Archive for August, 2009
Krinklewood – biodynamic wine tastes of where it is grown
We are sitting in Bowral’s Wild Food Cafe, a great place for a healthy lunch and now also open in Bondi Junction in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
This place here is licensed and on each table, you’ll find a sign indicating that Wild Food requires ‘wild wines’. Krinklewood from the Hunter Valley in NSW makes biodynamic wines and although many traditional wine makers are not too keen on their rise, the biodynamic wine market is doing just that.
Wild Food offers a Wild Red, 100% Shiraz, which displays lifted berry fruits and is a medium bodied wine with soft tannins. Their Wild White is a Verdelho with a very golden straw look, tropical fruit on the nose and fresh passion fruit on the palate. “We use no pesticides or chemical sprays”, promises Rod Windrim from Krinklewood.
We realise that there is a lot changing in biodynamic wine making, changed since the first days of winemakers planting their vines at full moon and the like. The biodynamic scene in Australia is getting momentum and we will carefully watch their progress.
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Die Weinszene Australiens beschaut mit einer gehoerigen Portion an Misstrauen die Fortschritte der biodynamischen Weinbauern. Im Wild Food Cafe in Bowral treffen wir auf Krinklewood Weine, aus dem grossartigen Hunter Valley – Shiraz und Verdelho – zwei Weine, die man sich merken muss.
Ihr Michael Brecht
How to export wine to China as an Australian Boutique Winery
Today’s guest article was written by Kellie Rose, she is Marketing Manager at Longfellows Group a wine export management company based in Melbourne Victoria. Her report tells us about the dos and don’ts when exporting to China, the country only recently joined the ranks of Top Ten wine drinking countries.
Tasting Australian Wine
Every week we have requests from small wine producers whom have decided that they want to sell their wine to the rest of the world. This has either stemmed from a want and or need to see their brand globally or from tourists whom have visited the cellar door or tasted the producers wine in a restaurant whilst on holiday and subsequently have written an email requesting where they can they buy your wine?
Not every winery is going to be suitable for the export wine market. At present the place to be seen is China. Chinese distributors are seeking low price point wines with interesting and beautifully presented packaging. The Chinese I have spoken to see Australia as a ‘fresh, new, clean and green place’. Can your Label and bottle project this? China is still considered to be an emerging market for wine imports, but the emerging new rich generation is driving the economy in China and this generation is heavily influenced by foreign countries.
China in general has three rules when it comes to getting your wine into the marketplace, I call them the ‘PAV’ Effect;
1. Price
2. Appearance
3. Volume
China is an emerging wine culture hot spot and everyone is jostling for a spot on the starting line. For a boutique producer this may not be your market as the ‘PAV’ effect could just end up hurting your bottom line – If you are looking for global recognition to your brand in particular the China market place then hence the price, its got to be good booze at the lowest possible price – you must be able to consistently provide the same wine in the same volumes container after container and your wine has to be beautifully presented we are talking great label, best bottle and nicest possible closure.
The emerging Chinese wine drinker is young, hip and socially aware in China this generation has the most disposable income, loves to impress their friends and family and will buy luxury items simply to impress, He or She is a market follower not a market leader.
China’s wine culture is still emerging, and careful relationship management with your Chinese colleagues is essential for success, and this is where some small producers can come unstuck. It is essential you have a good export manager in place to screen requests and to investigate thoroughly any potential importers or distributors.
All in all for some boutique producers it may be best not to seek the global market; essentially global marketing could end up costing your pocket and your brand.
Thank you Kellie for this post – we found it really interesting and we are sure, that our readers on downunderwines will enjoy it too.
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Unser heutiger Gastbeitrag stammt von Kellie Rose, Marketing Assistentin bei der Longfellows Group in Melbourne, Viktoria. Der Beitrag handelt von den Aufgaben beim Export nach China, bei Nichtbeachtung dieser Punkte kann eine kleinere bis mittelgrosse Winery schnell sehr viel Geld verlieren und ihre eigene Marke beschaedigen.
Viel Spass bei der Lektuere,
Anabel
Find the right tag and win a case of sixfootsix wines from Austins Wines in Geelong
We found a nice challenge with an excellent reward in a newsletter of Victorian Austins Wines today. Their wines include the sixfootsix label, one of our first posts judged their Pinot Noirs to be a very nice drop, read more about its win in our 3-Pinot challenge here (sadly in German language only).
sixfootsix Pinot Noir from Geelong
And now the boys from Austin Wines need your help: their sixfootsix range is crying out for a tagline and they are asking for your creative input. Find the right tagline and win a mixed case of sixfootsix wines (of course).
The brief is wide open. Whether you call it a tagline, a positioning statement or a catch-phrase – Austins Wines are asking for a short, memorable and relevant string of words to reflect all that’s good about sixfootsix. We liked the wine, so now you’ve got to help them find the right tagline!
