Italian Red Varietals in Australia
Italian Red Varietals in Australia Forget cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and even pinot noir for just a moment. As fine as they are, there’s a whole world of grape varieties out there to explore, and many of the most accessible in Australia hail from Italy. Let’s look at some Australian Italian red wines. Join me on […]
Italian White Varietals in Australia
Italian White Varietals in Australia While the exact varietals weren’t documented, the grape vines that arrived in Australia with the First Fleet were most likely French, including the likes of pinot noir, chenin blanc and semillon. Join me on a Food & Wine Adventure soon! And for the two centuries that followed, French grapes dominated […]
Glen Innes – Celtic Capital of Australia
Glen Innes – Celtic Capital of Australia As the name suggests, Glen Innes, on the New England Northern Tablelands of NSW, was settled by Scots. And at over 1,000 metres I’m sure they felt right at home in this rugged, chilly landscape. Glen Innes is the Celtic Capital of Australia and home to the annual […]
Hunter Valley Semillon
Best Hunter Valley Semillon The Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest wine region, is synonymous with semillon. This golden-skinned, classic French grape was first planted in the Hunter Valley in the 1830s, where it often went under the misnomers of Hunter Valley Riesling and White Burgundy. Join me on a Hunter Valley Food & Wine Adventure! Semillon’s […]
Pinot Grape Family
Pinot Grape Family How do you like your pinot: black, grey, white or speckled? Sparkling, still, red, white or rosé? Perhaps a serious Burgundy or a cheeky little blanc de noir? Confused? Don’t be, here’s everything you need to know about the pinot grape family one of the world’s most versatile (and delicious) families of […]
Riesling: Australia’s Best
Australia’s Best Riesling I’m a riesling girl through and through! I love its fresh acid zing when it’s young and its subtle kerosene notes as it ages. For me, Australia’s best riesling is mostly dry, lean and minerally, but just occasionally I like a touch of residual sweetness to stand up to chilli heat too. […]
Fortified Wines: Australia’s Best
Best Australian Fortified Wines Before modern bottling methods, wines were often fortified with grape spirit to protect them from spoiling. The different flavours this produced caught on, so by the time it was no longer necessary there was a continuing market for these higher alcohol wines. Join me on a Food & Wine Adventure soon! […]
Rosés – Natural
Top Natural Rosé Wines By now many of us are sold on rosé as a great all-rounder, especially in the warmer months. We’ve moved on from concerns about the simple, lolly-water, grenache-heavy versions that gave rosé a bad name in the past, and are enjoying pale, dry, refreshing food friendly wines. So what’s left to […]
Chardonnay: Best New Style Australian
Best New Australian Chardonnay Are you a member of the ABC club (’anything but chardonnay’)? Many people are, as traditional buttery heavily-wooded Australian chardonnay has largely fallen out of fashion. But take another look. Explore the Diversity of Chardonnay on a Hunter Valley Food & Wine Weekend. Chardonnay, the world’s most widely planted white grape, […]
Hunter Valley Restaurants
Where To Eat in the Hunter Valley Alongside icons like Tyrrell’s Vat 1 and Lake’s Folly Cabernets, the offering from Australia’s oldest wine region has expanded to include some exciting new wines from young gun winemakers – many of them second-generation vignerons. Explore the Hunter Valley on my small group, all-inclusive Food & Wine Weekend! […]