Archive for March, 2009
A DogRidge Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 for our candlelight dinner at Earth Hour
As a regular reader of downunderwines, you know that we are strong supporters of Earth Hour. Last night saw the third official ‘Earth Hour’ unfold in more than 83 countries with over 1 billion people participating.
While many of its critics point out, that switching your lights off for one hour does not really contribute to the well-being of our planet, many of our friends use this event to make us and particularly our children aware of what we mean by wanting to create a more sustainable future. I am very disappointed that we get 47 developing economies, up from nine last year, taking part, and then having to read that in my country of birth, Germany, there was only one city taking part, being Hamburg.
80 million Germans missed out on an opportunity to take place in an emotional worldwide gathering to show support for action against climate change. There is a great article in one of Germany’s leading weeklys der Spiegel (in German language though).
Candlelight dinner and Earth Hour
Back to the wines: while playing board games with our children at candlelight, we drank a 2004 DogRidge Cabernet Sauvignon. This bottle was a present from winemaker Fred Howard from McLaren Vale, made from vines that were planted in the 1940s. He made this wine together with friend and winemaker Mike Brown from Gemtree Wines. The Cab Sav proves to be a great example of a full bodied red from the McLaren Vale, I do not seem to realise its strong alcohol content of 15%, it is a smooth wine with a sensational length.
I really enjoyed this wine, lots of dark berries fruit and these first few years of ageing make it a great wine to red meat or cheese. I will certainly cellar a few of these bottles to enjoy them even more in 5-10 years time.
___________________________________________________________________________
Den gestrigen Abend verbrachten wir bei Kerzenschein und Brett-Spielen mit unseren Kindern. Hierbei hatten wir saemtliche Sicherungen des Hauses ausgeschaltet, es war Zeit fuer Earth Hour. Als inzwischen globales Ereignis wird die Welt fuer 60 Minuten dunkel, in 83 teilnehmenden Laendern haben gestern ungefaer 1 Milliarde Menschen teil genommen.
Schade ist, dass Deutschland nicht oder besser kaum dabei war. Auf der Karte der angemeldeten Staedte sieht man lediglich Hamburg als einzige deutsche Stadt dabei – eine verpasste Chance, wie auch der Spiegel ganz richtig tituliert. Dabei geht es hier weniger um wissentschaftlich bewiesene Einsparmassnahmen waehrend dieser Stunde, es geht nicht um Dogmatik, nein: hier geht es darum weltweit dazu aufzurufen ueber unseren Umgang mit der Natur nachzudenken. Ich fuerchte, dass vielen Deutschen die Ungezwungenheit fehlt – einfach einmal an einem emotionalen Erlebnis dieser Art teilzunehmen. Ganz zu schweigen von der Chance, hiermit unseren Kindern ein grossartiges, friedliches und sehr familienfreundliches Miteinander zu zeigen.
Ihr Michael Brecht
Australian Wineries and Earth Hour – how can we take part and set an example
On Saturday night at 8.30pm Australian Eastern Summer Time, almost the whole of Australia will be switching off their lights and all unessential power for 60 minutes to participate in Earth Hour. Two years ago, Sydney was the first big City in this cult event – now spreading across the whole world.
I do remember well the reactions I got when I was in Germany in June 2007 talking to businesses there about the effects Earth Hour had on us in Australia. I tell you – no one believed me that such a big following could be achieved for such an event. Well, we all know, that it just happened and today cities from Tokyo to Dubai to Frankfurt to London to Los Angeles are part of a global move to “switch off”.
vote with your light switch & support Earth Hour
So how can the wineries be part of it: let us start with the sales and support staff, I guess it is pretty obvious that all of these will switch off all computers, lights and electronic equipment for the whole weekend. It gets a little more difficult if we think about the wine-making areas, especially when we look at the current harvesting going on. Tons of grapes get delivered to our wineries these days, they all need to be ‘processed’ instantly once in the winery, cooling systems, a lot of machinery depending on electricity are part of this early stage process once the grapes have arrived in the winery.
Still – knowing the importance of being part of a world wide movement for a more sustainable way of treating our environment, I know, that Australian wineries will ‘switch off too’. Make this a special part of the weekend, use the time to reflect, bring out the candles and be part of EARTH HOUR !
