A generation ago, no one dared pop open a bottle of Italian sparkling wine for the fear of being considered a common, uncultured suburbanite. All we knew was…
With lockdown loosening and businesses reopening across NSW, the hottest form of travel right now is the humble roadtrip. And like bees to the honeypot, we’re making a…
Winemaker and proprietor Richard Tallis of Tallis Wines in Dookie, Victoria, is a mighty talented, down-to-earth bloke whose knowledge, understanding and connection to the land though grape growing…
Founded by Matt and Lentil Purbrick (of Grown and Gathered) in partnership with Matt’s father head winemaker Alister Purbrick of Central Victoria’s Tahbilk winery; Minimum is a new…
A fine wine collaboration between Australian and an Austrian winemakers Andrew Peace and Georg Weinwurm. Third generation Austrian winemaker Georg Weinwurm manages a diverse vineyard of different varietals…
There’s a new force for change happening in the Australian wine industry and the South Australian regions of Mclaren Vale and Adelaide Hills are leading the way. The…
In terms of wineries with a view, premium soils and brilliant cellar doors, Tallis Wine in Dookie, Victoria is one of my personal all time favourites. The modernist…
Andrew Sutherland Smith, owner/winemaker of Rutherglen’s iconic Warrabilla Wines could be labelled one of Australia’s most passionate. A true unsung winemaking hero, and an altogether top bloke, Andrew…
Col Fondo Prosecco 2018 The Dal Zotto prosecco story is the stuff of legends. Just over a decade ago Otto Dal Zotto, King Valley tobacco grower turned grape…
Colour of Raven is a new release Australian wine that’s set to hit our tables for Christmas 2019. It is in fact a red, however appears inky deep…
Briony Bradford, Head Chef at Rutherglen’s famed Jones Winery Restaurant has an artist’s eye. She paints impeccably presented plates that incorporate delicate flavour pairings and a range of…
The Buds have burst in the high altitude wine region of Orange, NSW and to celebrate the region’s winemakers and foodies have launched the 2019 Orange Wine Festival…
From Mansfield to Beechworth these are some of the best places to eat and drink in Victoria’s High Country. Eldorado Road Cellar Door, Beechworth, Victoria Visiting Eldorado Road’s…
Celebrating the launch of the new Aussie online retailer Epic Wines Online, Essentials spoke to founder Trevor Knaggs about which wine pack makes Epic Wines Online a good…
When it comes to rieslings, Australia has some fantastic regions now producing wines that in their own style match the quality and finesse of some of the most…
In late 2018 Mansfield winemaker Ros Ritchie opened a new Cellar Door and Function Centre within the historic Magnolia House – a late 1800s American Victorian-era kit home that…
Some of the best wines made in Australia are produced by vineyards in faraway places with limited staff and often no cellar door. For these select few, time…
The aroma of citrus fills the air in the small factory in Melbourne’s west. Boxes of thick-skinned lemons are piled up on the floor. Jon Caneva smiles as…
Billy Button Fiano is a spring/summer stunner: its bright gold colour simply glistens in the glass. It’s the perfect pair to our soft prawn taco recipe (below). This…
Back in 1999, Italian-born Otto Dal Zotto planted a few rows of prosecco grapes in Victoria’s King Valley. He had no idea, when planning then with his sons…
Souters 2009 Cabernet – Alpine Valleys Allan Souter’s 2009 Cabernet is a truly remarkable wine – rich, full flavoured, generous on nose and palate with its ripe and…
Offering a wide range of aromas, tastes and textures, Australian-made Italian varietal wines are growing in popularity. Sampling a collection of brands – some well-known, some not – Jamie Durrant…
I’ve had the pleasure of following the progress of Chrismont Winery as an ever-growing highly creative business dedicated to continued focus and refinement in delivering Australia’s finest Italian…
Andrew Peace 2015 Shiraz Methode Ripasso 3.5 stars – $24 [view wine ratings info] Andrew Peace Wines is one of Australia’s largest family-owned wineries, though it’s virtually unknown…
In terms of world-famous wines, it’s impossible not to respectfully mention the region of Rutherglen, Victoria and in particular Buller Wines’ rare collection of fortified wines. Aged for…
Chrismont’s wonderful new release La Zona Fiano from the King Valley is a most exciting aromatic white and should be considered a serious top-tier restaurant quality food wine…
This fiano from Victoria‘s Alpine Valleys region is hand-crafted by the energetically talented alternative-varietals ‘queen’, winemaker Jo Marsh, formerly of Seppelt Great Western. A few years back she…
Each year King River Estate produces cleaner, more vibrant fruit, the result of pesticide-free biodynamic vineyard management. I’ve noticed a progressive advance in wine flavour profiles across King River Estate’s range over the past three consecutive years and the just-bottled 2016 Pinot Grigio again amps things up to a new level. This wine’s bouquet leaps
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The Dal Zotto prosecco story is the stuff of legends. Just over a decade ago Otto Dal Zotto, King Valley tobacco grower turned grape grower and winemaker, launched…
I’ve been lucky enough to know Alfredo ‘Fred’ Pizzini for quite a while and I’ve never seen him quite like this. He’s clearly rattled and seems a bit…