Simply eMail your suggestion (one each) to info@austinswines.com.au by the 31st of August. Scott Austin himself will be the judge and the winner will be announced in a future newsletter.
Downunderwines supports these grass roots branding efforts, this is why we published that competition here on our blog, good luck to those of you participating! And don’t forget to let us know, if you win: we count on you!
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Die Austins Winery aus dem Pinot Anbaugebiet Geelong in Viktoria benoetigt Ihre Mithilfe.
Die Weine des sixfootsix Labels gewinnen einen Wettbewerb nach dem anderen und doch fehlt den Inhabern ein Slogan, der diese Marke erklaert. Auf geht’s, vielleicht faellt Ihnen ja etwas Originelles dazu ein, ich bin mir sicher, dass wir unter den downunderwines Lesern eine Menge kreative Koepfe haben. Und lassen Sie uns doch wissen, falls Sie der glueckliche Gewinner sind, schliesslich wollen wir uns alle mit Ihnen freuen.
Ihr Michael Brecht
Australia’s strategy for the German Prowein Wine and Spirits Trade Fair 2010
A few weeks ago, five countries considered as ‘New World’ wine producers joined forces to form the New World Wine Alliance: Argentina, Chile, South Africa, California and our Kiwi friends from across the Tasman announced to book an own exhibition hall at next year’s Prowein in Düsseldorf. The German wine media had a critical look at this cooperation, but one major question was left unanswered:
Quo vadis Australian Wine
What is Australia’s strategy for the coming year(s) and why aren’t they part of the New World Wine Alliance?
We have been trying to dig deeper here Down Under, especially as the bureau of AWBC in London didn’t provide any more insight into this subject. So far!
Last weekend, we finally received an indication about what Australia will do next year in the capital of the Rheinland: Wine Australia announced in its newsletter that Prowein 2010 ‘will see a return to a coordinated Wine Australia stand’.
The approach will see Australian wineries appear in a ‘country-specific commitment that will highlight both mainstream and fine wine opportunities for the European market’. The plan is that next year’s presence at Prowein will feature amongst others regions from the Barossa, McLaren Vale or the Hunter as well as new varieties and blends to emphasise on ‘value and interest’.
Back to basics is our interpretation of this move – let us highlight Australian wine regions, their particular differences and strengths. Based on this move – we really understand why Australia didn’t participate in the New World Alliance – there is an Australia Alliance on the way to Düsseldorf with enough variety, strength and sparkle to bring across.
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Vor wenigen Wochen wurde mit recht grossem Presse-Echo eine enge Kooperation von fünf weinerzeugenden Ländern der so genannten Neuen Welt angekündigt wird, die New World Wine Alliance. Die deutschen Weinmedien fragten zu jener Zeit, welchen Standpunkt denn Australien zu dieser Neugründung einnehme, die Antwort ist nun klar: Australien wird mit einer eher traditionellen Kampagne und einer Konzentration auf die regionalen Unterschiede der hiesigen Winzer in Düsseldorf an den Start gehen.
Aus unserer Sicht eine gute Wahl, denn Australien’s Weingegenden sind so unterschiedlich und einzigartig, da wäre es schwer, diese Vielfalt im Konzert mit anderen Neue Welt Produzenten herüberzubringen.
Go Australia – Ihr Michael Brecht
A powerful vicar from McLaren Vale
Chapel Hill Cellar Door in McLaren Vale
Tonight I am trying the latest release of Chapel Hill’s Shiraz – The Vicar McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006. This wine received a stunning 96 points from James Halliday and as soon as I open the bottle I understand why.
The Vicar shows a very strong, deep colour and its flavours clearly remind me of all the top Shiraz wines from McLaren Vale: dark chocolate and blackberry flavours, oak and nicely balanced tannins and a powerful finish with great length.
No wonder why winemaker Michael Fragos was named Winemaker of the Year last year at the London Wine and Spirit Competition, this Shiraz shows all the signs of a great Shiraz from South Australia.
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Die Chapel Hill Winery in McLaren Vale ist namensgerecht in einer alten Kirche untergebracht, hier werden seit 1979 vorzuegliche Shiraz angeboten, in juengster Zeit von Winzer Michael Fragos kreiert. Jener wurde erst in 2008 zum Winzer des Jahres bei der London International Wine and Spirits Competition gekuert, wohl verdient, denn sein ‘The Vicar McLaren Vale Shiraz’ von 2006 ist vorzueglich. Ich geniesse den Wein am offenen Feuer – das Termometer schreibt -3 Grad hier in den Southern Highlands heute abend.
Ihr Michael Brecht
A leg of lamb and a Reserve Merlot – it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere
I simply cannot help myself but when I think of Merlot, I think about the movie in which … – no let us not go there. So, when I started writing about my latest Merlot experience this morning, I thought it might make sense to ask online service Wikipedia how they defined Merlot to get a sort of neutral look at the variety: “Merlot is a red wine grape that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines.”
