Sydney Royal Cellar Tasting Tickets on Sale  

25/01/2012

Public event: 11am – 4pm, Saturday 18 February 2012
Southee Pavilion, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park

Wine lovers will have the chance to pick their favourite drop amongst the largest range of Australia’s best wines at the 2012 Sydney Royal Cellar Tasting.

More than 2200 new and established wines from across the country will be available for tasting as the Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show opens its doors on Saturday 18 February.

Included in the line-up will be the newly-awarded medal and trophy winning wines – judged just days before by a panel of experts led by one of Australia’s wine industry leaders and Sydney Royal Wine Show Chairman of Judges Iain Riggs.

Wine Show Committee Chair Lyndey Milan said the RAS is proud to offer this exclusive experience to taste Australia’s latest top home-grown wines.

“The Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show is about raising the benchmark and improving wine in Australia,” Ms Milan said.

“Sydney Royal competitions have a proud history spanning 190 years. With this, the Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show has earned its reputation as one of the leading events on the Australian wine calendar. Guests will have the opportunity to experience this standard of excellence at our Cellar Tasting.”

New on the Cellar Tasting agenda is Lunch With Lyndey – Secrets of Food and Wine Pairing. This exclusive food and wine pairing lunch will be hosted by well-known food commentator, wine and lifestyle personality Lyndey Milan. Lyndey will walk guests through the subtleties of complementing mouth-watering meals with the perfect drop. Places are limited and are available for purchase when guests book their Cellar Tasting tickets online.

The RAS welcomes Australia’s very own “The Wine Man” Peter Bourne as the host of a brand-new Sparkling Wine Tutorial. Guests will be taken through the world of sparkling wines by one of our country’s most respected wine educators. Sparkling Wine Tutorial tickets can be reserved when guests purchase their tickets online, along with a cheese and wine matching master class and a Riedel Glass Tasting tutorial.

Award-winning gourmet products from the Sydney Royal Fine Food; and Cheese and Dairy Produce Shows will be provided as guests sample their way around the wines and a delicious Ploughman’s Lunch will be available for purchase.

Cellar Tasting tickets cost $65 per person and include the following:

• Unlimited tastings of more than 2200 Australian wines including the Trophy and Medal winners.
• Entry to an exclusive judges’ tutorial where you will learn about the judging process, new varietals and trends, and most importantly, how to taste wine like a professional.
• A Riedel Overture white wine glass to take home as a memento of the day.

• The opportunity to book into a one-hour Riedel Glass Tasting for $79.95 (RRP $190.00), including four Riedel Vinum glasses to be taken home as a gift. Attendees will learn about the influence of the shape of your glass on wine, how to find the right product for you, and the importance of decanting.
• Tasting of Sydney Royal Medal winning gourmet food products.
• Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show Results Catalogue.
• The opportunity to book a place in the sparkling wine tutorial, which will be on offer for bubbly connoisseurs.
• The opportunity to book a place in a cheese and wine matching tutorial with a qualified cheese judge.
• The opportunity to book into Lunch With Lyndey – Secrets of Food and Wine Pairing hosted by Lyndey Milan.

Cellar Tasting tickets are available for purchase online at www.sydneyroyal.com.au/cellartasting. For further information please email wine@rasnsw.com.au or call (02) 9704 1199.

New Rolling Chardonnay  

25/01/2012

Cumulus Estate Wines’ New Year’s resolution is to be even more committed to sustainable practices, implementing their ultimate ‘Bud-to-Bottle’ sustainability initiative; responsible drinking – for a healthy body and a health planet.

As one of the first NSW wine producers to achieve full membership of Entwine*, Cumulus Estate Wines has always been acutely aware of and undertaken activities to preserve natural resources and minimize environmental impact in their 508 hectare vineyard and 10,000 tonne capacity winery. Now they have taken the final step and extended their environmental practices to include their packaging.

In 2012, all of Cumulus Estate Wines’ Rolling and Climbing wines will now come in an O-I Lean+Green® lightweight bottle, giving them the same premium look and feel but with the added advantage of:

• 20% less weight per bottle (410g vs 500g)
• 20% less energy in production cycle
• 12% less water in production cycle
• 12% less transport conversion emissions

The wines also have new lightweight flexographic print cartons. Made from recycled materials these use 20% less energy in production cycle and 8% less transport conversion emissions.

