the world, totaling 805 million litres (A$3 billion) y/e July 2007
• The United Kingdom is currently Australia’s number one export market by both volume and value.
• Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are the top 3 varieties crushed.
• Australia has world renowned wine research and educational facilities.
• Influenced by European and Asian immigrants, Australia’s food and wine culture encourages innovation and excellence.
• Today’s wines express the enormous diversity of the people who craft them and the unique regional characteristics they express.

Information used with permission of Wine Australia. Click here to view our Regional Heroes series.

Respected wine critic and vigneron James Halliday has a career that spans over forty years, but he is most widely known for his witty and informative writing about wine. A book for anyone captivated by Australian wine, James Halliday’s 2010 edition of The Australian Wine Companion is a must have.

Recognised nationally as the industry benchmark, The Australian Wine Companion is packed with tasting notes for 5884 wines, profiles of 1467 wineries and expert rankings of wineries throughout Australia. We felt like kids on Christmas morning when we got our hands on this book.

I found it easier to read, browse and search through than Robert Parker’s Wine Buyer’s Guide, which I would also recommend for any wine enthusiast, although he’s not just covering Australia, so naturally there is more information there.

A brief overview of four wineries (with a few featured wines) in the Curious range that attained the coveted 5 star rating:

Glaetzer Wines (Barossa Valley)

Amon Ra Unfiltered Shiraz 2007 - 96 points “…complex, compelling and certainly representative of the very essence of the region.”

Langmeil Winery (Barossa Valley)

Fifth Wave Grenache 2006 - 94 points (just in and available to order by contacting us) “…has a lot of personality, spice and depth; a surprising amount for a pure grenache; long and juicy.”

Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - 93 points “Rich, generous, luscious cassis, blackcurrant, dark chocolate and cedar all interwoven; ripe tannins on a balanced finish.”

Keith Tulloch Wine (Lower Hunter Valley)

The Kester Hunter Valley Shiraz 2003 - 94 points (This review is available in the 2008 Companion) “Very much in Keith Tulloch style; medium bodied, but with fruit ripeness perfectly judged; an array of predominantly red fruits, fine tannins and oak”.

Fonty’s Pool Vineyards (Pemberton)

Fonty’s Pool Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2008 - 94 points (click here to view 2007 vintage) “Bright floral aromas lead into a very intense palate, with a strong citrussy core thrusting through to the lingering finish; a wine of remarkable purity.”

Other highly rated wines from wineries just short of the 5 star rating:

Barossa Babe 2004 (94 points)

Dexter Pinot Noir 2007 (92 points)

Rockbare Chardonnay 2008 (89 points)

Cascabel McLaren Vale Tempranillo 2008 (88 points)

Old vines generally make better wines. With age, yields naturally decline leading to more concentrated grapes that can result in amazingly complex wines. Australia’s Barossa Valley consists of the world’s oldest surviving pre-Phylloxera Cabernet and Shiraz vineyards. The Aussie’s were fortunate enough to avoid the kind of devastation Europe endured in the late 19th century from the Phylloxera plague.

The story of the Old Vine Gardens in the Barossa has somewhat of a chequered past but now possesses an optimistic future. Their initial survival is a tribute to the pioneering grape growers, however, as these precious and rare Old Vine Gardens were being grubbed into extinction in the 1980s. The introduction of the “vine pull scheme” after the wine industry suffered a significant decline and growers needed help to get them through troubled times, saw many Old Vine Gardens sold off and bulldozed.

If it was not for some like minded Barossans who promoted their uniqueness in the world of wine and were able to showcase the virtues of these wines that were made from these Old Vine Gardens, almost all would have been lost.

The oldest surviving pre-Phylloxera vines belong to Penfolds and Langmeil respectively. All at Langmeil are convinced the best way to ensure the unique qualities of the Old Vine Gardens is to continue to make and showcase wines from these vineyards. Hence the Langmeil Old Vine Garden wines are vinified and bottled separately to produce wines that are as true to vine and vineyard as they are unique.

As the wine trade, media and consumers continue to appreciate and understand what the Barossa and other local regions can offer the world with wines made from old vines, there is hope that the absolute rareness of these wines will also be valued. Very few other regions can offer pre-Phylloxera vines grown on their own roots that not only survive but continue to thrive. This is true history in a glass that is irreplaceable and non-replicable. To that end, Langmeil is part of a movement to create an official register of Old Vine Gardens.

For an old vine wine, click here to view Langmeil’s Orphan Bank Shiraz from 100-140 year old vines, and keep on the look out for a new arrival to the Curious range. The Freedom 1843 Shiraz from 165 year old vines is on its way.

