Archive for January, 2009
downunderwines on twitter
I have entered the world of twitter, micro-blogging at its best. Not being a technical wizzard myself, it took me a while to get onto it, but now I love it. You can find downunderwines on twitter here.
downunderwines on twitter
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downunderwines ist jetzt auch auf twitter zu finden, hier lesen sie kurzfristige updates und Neuigkeiten aus dem taeglichen Chaos bei downunderwines. Viel Spass dabei.
Michael Brecht
‘Binge Drinking’ and how the Australian government wants to get rid of it!
In Australia we have seen ‘binge drinking’ become a real problem in the past two to three years. Drinking binge is defined as drinking 5 standard drinks or more an evening.
The target group that the government is most concerned about includes the 15-25 year olds: teenagers and people in their young twenties getting completely drunk while drinking alco-pops or beer mixed with any kind of hard liquor. Even the introduction of additional taxes on alco-pops hasn’t helped.
How does binge drinking affect you or your kids?
I simply adore the awareness ads such as the Drinking Nightmare campaign, which provides a good insight into how a night out could go wrong.
Does it help? I have asked a few of the mates in my daughter’s High School – and they all recognize this ad; they even tell me, that this ad is telling us the real story and that they started thinking about the impact alcohol has for them.
Whether it is wine or beer or any kind of alcoholic mixture, let us enjoy responsibly and help our children understand the negative (as well as the positive) consequences alcohol can have on them.
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Die Australische Regierung wirbt seit Ende des vergangenen Jahres verstaerkt mit einer neuen Kampagne gegen das sogenannte ‘Binge Drinking’. Mehr als 5 Glaeser alkoholreicher Getraenke gelten als Binge Drinking und somit als erhoehter Risikofaktor vor allem fuer die 15-25 Jaehrigen.
Ich befragte meine Tochter, die in die HighSchool geht, ob dieser Kampagne in der Schule Beachtung geschenkt wird und sie bejahte das ausdruecklich. ‘Enjoy responsibly’ steht auf jeder Flasche mit Alkoholinhalt in Australien, das gilt wohl fuer jeden fuer uns.
Ihr Michael Brecht
Back to work …
This January has certainly been a peak month for downunderwines as I was able to visit many exciting wineries and also found the time to write about them. I am now back to work at ZaaBiz, the business networking platform for professionals in Australia and beyond.
Couldn’t help to show you this photo though:
downunderwines.net in the sand
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Auch die schoensten Ferien gehen einmal zu Ende. Ab heute bin ich wieder im ZaaBiz office in Sydney. Mal sehen, wieviel Zeit in den kommenden Tagen und Wochen fuer downunderwines bleibt. Da wollte ich Ihnen das Foto vom Strand doch nicht vorenthalten.
Ihr Michael Brecht
Happy Australia Day from Australia’s oldest licensed Inn!
The 26th of January is Australia Day – we celebrate all that makes us Aussies. Many of us can be found on the beaches, with temperatures in the mid 30s this year, the parades across the country had millions of locals and visitors watching.
We attended the Berrima Parade this year for the very first time (had been on the beach in previous years) – and what a parade it was. I guess I didn’t see a single person today, who wasn’t carrying anything related to the Australian flag. Here in the Southern Highlands, the party in Berrima’s park meant visiting some great stalls, including the tasting of some of the wines of the area.
The parade in Berrima in 2009
But the busiest part of town was for sure in and around the Surveyor General Inn, the oldest licensed pub in Australia, nicely stuffed with hundreds of Aussie flags.
The Surveyor General Inn in Berrima
Celebration in front of the oldest Pub in Australia
Australia Day, this is a day of celebration, and all Australians can be proud of that.
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Heute ist Australia Day, hier wird die Landung der 1. Flotte in New South Wales im Jahre 1788 gefeiert. Fuer die einen ein arbeitsfreier Tag, so ist Australia Day doch fuer die meisten Aussies ein Tag am Strand oder bei einer der vielen Paraden im Lande. Wir begingen den Tag dieses Jahres in Berrima, direkt neben dem aeltesten Pub Australiens, dem Surveyor General Inn.
Happy Australia Day.
Ihr Michael Brecht
While Lance Armstrong rides his bike through the valley, we enjoy a cool climate SavBlanc from Adelaide Hills
It is summer here downunder and the temperatures have risen constantly over the past days so that we experience 38 degrees and more. Time for a white wine from Adelaide Hills. I recently visited the Hahndorf Hills village, about 45 minutes outside Adelaide. Many things in the village remind us of Germany. Some of the vineyards themselves were originally using vines imported from Germany many many years ago.
