Tours

Château La Coste, just outside Aix en Provence, 2022

Love this place - back for another visit. Fast becoming the destination centre in Provence - great wine, art and architecture, fabulous restaurants, a 2 hour sculpture walk, summer evening concerts and open air movies. The full experience! Of course there is the fabulous Château rosé, however there is also the Grand Vin blanc produced from Vermentino and Chardonnay (hence IGP). Such a great way to conclude my stay in Provence.

Provence, 2022

Time to explore the fabulous wines of Provence, the home of rosé. However, there is a whole lot more to this region which deserves to be discovered. I visited Domaines Ott Clos Mireille where their famous skittle bottle was designed and found their fabulous 2020 Blanc. Château Vignelaure produce a great rosé, but also their fabulous Château Rouge using Cabernet and Syrah. Vignelaure has a wonderful modern art collection, a must-see. Château Sainte Roseline is a cru classé and the home of Cuvée Kylie Minogue, essential visiting for every Australian. I also visited Château Saint Martin, just was well I now know who he was, plus the icon darling of the new generation, AIX Rosé, located well out of the way in isolated Provence. all that and had time for a quick visit and lunch in the cute town of Lourmarin, and of course tech obligatory cleansing ale back in Aix en Provence whilst writing up my notes. Love this region, its wines and its people. I will be back in summer!

Penfolds Magill Estate, 2022

The thrill of a lifetime! Private visit to Penfolds Magill Estate hosted by Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago. We visited Scott Krix at Mongrel Hill Vineyard in Morphetville, a top contracted Penfolds fruit supplier which will most likely be graded Class A fruit destined for Grange. As Peter says, "Grange finds you, it is not made by the book or to a recipe". Then on to Magill Estate for lunch in the now renovated Still Room, where Brandy was made. Visit to the Estate to see Grange Cottage where Dr Christopher prescribed red wine to cure anaemia, past the 2020 Grange quietly ageing in barrel to the original BIN cellars. Fabulous tasting in the Fountain Room where we tasted 2019 Bin A Chardonnay, 2015 Yattarna Chardonnay, 2010 St Henri Shiraz, 2016 RWT Shiraz, 2018 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2017 Grange. As a special treat, we finished on 2016 Bin 111A Clare Valley/Barossa Valley Shiraz and the 2018 Superblend 802A Cabernet Shiraz. All amazing wines. Such an honour and a privilege. Huge thank you to Peter, it means so much to me! If only my parents had lived to see it.

Bourgogne France, 2019

The world knows and loves Bourgogne wines, home to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. However, more important that the grape varieties is the Climat - precisely delimited plots of land acknowledged by UNESCO as World Heritage - and the coming together between the natural elements (climate, soil and aspect), grape variety and the local and long established expertise of the winemaker. so how better to gain an appreciation than by a tour by bicycle? Electric assistance of course! Despite the rain, on day 1, I toured north from Beaune to Gevrey-Chambertin to taste at Philippe LeClerc. Then on day 2, south via the Chateau de Meursault onward to Puligny Montrachet to taste at the king of wine tourism, Olivier Leflaive. Then back to Aloxe-Corton to taste at the largest vineyard land holder in Bourgogne, Louis Latour. All topped off with the obligatory visit to the Hospices de Beaune! Stand-outs were the 2012 Philippe LeClerc Gevrey Chambertin Premier Cru la Combe aux Moines, 2015 Chateau de Meursault Meursault Premier Cru Perrières, 2014 Olivier Leflaive Chassagne Montrachet Premier Cru Clos Saint Jean, and the absolutely stunning 2015 Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru. Cant wait to get back to explore more during Les Grands Jours de Bourgogne next March!

Tamar Valley, Northern Tasmania, 2018

The Tamar Valley is centred around Launceston and has an ever increasing reputation for excellent cool climate wines of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as Australia's finest sparkling wines. We started at Taltarni's very chic Clover Hill to discover their sparking wines, then to Delamere where we tasted their excellent aged rosé as well as the exquisite Blanc de Blanc. At Holm Oak their stand-out was The Wizard Chardonnay, named in honour of the Alexander Racquet Company's famous tennis racquet, used by Jack Crawford to win Wimbledon in 1933. Holm Oaks were grown on this site to supply the local racquet factory - when they did not meet the standard, grapes were grown instead! Excellent decision. We concluded the following day with a fabulous lunch at Josef Chromy - what an absolute ambassador for the region! Tour conducted by Terry from Tamar Valley Wine Tours.