Information sourced from Langmeil’s “The old Vine Garden Release”. Picture obtained from www.langmeilwinery.com.au

Barossa Valley - Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre (GSM)

GSM’s are all about hedgerow fruit- blackberry, mulberry, blueberry - as well as savoury tones that cover licorice, tar, leather and cloved spice.  These two and three varietal blends display a rich tapestry of flavours and textures.

Not to be missed: Langmeil Three Gardens GSM. The blend of 43% Shiraz, 37% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre shows great balance and integrated structure, with full, ripe fruit, supported by firm but fine tannins. Flavours of cherries and blackberries dominate, with hints of chocolate and spice.

James Halliday’s 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 Australian Wine Companion has rated Langmeil Winery five stars, placing it amongst the very top echelon of Australian Wineries.

Adelaide Hills - Sauvignon Blanc

There is something wonderfully unpretentious about Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc - the flavours are so zingy and vibrant. Fresh, fragrant and aromatic, yet crisp and perfect on a summer’s day with fresh oysters and prawns. Delicious!

Clare Valley - Riesling

With great dollops of lemon zest and pithy sherbet, Clare Valley Riesling delivers a jolt of teeth jangling acidity when young.  As it ages, complex characters of minerality and white pepper spice emerge.

Eden Valley - Riesling

Eden Valley Rieslings really come into their own with bottle age.  Along the way, signature flavours of lime zest are always prominent, along with a delicate textured finish that many liken to talcum powder!

Not to be missed: Cascabel Riesling. “Initial sniff, it seems like textbook limes.  Give it a breathe, and you realise how complex, but austere, sullen and reserved it really is, and how much it will eventually give.  It smells like a bowl of citrus and it made me salivate for a gin and tonic. It’s incredibly tight, with pithy citric tannin and that slaty dryness of its terroir.  Give it 20 years if you wish. 94 points” - Philip White, The Adelaide Advertiser ‘Top 100 Wines’.

Click on ‘Australia’s Regional Heroes’ tag below, to view previous posts.

Content used with permission from Wine Australia.

Tasmania - Pinot Noir

While Tasmania white wines lean towards purity and finesse, the emerging profile for Pinot Noir is one of earthy structured roundness, still with plenty of crunchy red berry and stone fruit varietal character.

Coonawarra (South Australia) - Cabernet Sauvignon

Coonawarra’s regional accent is all about weight and aroma, both of which are very distinctive. First up, Coonawarra tends to produce medium bodied reds, and this is an expression that is best suited to its Cabernet style. Secondly, the nose is characteristically ‘leafy’ with a herbaceous, bell pepper ring that can range from grassy through to minty.

McLaren Vale (South Australia) - (1) Shiraz

Typically full bodied, the best examples of McLaren Vale Shiraz have immense blackberry and licorice aromas, fleshy palates with concentrated, ripe tannins. They are richly flavoured and quickly develop a velvety texture.

Not to be missed: Rockbare Shiraz and Rockbare Chardonnay. The approach of Rockbare to Shiraz is to find the oldest vines possible, crop them low, nurture them through the ferment and then allow them to mature in oak for a year or so.  Grapes are sourced from a small group of vineyards, producing fruit of exceptional quality – with quality like this the wine pretty much makes itself.

“Exceedingly well-priced, (Tim) Burvill’s Chardonnay and Shiraz are truly outstanding” - John Fordham, Sunday Times Newspaper (Body & Soul) 29 Jan 2006

McLaren Vale (South Australia) - (2) Grenache

Tell-tale rust or brick red colour is the first sign of McLaren Vale’s unique contribution to regional Australia. Gnarled old vines and a generational gift for coaxing the best out of Grenache does the rest. The result is easy drinking reds that manage to be both sweet and savoury - red currants through to well worked leather!

Not to be missed: Cascabel Tipico GSM (Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre) & Cascabel Tempranillo. Tipico is produced from mostly Viña Cascabel grown grapes, with a small addition of Grenache from a vineyard near the winery.  The soils are particularly well suited to grow these Spanish varieties, with the soil and weather allowing for the production of grapes with freshness and character. Cascabel do not follow the latest fad, preferring to use more traditional viticultural methods.  All grapes are hand picked making for a good vine canopy whilst discouraging high crop levels.

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Click on ‘Australia’s Regional Heroes’ tag below, to view previous posts.

Content used with permission from Wine Australia.

Lar Veale is at it again with his trusty camera - this time John McDonnell of Wine Australia helps describe the meaning and significance of Australia’s regional heroes.

Wine Australia will have a stand at the Good Wine Show in November, so you’ll have the opportunity to conduct you’re very own Q&A!

Click on “Australia’s Regional Heroes” tag below, and then scroll down to catch up on our ongoing ‘Regional Heroes’ series. And keep an eye out on sourgrapes.ie for further videos with John McDonnell.