_________________________________________________________________________
Ich weilte vor fast genau 2 Jahren in Deutschland und erzaehlte dortigen Unternehmen und einigen Buergermeistern von dem unglaublichen Effekt, den die hiesige australische Earth Hour auf uns alle hier Down Under hatte. In Sydney begann diese Bewegung, unterstuetzt von vielen Unternehmen und Privatpersonen, die alle fuer diese eine Stunde ihre Lichter ausschalteten, saemtliche Energienachfrage vom Netz nahmen und damit die heutige weltweit gefeierte Earth Hour erstmals vollzogen. Ein betoerend einfacher und doch so effektiver Vorgang.
Wir werden in diesem Jahr erneut die Kerzen hervorholen, um uns herum wird vollkommene Dunkelheit herrschen und wir werden mit unseren Kindern Spiele spielen und Beispiel geben. Ich wuensche uns allen viel Spass dabei – schreiben Sie uns doch einfach, wie Sie Earth Hour erlebt haben.
Ihr Michael Brecht
A quaffa from Australia’s oldest family owned winery: Yalumba
It is unusually warm for this time of the year in the Southern Highlands. And with friends coming over for a sun-downer, they brought a couple of bottles of Rose with them. This wine is a real tough one for me, as I am not a great fan of most Rose wines. But this one was a surprise.
We were drinking the Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rose Vintage 2008 – the name says it: based on the Italian Sangiovese grape. The colour of this Rose is relatively deep – the aromas savoury for a Rose, not sweet as too many of its terrible tries from other winemakers. I discover cherry, strawberry, rhubarb and cinnamon flavours, very enjoyable for a relaxed after work drink.
This morning I did some research on the wine and found out that it won best Rose at the 2008 Royal Melbourne Wine Show. Must have been the 2007 version, but still – nice one.
_________________________________________________________________________
Der beste Rose der 2008 Royal Melbourne Wine Show kommt aus der ‘Y’ Serie von Yalumba. Der Rose auf der Basis von Sangiovese Trauben ist ein herrlicher Sommerwein, nicht zu suess sondern eher trocken und voll des Kirsch-, Erdbeer- und Rhabarbergeschmacks. Yalumba – das ist Australiens aelteste Winery in Familieneigentum, mir gefaellt der Wein, auch wenn ich sonst kein grosser Rose-Freund bin.
Ihr Michael Brecht
How does a local Australian winery use micro-blogging site twitter
The wine industry has started to embrace social media as a tool within their marketing-mix. Winemakers, cellar door staff or marketing experts join the networking sites such as facebook, youtube, linkedin or ZaaBiz in order to position themselves and start connecting with their clients.
One of the latest social media platforms going mainstream is Twitter, a micro-blogging tool restricting your entries to 140 characters each. I have asked Dave Brookes from Teusner Wines in the Barossa Valley how they use Twitter and whether they consider it a useful tool.
Teusner Wines on Twitter
downunderwines: Dave, thanks for your time – let us put one thing straight at the very beginning: we have ‘met’ on twitter, so for Teusner Wines and downunderwines, twitter has proven to be a successful connection tool. But tell me, for how long have you been using twitter?
Dave: We’ve been using twitter since the start of February.
downunderwines: How often do you use it?
Dave: We use it every day … 10-20 tweets a day usually. I’ll suss out whats going on in the winery for the day and mention it via twitter then check in via my blackberry during the day to update and answer questions.
downunderwines: 10-20 tweets (explanation for the non-twitter users: these are the messages sent on twitter) that seems to be a lot, so who accesses your twitter account?
Dave: (He smiles) Just me – I am the marketing person. We are a small winery and there are only three of us here so it’s up to me.
downunderwines: And Dave, tell us: are you using other social media tools too?
Dave: I am just starting to use facebook and about to start a blog – but it is basically just me who has to find the time to do these things.
downunderwines: So let’s hear the truth: what do you think about twitter and how do you use it?
