Tickets are now on sale for the 2010 Bank SA    “Sea and Vines Festival” – McLaren Vale. 

This is truly a highlight on the annual social calender and a fantastic day out with friends …

This year ticket prices are $20 per person which gets you entry to 4 wineries, a wine glass and a glass of wine at the first winery. 

For bookings go to www.mclarenvale.info

Winery sold sultanas as chardonnay

IT HAS taken seven years, but the largest case of wine deception in Australian history has finally reached a conclusion.

Media Watch – Vintage, Constellation end merger talks

AUSTRALIAN Vintage, one of the country’s largest wine companies, has announced the collapse of plans to merge its Australian and British businesses with global wine giant Constellation Brands.

2009 wine favourites … announced

I have short listed my favourite wines that I discovered in 2009 , these wines stood out as highlights from the many cellar doors I was fortunate to visit last year.  It has been noted that the list has a strong McLaren Vale presence, this is mainly due to the fact that most of my wine trips were to this region in 2009. In 2010 I would like to pay some more attantion to the boutique wineries in the Barossa.

Favourite Cellar Doors

Samuels Gorge

Primo Estate

Best Cellar Door experience & staff
Wirra Wirra

Favourite Red Wine
2007 Tempranillo (sold out) – Samuels Gorge

Favourite White Wine

2008 Pinot Grigio d\’Elena – Primo Estate

Favourite Sparkling Wine

2006 Vouvray sparkling – Kilikanoon

Favourite Sparkling Red

JOSEPH NV Sparkling Red – Primo Estate

Favourite food/atmosphere at a winery
Coriole

Favourite Overall Winery

Pikes Winery

• 2009 ‘LUCCIO’ PINOT GRIGIO BLEND

• 2008 THE WHITE MULLET (sold out)

• 2007 LUCCIO SANGIOVESE RED BLEND

• 2007 THE RED MULLET

Note worthy mentions

Mitchells – 2001 McNicol Shiraz

Kilikanoon – 2006 Oracle Shiraz, 2006 Blocks Road Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Prodigal Grenache

Coriole -2009 Fiano, 2007 Sangiovese

Hentley Farm – 2007 “The Beast” Shiraz

Two Hands – Sophie’s Garden Padthaway Shiraz

Charles Melton – 2006 Richelieu