McLaren Vale and Barossa, 2018

My third tour to Adelaide and they just keep getting better. This time in McLaren Vale we went to Penny's Hill and tasted their fabulous 2010 The Piano Shiraz. Life is too short to drink bad wine! then on to old favourite Primo before a gorgeous lunch at Salopian Inn. Then to our usual, Kangarilla Road to taste their entire range. On Sunday in Barossa, we begun with Torbreck - they are so generous with their tasting range. Of course 2015 Descendant and 2014 Run Rig were standouts. Langmeil is excellent and Bec and the team are so welcoming - we must return. After a great pub lunch at Greenock Tavern we walked the short distance to new cellar door Dell'uva for a great tasting of Italian grape varieties with a Barossa twist. What a discovery!

Margaret River, 2018

Margaret River is a 3 hour drive south of Perth. With a sunny maritime climate it is known for Cabernet Sauvignon. Recently Shiraz and GSM blends have made in-roads. Vasse Felix was the first vineyard planted just over 50 years ago, and is now owned by the Holmes à court family - with it is art gallery and chic restaurant. Cullen is another traditional favourite, fully biodynamic and makers of the fabulous Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon. After a fabulous outdoor lunch at Arimia we also visited the Tuscan style Cherubinos, the beautiful Credaro and the small family run vineyard Windance - what a find is their 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. All finished off with a cleansing ale at Black Brewing Company. Tour in conjunction with Paul from Margaret River Unplugged.

Waiheke Island, 2017

Waiheke Island is a 40 minute fast ferry ride from Auckland, set in the Hauraki Gulf. Being partially protected from the prevailing cold and wet south-west winds, its microclimate is drier and warmer than Auckland - yet still oceanic. In the 1970s and 80s Waiheke had somewhat of a hippie culture, but today it is chic and relaxed. Traditionally Cabernet and Merlot have been the major grapes, however Syrah has recently become more popular. Miro Vineyard houses one of Auckland's top restaurants, Casita Miro - a fabulous place for tapas lunch matched perfectly with their stunning rosé. Don't miss their Gaudi-esque mosaic tiling. We also visited Obsidian and Te Motu.

Adelaide trip, 2017

Another fabulous trip to Adelaide, this time to visit McLaren Vale and then Barossa. In McLaren Vale we called in on Primo Estate for their fabulous Amarone style Moda Cabernet/Merlot and its protegé Zamberlan ripasso style wine. Amarone style wine is made by air drying the grapes to concentrate the flavours, ripasso is the use of the skins after this fermentation to add complexity and flavour to another wine. After a relaxing lunch at Coriole we stopped by Brash Higgins to investigate their use of amphorae in wine making. The following day we went to Langmeil for their stunning Freedom Shiraz from vines planted in 1843, then to 1918 restaurant for a fabulous lunch outdoors in the garden of this period home turned gastro-delight. All culminating with a tasting of Rockford VP Shiraz fortified wine - what a way to finish off this tour!

See you next year Adelaide.

Macedon Ranges, Victoria

Day trip to the Macedon Ranges region north of Melbourne for Budburst Festival. This is a cool climate region with a solid number of boutique vineyards which open their doors during the festival with tasting plates, wine tastings and numerous jazz performances. What more can you ask for? We visited Granite Hills, Lyons Will Estate, Curly Flat, Paramour and Hanging Rock Vineyard. Stand-outs are Pinot Noir and Riesling, with an excellent surprise at Granite Hills - their 2013 Tempranillo!

Hobart, Tasmania

After a tempting warm up at Morilla Estate, located on the same site as MONA, we progressed to Stefano Lubiana Vineyard at Granton. Stefano Lubiana has just won Decanter Magazine Best Pinot Noir in Australia for their 2015 Estate Pinot. And it is superb - well deserved, and from full biodynamic management. Stefano Lubiana has an excellent Osteria on site, inspired by the farmhouse style eateries of Northern Italy. The Osteria is now written up on the Qantas Frequent Traveller web site as one of the best Italian meals in Australia. Take the MONA ferry from Hobart's Brook Street Pier to Morilla Estate and MONA, then taxi to Stefano Lubiana.