“The new generation ‘Lean and Green’ bottles enable us to extend our commitment to sustainable practises beyond the vineyard and winery to our packaging, without compromising the presentation of our wines," says senior winemaker Debbie Lauritz. “Through the Entwine program, we track our environmental awareness and carbon emissions and set targets to improve standards each year, always continuing our commitment to reaching higher elevations of quality and sustainability.”

One of the first wines down the Cumulus bottling line is the new… 2011 Rolling Chardonnay, Central Ranges NSW (RRP $17.95)

And the quality inside the bottle is as sharp as the new packaging.  Debbie comments, “Due to the cooler 2011 growing season in the Central Ranges and Orange, we had slower ripening than normal so that when we harvested the fruit it contained lower levels of sugar. This has led to our finished wines having a lower alcohol level and more elegant, finer fruit flavours. The vines also benefited from larger, more balanced canopies and good fruit shading to limit bunch exposure.

These conditions were of particular advantage to Chardonnay this year, giving us possibly the best fruit we’ve ever produced. The flavours range from citrus and white stonefruits in earlier picked blocks, through to riper tropical fruit spectrum that we deliberately harvested a little riper in early March.

The result is a 2011 Rolling Chardonnay that shows greater finesse and an exciting blend of tropical fruit and citrus flavours, with a textured mouth feel and balanced acidity.”

Another great wine championing the quality of modern Australian Chardonnay this summer.

If you would like to sample the new 2011 Rolling Chardonnay and check out its new packaging, please contact:
Alex Burgener, Palate PR P: 0404 900 961  E: alexburgener@palatepr.com.au

Stockists:
All Climbing and Rolling wines are distributed by Cumulus Estate Wines. Available nationally though independent liquor stores.

Existing Cumulus Sustainability Practices:

In the Vineyard:

• The first Entwine* certified Vineyard in the Orange region
• Winner 2010 Best Environmental Sustainability / Water Conservation Award at the CGU Orange Outstanding Business Awards, achieved through:

-- Solar powered automated sub-surface irrigation system that reduces evaporation & carbon emissions
-- Computer monitored multi-depth soil moisture probe technology that optimises water usage by individual grape variety and vineyard block
-- Inter-row organic matter composting, grass-cover and clover plantings that reduces insects, moisture loss, erosion and soil compaction
-- Multi-row multi-function farming equipment that covers 3 rows in a single tractor pass to reduce fossil fuel consumption
-- Usage monitoring of all vineyard inputs and recycling of key components such as water, power, fuel, vegetation matter, sprays and grape marc.

In the Winery:

• The first Entwine* certified Winery in the Orange region
• Winner 2010 Best Agribusiness Award at the CGU Orange Outstanding Business Awards, achieved through:

-- Energy conservation audits to measure and mitigate usage thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions
-- Energy reduction initiatives including wine tank insulation, inverter technology for heating/cooling of offices and laboratory
-- Water conservation measures at all stages of production
-- Recovery of residual materials and recycling of glass, plastic and cardboard materials.

*Entwine is an initiative of the Winemakers Federation of Australia to foster environmental responsibility – for further details visit www.wfa.gov.au

Waiheke Island Vineyards  

22/04/2011

FirstPress recently had the opportunity to travel to Waiheke Island, a short 30 minute ferry ride from Auckland. And what awaited was a very enjoyable wine tasting experience at four of the island’s vineyard cellar doors.

Goldwater Estate (www.thegoldieroom.co.nz)

Waiheke Island Goldie Chardonnay 2010 – pale yellow in colour, green apples and cream bouquet giving way to light buttery mid-palate displaying good fruit, leading to a dry finish. A fine example of New Zealand chardonnay. NZ$32

Waiheke weeping Sands Syrah 2009 – light red in colour, perfumed nose of blackberry and red currant, hint of spice and pepper on mid-palate with vanilla tannins, and long finish. A softer very drinkable style. NZ$32

Te Whau Vineyard (www.tehau.com )
These wines showed the impact of minimal intervention by the winemaker on the fruit harvested from very steep, north-facing slopes sheltered from the prevailing wind, but enjoying a maritime climate. No pumps are used in the gravity fed winery, and the winemaker used no finings.

Te Whau “The Point” 2006 (14.0% alcohol)
Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Merlot 30%, Cabernet Franc 15%, Malbec 5%.
– “Claret” red colour, a concentrated nose with hints of liquorice, clove and cherry. Rich, dense, ripe fruit with cigar-box notes and a long finish with abundant tannins.