Dave: Twitter is great for building a relationship with people that drink our wines and also raise awareness of the brand both in Australia and overseas markets. Keep people in touch with winery goings on, new releases, press reviews, events, dinners and general stuff. It also allows us to touch base with our distributors overseas, US and UK retailers and wine press.
downunderwines: OK, so this is a positive feed back, is there any special or funny story that you can tell us that happened on twitter?
Dave: No real funny stories but actually organising winery visits and tasting via twitter is cool, as is the feedback from people who have tried our wines in Europe & the US.
Dave, many thanks for your time and good luck with your twittering.
________________________________________________________________________
Die Wineries hier Down Under beginnen so nach und nach, social media Dienste wie facebook, ZaaBiz oder auch twitter fuer sich zu nutzen. Ich habe nachgefragt bei Dave, Marketingchef von Teusner Wines aus dem Barossa Valley, wie er twitter selbst nutzt und ob das Gezwitscher eigentlich etwas bringt.
Ihr Michael Brecht
Wine tasting at a Cellar Door and Business Networking
I enjoy the combination of the above, meeting new business people and tasting new wines at the same time. On invitation of ZaaBiz, Australia’s largest business network and Tertini Wines from the Southern Highlands, business people form the Highlands, Wollongong, Sydney and even Melbourne met at Tertini’s cellar door last night for this purpose.
We tried the 2005 and 2006 Riesling, the 2005 and 2008 Arneis – a highly difficult variety from the North-West of Italy, two Pinot Noirs and the Tertini Cabernet Sauvignon on the night.
The crowd was also volunteered to taste a selection of Italian cheeses, picking out the ones that tasted well with the various wines. All in all it was a great event, Tertini’s Sales Manager Robert Kay guided us through the evening and gave insights into the wine making techniques of this young winery from the Southern Highlands. Tertini has won 89 medals in the last three years at various wine shows across the country, not bad for a small Boutique Winery.
I thoroughly enjoyed this wine tasting and met some great new business people from the area.
____________________________________________________________________
Das australische Business Netzwerk ZaaBiz hatte gestern zu seinem event in den Southern Highlands geladen. Neben diversen networking sessions gab es ausreichend Gelegenheit, die Weine von Tertini Wines zu testen. Mein Favorit: der 2008er Tertini Arneis, eine Traube aus dem Nordwesten Italiens die hier in Down Under von lediglich 15 Winzern bearbeitet wird. Mehr zu diesem Wein in einem gesonderten Bericht.
Ihr Michael Brecht
Southgate in Melbourne turns into a cellar door on the weekend
One of my top favourites of the busy Melbourne Food and Wine Festival happens on Saturday and Sunday (21/22 March). More than 60 wineries from Victoria will show their best wines at Southgate.
Enjoy a few tastings for just $25.00 (including wine tastings) and try yourself through the many great wines. The adjacent restaurants are offering lunch or tasting plates – if you are in Melbourne this weekend, do not miss this event.
On top you’ll be able to participate in educational sessions throughout the day, Victorian Sparkling, Pinot Noir or Italian Varietals will all be explained in smaller sessions.
_____________________________________________________________________
Einer der Hoehepunkte des Food and Wine Festivals in Melbourne ist die ‘Cellar Door’ in Southgate, also entlang des Yarra Flusses im Zentrum von Melbourne gelegen. Mehr als 60 Winzer zeigen hier ihre juengsten Erzeugnisse, eine grossartige Gelegenheit, die viktoianischen Tropfen kennen zu lernen.
Ihr Michael Brecht
And the winner is: Lerida Estate 2008 Pinot Gris from the Canberra Region
I have started writing up the results of our wine tasting from Friday night, if you have missed out on this read the introduction here.
Just to remind us, the contestants in this tasting were (in alphabetical order):
2008 Innocent Bystander from the Yarra Valley in Victoria
2008 Kirrihill from Adelaide Hills in South Australia
2008 Lerida Estate from Lake George, Canberra Region
2007 McVitty from the Southern Highlands here in NSW
2007 Mornington Estate from the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria
2007 Nepenthe (Australian Vintage) from Adelaide Hills.
Pinot Gris and Grigio contestants
The typical fruity and lively signs of Pinot Gris and Grigios could be found in any of these wines. So how were they coming across on the night:
The Innocent Bystander and the McVitty both showed a spicy honeyed pear nose, fresh citrus and apples and were less acidic as others on the night. What they were both lacking was the length and finish. The Nepenthe and Mornington Estate both finished last, rather disappointing their lack of character. Pretty thin especially the Nepenthe, this one only scored highest in alcohol level: with 14% it was the highest level on the night – not really a sign I am looking for when trying a Pinot Gris.