My choice for today is a winery called Hahndorf Hills Winery, conveniently situated five minutes outside Hahndorf. I will write a whole report, as the winery has many interesting aspects to look at, such as an amazing view from its cellar door and wonderful wines. The winery also started a carbon-offsetting program and is now in the process of converting the vineyard to a bio-dynamic operation. Lots of things to talk about, the interview with its winemaker Larry Jacobs will follow soon.
Sauvignon Blanc Hahndorf Hill Winery
I tried a bottle of 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, the new release (last year October) and a crisp and refreshing drop for a warm evening. My taste buts sense passion fruit on the nose with tropical flowers and lemon on the palate. The wine is brilliantly balanced and displays a nice length for a SavBlanc.
We are in cool climate territory and there is an amazing difference to the often tannin overloaded NZ Sauvignon Blancs in this wine. I like it!
And I understand, why so many business lunches and business networking events count on the magic of Australian Sauvignon Blancs these days.
Enjoy!
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Es ist Sommer hier in Australien und ich besuche die Hahndorf Hill Winery, keine fuenf Minuten entfernt vom malerischen Hahndorf gelegen. Es gibt viel zu berichten ueber diese Winery, an dieser Stelle nur einer erster kurzer Bericht ueber den im letzten Oktober releasten 2008 Sauvignon Blanc.
Es ist der ideale Wein fuer diese Temperaturen (wir haben seit mehreren Wochen ueber 35 Grad, fragen Sie doch mal Lance Armstrong, wie es ihm bei diesen Temperaturen derzeit in der Tour Downunder um Adelaide herum geht 
. Passionfruit fuer die Nase, tropische Fruechte und Limone auf dem Gaumen, ein typischer SavBlanc der neuen Generation ohne die oft zu starken Saeurewerte der neuseelaendischen Sauvignon Blancs. Mir gefaellt dieser Wein.
Ein anderes Mal mehr von hier,
besten Gruss
Ihr Michael Brecht
Interview with James Tilbrook from Tilbrook Estate in the beautiful Adelaide Hills
Here I find myself driving up the Adelaide Hills towards Lobethal – 43 degrees and not a German in sight. Lobethal as well as the slightly more advanced Hahndorf were both named by German settlers in the early 19th century. Both are tourist attractions representing German heritage downunder. On top of that these two villages deserve their fame for their exceptional winemakers working in scenic vineyards. The region is considered cool climate, but on such a hot day I am very happy about my cool climate rental car which provides comfort.
I have an appointment with James Tilbrook, he immigrated from England in 1998, bought his first 8 acres vineyard in 1999 and has become a real shooting star since then. We meet in his cellar door right in the middle of Lobethal, about an hours drive away from Adelaide.
downunderwines: Thank you for your time James, especially in the summer months when tourists come to visit the cellar doors.
Tilbrook: no worries, I actually haven’t sold a single bottle so far (it is 11 o’clock) – lots of lookers but no buyers around today.
downunderwines: Can you tell us a bit about your personal background please. What made you become a winemaker here in the Adelaide Hills region?
Tilbrook: I have been working for Majestic Wines, a big wine retail group in London and received such a fantastic insight in tasting wines from all over the world. I highly appreciated the tastings of different styles from countries that have highly diverse ways of making wine. I spent eight years with them and decided that it was time to become involved in wine-making myself. But my background has more been in retailing the wines.
downunderwines: And how did it work out for you here in Adelaide Hills?
Tilbrook: We had our first harvest in 2001, which was exciting. Over the years we have added plantings and now grow a wider range of cool climate wines, from Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay to Shiraz, Sangiovese and Pinot Noir.
downunderwines: So what is your personal favourite?
Tilbrook: I like to try out things, we are a small winery and make everything here in this building. My favourite wine though at the moment is my Pinot Noir, we have a 2007 Tilbrook Reserve Pinot Noir, which is sensational. Unfortunately we only make low quantities of this wine.
downunderwines: And all these grapes are planted in the same area?
Tilbrook: Yes, our vineyards are situated towards Lenswood at about 440m altitude. We currently have 50 acres under vines and are planting more.
I then had the chance to taste a few of James Tilbrook’s wines, starting with his 2006 Chardonnay, which was complemented by 15% Sauvignon grapes. Twelve months in 15-20 year old barrels had helped this wine to display his fruity characters. I tasted melon and stone-fruit, the wine has a great length and clearly represents the new generation of Australian Chardonnays. A great wine with food.