Reserve Merlot Cuttaway Hill
Autsch, that doesn’t help either, a blending grape, but honestly: there are many fine Merlot producers in the Bordeaux region in France and in Australia alone, there were more than 125,000 tonnes of this variety produced in 2008.
Time to have a closer look at an Australian Merlot, not blended but standing on its own, especially with a nice roast of lamb for dinner already in the oven:
My choice: the 2006 Reserve Merlot from Cuttaway Hill, of the largest vineyard properties in the Southern Highlands. The wine is bright purple in colour, its bouquet full of dark ripe fruit and chocolate. I give it an hour after opening it as the bottle was stored in a rather cold cellar, mainly due to the frosty nights of this week.
When I take the first sips, I am amazed: this Reserve Merlot develops rich fruit characters on the palate and shows a very nice length. On the bottle they recommend celaring to 2013, knowing the many Merlot fans in the Southern Highlands I suspect most of their bottles gone by then.
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Der australische Winter zehrt mit heftigen Winden an uns, die wir gerade erst aus dem warmen Europa zurueck gekehrt sind. Abends ist es Zeit fuer einen Reserve Merlot von Cuttaway Hill, ich selbst bin kein ueberzeugter Merlot Fan, doch dieser Reserve mundet mir vorzueglich. Ein besonders fruchtiger Charakter und eine schoene Laenge machen diesen Wein zu einem perfekten Tropfen fuer das Lamm, welches heute auf unserem Tisch steht.
Ihr Michael Brecht
Time to get the bottles ready for the current vintage
Empty bottles arriving at the winery
Boutique wineries in Australia face the continuous challenge on deciding whether to outsource services or whether to do them in house when it comes to making their wine.
A good example is the question about bottling – many wineries have chosen to outsource this service to specialised bottlers, who travel the country with their high-tech bottling plants on the back of their trucks.
The advantage of not having to look after such bottling plant are obvious: less capital tied in the equipment, less space needed and it just takes a bit of planning to organise the bottler’s arrival throughout the year. I learnt recently that most wineries bottle their different wines between 6 and 8 times a year.
Whether in the Victorian Mornington Peninsula, where we took this shot, or in smaller boutique wineries in South Australia, Tasmania, WA or NSW, bottles are being prepared to be filled with the current vintage. I can’t wait to see these bottles filled and start the tastings of this vintage myself.
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Gerade die kleineren ‘Boutique’ Winzer hier in Australien muessen sich entscheiden: schaffe ich mir eine eigene Flaschenabfuellungsstrasse an, oder setze ich auf einen der tuechtigen Anbieter, die mit ihren transportablen Abfuellstationen das Land auf und ab befahren.
Dieser Tage sehen wir viele dieser Paletten mit Flaschen vor den Wineries, ein schoenes Zeichen, denn hier wird bald der aktuelle Jahrgang abgefuellt und ist dann hoffentlich bald fuer uns Tester zur ersten Verkostung bereit.
Ihr Michael Brecht
Cool Climate Shiraz catches up big time in Australia
On my recent trip to Adelaide Hills just outside South Australia’s capital city, I spoke to some of the local winemakers trying to find out, how they made progress in the past months with their cool climate varieties of Australia’s famous grapes such as Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon.
2005 Shiraz Hahndorf Hill Winery
Hahndorf Hill Winery’s 2005 Shiraz from Adelaide Hills was this year included in UK wine writer Oz Clarke’s list of Top 250 wines for 2010, see our report here. A good reason to check on this wine and find out how a further few months in the bottle have helped this cool climate champion develop.
An amazing aroma of spicy plums and berries makes me curious when I open the bottle – I find hints of chocolate on the palate and I absolutely adore the smooth and silky finish. This wine is an absolute stunner made by a highly entrepreneurial boutique wine producer in South Australia. This wine is the answer to all these mass producers of cheap Australian commodity wines, outstanding in value and a clear benchmark for cool climate Shiraz around $30.
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Einer meiner letzten Trips nach South Australia brachte mich erneut nach Hahndorf Hill, wo ich mir Zeit nahm, den dortigen 2005 Shiraz der Hahndorf Hill Winery zu probieren. Jener war vor wenigen Monaten vom englischen Weinjournalisten Oz Clark zu einem der besten 250 Weine fuer 2010 gekuert worden.
Der Wein ist fantastisch fuer einen Roten um die EUR 17, grossartige Pflaume und dunkle Beerenaromen begruessen mich, Andeutungen von dunkler Schokolade und ein erstaunlicher, seidenweicher Abgang runden das Bild ab. Dieser Wein ist ein grossartiges Beispiel fuer die Erfolge kleinerer Winzer, sog. Boutique Wineries hier Down Under.
Ihr Michael Brecht