The decision for the winner was a hard one as both the Kirrihill as well as the Lerida Estate showed wonderful details of fruityness, they are both balanced wines with a good length on the palate. The Lerida Estate definetely scored maximum points on fruityness and displayed less acidity, the Kirrihill impressed because of this natural acidic taste – one of the judges found it almost Sauvignon Blanc style.
The final result crowned the 2008 Lerida Estate Pinot Gris as the winner, its rich palate and its balanced acidic finish helped this white from Lake George win the night. Well done!
__________________________________________________________________
Ein solches Weintesten ist anstrengend, zumal wir in dieser Runde die grosse Schwierigkeit hatten zwei ebenbuertige Kontrahenten zu plazieren. Der Lerida Estate Pinot Gris setzte sich letztlich gegen den Kirrihill Pinot Grigio durch, seine exzellente Laenge und ausgewogene Saeure machten den Ausschlag. Diese beiden sind vorzuegliche Vertreter einer cool climate Generation von weissen Pinots – stark abgeschlagen am Ende des Feldes der Nepenthe aus den Adelaide Hills, ein Wein aus Massenproduktion und leider ohne jeglichen Charakter.
Ihr Michael Brecht
Cool Climate Pinot Gris Tasting with friends on a rainy evening
The readers of my blog know that I am a keen supporter of Australian boutique wineries. Of these my favourite ones are either based in cool climate regions or they produce wines with grapes from vineyards in cooler regions. The latter is true for quite a few winemakers in McLaren Vale, which isn’t really cool climate, but profits from the proximity of the adjacent Adelaide Hills.
It is a rainy evening in the Southern Highlands and we have invited some friends to help me go through a half dozen of cool climate Pinot Gris. I have deliberately picked a selection of six with each one originating from a different wine region in Australia. They are all available for under $25 in either bottle shops or at the cellar door.
Vineyard in the cool climate Adelaide Hills
The background to this tasting lies in the feed back I received to an article I wrote a few days back on the production and labeling of Pinot Gris versus Pinot Grigio in Australia. Our selection of wines for our tasting again proves my point, the usage of the word Gris or Grigio here downunder does not necessarily help when trying to identify a typical Gris or Grigio stlye, as is possible in Europe.
The contestants in this tasting were (in alphabetical order):
2008 Innocent Bystander from the Yarra Valley in Victoria
2008 Kirrihill from Adelaide Hills in South Australia
2008 Lerida Estate from Lake George, Canberra Region
2007 McVitty from the Southern Highlands here in NSW
2007 Mornington Estate from the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria
and I have added a
2007 Nepenthe from Adelaide Hills which belongs to Australian Vintage, the 2nd biggest player in Australia simply because I wanted to find out how the big boys compare against the boutique wineries.
All wines display a freshness, that is so typical for Pinot Gris or Grigio. Some of them were more on the fruity side with strong characters of apple, citrus and melon, others were more subdued and unfortunately two were really lagging character when it came to displaying fruity characters or natural acidity. Find out who the winner of this contest was in my next entry.
_______________________________________________________________________
An einem regnerischen Freitagabend begehe ich eine Weinprobe mit ein paar Freunden hier auf unserer Farm in den Southern Highlands. Wir testen sechs verschiedene Pinot Gris und Grigios aus diversen cool climate Gegenden Australiens. Allen sechs Weinen gemein ist eine so typische Gris/Grigio Frische, dennoch finden wir schnell grosse Unterschiede in der Faehigkeit die fruchtige Frische zu einem wirklich guten Abgang zu transportieren. Lesen Sie mehr ueber das Endergebnis in meinem naechsten Beitrag.
Ihr Michael Brecht