No doubt, we will stay in contact, James Tilbrook is a highly unusual and interesting figure in Australia’s wine making scene, his wines are outstanding. Thanks for your time James and see you soon again.
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Bei 43 Grad geniesse ich die Fahrt im klimatisierten Mietwagen von Adelaide in die malerischen Adelaide Hills. Hier treffe ich James Tilbrook, aus England eingewanderter Winzer, der seit 1998 in der Naehe Lobethals Wein macht. James ist ein interessanter Typ, hat er sich die Kunst des Weinmachens selbst beigebracht, seine ersten Erfahrungen hat er acht Jahre lang in einem grossen Weinhandel in London gemacht.
Typisch fuer die cool climate Region Adelaide Hills ist das Portfolio von Tilbrook Estate, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc und Pinot Gris und Noir sind die Weine in seinem Angebot. Er selbst hat einen phantastischen 2007 Reserve Pinot Noir kreiiert, leider gibt es davon nur wenige Kisten im Jahr.
Viel Spass beim Lesen des Interviews mit James Tilbrook.
Michael Brecht
Harvesting commences here downunder in three weeks – pruners wanted
The harvesting season starts here downunder in approx. three weeks. Depending on the wine-region itself, the winemakers are already lining up casual staff for harvesting or pruning. Many of these casuals are from overseas, students or holiday makers ready to help in the vineyards.
Grapes in the McLaren Vale
In the McLaren Vale, most winemakers I spoke to start harvesting in the second week of February, thus enjoying their summer holidays in January before starting the stressful and critical period of the year. Most of them will anxiously watch the weather news and look to the sky every few minutes in order to define the right moment to get their grapes in. A good harvest depends on lots of technical know-how about when to harvest the grapes and also it depends a lot on luck. A thunderstorm at the wrong time and the harvest might be destroyed, possible night frost in certain regions such as the Southern Highlands would harm the vines too.
It is a gamble, year in and year out. So fingers crossed for all the viticulturists and winemakers downunder this year, and for those of you who would like to participate in the harvest, just contact us and we’ll establish a contact to one of our many wine making friends across Australia.
Pruning and Harvesting in the McLaren Vale
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Ab der zweiten Februarwoche heisst es wieder Daumen druecken. Dann beginnt die kritischste Zeit im Leben eines Winzers hier in Australien: die Weinernte.
Eine gute Ernte haengt zunaechst einmal sehr vom Sachverstand der Winzer ab, den richtigen Zeitpunkt fuer die Traubenernte zu waehlen. Fast wichtiger ist jedoch noch das richtige Gefuehl der Winzer fuer den richtigen Moment des pickings, ein Nachfrost zur falschen Zeit, ein Gewitter oder Hagelsturm und schon ist die Qualitaet (und das Volumen) eines gesamten Jahrganges gefaehrdet.
Sollten Sie Interesse haben in einer Winery bei einer Ernte mitzuhelfen, so kontaktieren Sie uns einfach, wir vermitteln gerne zu einem der vielen Freunde von downunderwines.
Viel Erfolg liebe Winemakers downunder, viel Glueck und eine gute Hand bei der Weinlese.
Ihr Michael Brecht
The Star of Greece – the never ending view
In our series of amazing places with amazing wines, it is about time to write about a restaurant off the South Australian coast, just on top of Port Willunga called The Star of Greece. The restaurant is a local treasure as it combines a view that is hard to beat with a wine cellar, that leaves the wine enthusiast speechless.
Star of Greece Cafe
How can such a small restaurant, situated on top of a beautiful beach, put so much emphasis on wines from all over Australia? The wine itself is used as a traditional means to support the food, most of it made with a strong greek influence.
The view from the Star of Greece to Port Willunga Beach
The Star of Greece is fully booked most nights within the summer holidays, so make your mind up before being disappointed. The wine that they sell most in the Star of Greece is a local McLaren Vale Sauvignon Blanc called Echidna, a quoffa by all means.
The star of Greece with its great wine bottles
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Das McLaren Vale befindet sich im Auto keine 15 Minuten von der Kueste entfernt. Besonders empfehlenswert ist das Star of Greece Restaurant am malerischen Port Willunga Beach. Hier finden Sie nicht nur hervorragendes, meist griechisch inspiriertes Essen, sondern auch eine Weinkarte, die ihres gleichen sucht. Der lokale Echidna Sauvignon Blanc ist der meist getrunkene Weisswein, wie wir hier downunder sagen: ein richtiger quoffa.
Ihr Michael Brecht