Te Whau “The Point” 2007 (14.0% alcohol)
Cabernet Sauvignon 54%, Merlot 31%, Cabernet Franc 10%, Malbec 4%
– Dark venous red colour, a concentrated black fruit driven nose. Round and full palate with good fruit, soft tannins and a savoury, cedary, beautifully integrated finish. Delicious. NZ$70

Te Whau “The Point” 2008 (14.0% alcohol)
Cabernet Sauvignon 57%, Merlot 30%, Cabernet Franc 9%, Malbec 4%
– Dark venous red colour, a concentrated black currant and damson plum nose. Round and full palate with excellent fruit extending throughout, soft tannins and a savoury, cigar-box, well structured integrated finish. Delicious. NZ$70

Man O’ War Vineyards (www.manowarvineyards.co.nz )

At the far eastern end of the island, Man O’ War have a number of small vineyards, all contributing their individual terroir to the wines. The idyllically located tasting room is situated just metres from the thin strip of white sand that rims Man O’ War Bay. The views and situation are not the only spectacular things on display at Man O’ War.

Valkyrie Viognier 2010 (14.5% alcohol)
Medium yellow colour, intense stone fruit bouquet, very lifted and framed with sweet vanilla. The mid palate has lovely apricot intensity with good acid structure in the mid to back, and is well balanced for a wine of such high alcohol. Excellent. NZ$30

Ironclad Merlot Cabernet Franc 2008 (14.5% alcohol)
Merlot 52%, Cabernet Franc 27.0%, Malbec 10.5%, Petit Verdot  9.1%  and Cabernet Sauvignon 1.4%

This medium red-coloured wine has a complex aroma of cassis and red summer berries, earthy undertones with a touch of floral fragrance, tarmac and leather reminiscent of Bordeaux style. A delicious wine that will re-frame your expectations of southern hemisphere merlot blends. NZ$ 39.95

Dreadnought Syrah 2008 (14.0% alcohol)
This dark red wine has aromas of white pepper, star anise and blueberries with hints of charcuterie and a subtle floral fragrance. The mid palate is vibrant, with ripe layers of complex characters that unfold as the wine opens up in the glass revealing subtle hints of spice and meaty game, a rich supple palate with the graphite-like tannins. Superb. NZ$ 39.95

Cable Bay Vineyards (www.cablebay.co.nz )

In a short period of time Cable Bay has forged a reputation for elegantly crafted wines, well matched to food. FirstPress dined at their acclaimed restaurant and sampled just three of their white wines.

Cable Bay Gewurztraminer 2008
Pale yellow in colour, with lifted passionfruit and tropical fruit salad nose, giving way to mouth-filling wine with a dry finish. Very good. Excellent match with the Pork Rillons. NZ$ 10 per glass.

Cable Bay Viognier  2010
Medium yellow in colour, with bouquet of apricots and yellow peaches, and a mouth filling textured mid-palate, the wine was well matched with the Venison Carpaccio. NZ$ 11 per glass.

Cable Bay Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2008 (14.0% alcohol)
Medium yellow in colour, with a nose of tropical and stonefruit characters, moving to a creamy, biscuity mid-palate, with a lingering finish including nutty complexity, good fruit and traces of minerality. Excellent. NZ$ 12 per glass.

So next time you find yourself with half a day to spare in Auckland, take some time to visit the vineyards of Waiheke Island.

Featured Winery - Catherine Vale Vineyard (Hunter Valley)

Catherine Vale is a small family owned operation. 5 grape varieties are grown on the property. The vineyard was planted with Semillon and Chardonnay in 1993.  In 1998 the red varieties Dolcetto and Barbera were planted and in 2002 Verdelho was grafted on a third of the Semillon, an additional 200 verdelho vines are used for making our Madeira. Present release is 7 years old. [... more]

Featured Wine - 2005 Catherine Vale Dolcetto

The pioneering plantings of Dolcetto at Catherine Vale are unique in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales.  The initial cuttings were sourced from Bests at Great Western. The delicate smoky almond and earthy aromas have undertones of berry and white peach and some clove and oriental spice is the result of fermentation and maturation in American oak. Soft mouth entry and acidity herald rich mid palate fruit flavours of anise and fine tannin.  The finish is dry and oaky with subtle cherry flavours and the wine is excellent with Asian and Mediterranean cuisine. [... more]

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