Central Otago, New Zealand

Queenstown is a beautiful small city in the south of New Zealand, located on Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the dramatic Southern Alps. From there it is a short drive to the vineyards of Central Otago in Bannockburn - the most southerly vineyards in the world. It has a continental micro-climate, allowing pinot noir to ripen with small yields giving impressive concentration. We visited Terra Sancta for New Zealand's best rosé, Carrick for a fabulous lunch, Felton Road for their amazing Block 3 Pinot Noir, and finished with Mt Difficulty right next door. All this between sessions of skiing, jet boating and for the brave - bungee jumping. Love Queenstown - we will be back!

Catalonia, Spain

I would love to visit the vineyards of Priorat. However they are remotely located in the north east of Spain, about 200 km from Barcelona without easy access to public transport. When in the seaside resort of Sitges (next to Barcelona) recently, I came across this fabulous wine bar called Perbacco - reputed to be the best wine bar in the region. There could be no better excuse for an impromptu wine tasting and a little arm chair research. We found an excellent dry savoury pinot noir rosé from Penedes called Eolic - only 2032 bottle made each year, as well as the Alvaro Palacios Gratallops 2013 Priorat, predominantly from grenache, the standout grape from the region. On top of this, several versions of Cava, the Spanish sparkling wine par excellence. All the local wines in one relaxing location!

Yarra Valley, Victoria

This time we concentrated on rosé and chardonnay by visiting Soumah, Seville Estate, Medhurst, Dominique Portet, Coombe Farm and Oakridge. We had lunch at Seville Estate with their fabulous Reserve Chardonnay, buying a few bottles to take home to cellar - with high acid levels from the cool climate they will develop with age into real gems. The Oakridge range of chardonnays were exquisite. Medhurst have just won Best Yarra Valley rosé, and Soumah added their distinct Italian flavour to the tour. Coombe Farm is on the estate of Dame Nellie Melba and make a fabulous Pinot Noir - we could not resist the temptation!

Yarra Valley, Victoria

We visited Yering Station, Yarra Yerring, Seville Estate and Seville Hill, with a late lunch at Seville Hill waiting for the kangaroos to appear. Since rebirth in the 1960s led by several doctors who were fanatical about wine, the Yarra Valley has seen standards rise to become one of Australia's premium wine areas with many boutique wineries - and only 1 hour drive from Melbourne. The complex topography of steep shallow slopes facing all directions allows for some excellent sites to grow pinot noir, chardonnay and cool climate shiraz. Sparkling is a specialty.

McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills, South Australia

We visited Primo and Kangarilla Road then had lunch at the Salopian Inn in McLaren Vale, plus Bird in Hand in Adelaide Hills. There is a strong Italian influence here, with several Italian grape varieties including Montepulciano and Sangiovese, with some fine Shiraz and even an Amarone style. Cooler climate than Barossa.

Taste of Tasmania.

The Allanby family came to Tasmania from northern England in 1824 and were granted land at Bream Creek overlooking Marion Bay in Tasmania. Part of this land is Bream Creek Vineyard, owned by Fred Peacock, pioneer in the resurgence of Tasmanian wines.

The Taste of Tasmania is a Hobart's premier wine and food event every summer. It is held on the wharves of Hobart in Princes Pier No. 1 Shed, constructed by my mother's uncle! Both sides of my family are 6th generation Tasmanian.

At "the Taste" we tasted Bream Creek Vineyard wines, Clover Hill sparkling, and Joseph Cromy Wines. All are excellent examples of cool climate wines, specialising in Pinot and Chardonnay.

Barossa, South Australia

We visited Yalumba, Whistler, Torbreck, Langmeil, Charles Melton in Barossa and then Henschke in Eden Valley, and also had lunch at Maggie Beer's Farm. the Barossa was settled in the 1840s by German speaking immigrants from Silesia in Prussia fleeing persecution. they brought grape vines with them, and some still remain today - they are amongst the oldest vines producing wines in the world. The Barossa, never being infected by phylloxera, has allowed these vines to remain on their own rootstock. they make fabulous old vine Shiraz and Grenache. Eden Valley is cooler climate and is great for Viognier and Riesling. Louisa rose, chief winemaker at Yalumba is recognised as the global industry leader for Viognier.

To me, the Barossa has the look and feel of a French wine region, with several wine towns such as Angaston and Tanunda.

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