Quinta do Crasto Superior Red
Who makes it? Quinta do Crasto Superior is a succulent Douro red blend. The Quinta has apparently been making wine since 1615. The current family has been in custody of the Quinta for over 100 years. Crasto mean ‘Roman fort’ in Latin (castrum). The...
The Beach by Whispering Angel
Who makes it? The Beach is a recent addition to the Chateau d’Esclans range of rosé. Unquestionably, they have a now enviable range of rosé from the South of France. The range also includes the uber prestigious ‘Garrus’. The estate is partly owned by Sacha Lichine,...
Bring on the wines of Summer 2023!
Looking for something out of the ordinary..Love learning more about the wine, you are drinking? Want to know how to choose better wines? The Winemusing Sessions are now on sale. Roll on Summer! Bring on the rosé! Bring on the fresh whites! Bring on the chilled reds!...
Luis Felipe Edwards Macerao Naranjo Orange
Who makes it? Luis Felipe Edwards makes the Macerao Naranjo Orange wine from the Itata Valley in Chile. This is a very approachable ‘natural’ wine. The name ‘orange’ is due to the colour. As is the term ‘Naranjo’ which relates to the orange tree. The term...
Philip Shaw The Dreamer Viognier
Who makes it? The Dreamer Viognier is one of Philip Shaw’s range from Orange, New South Wales. There Shaw has a very stylish cellar door on the outskirts of the town of Orange. He has some of the highest vineyards in Australia, despite being so close to Sydney. The...
Shiraz Cabernet – The Art of Blending Bordeaux and Hermitage
Shiraz Cabernet - a great Australian classic! Imagine two French vignerons, who happen to be best friends, meeting to discuss wine. One from Bordeaux and one from Hermitage. The winemaker from Bordeaux laments about how their hard the vintage has been so far. Sadly,...
Marsanne going solo Australia
As one of Australia's unsung white heroes, here is a potted history of marsanne in Australia. The reality is that globally so few bottles containing this erstwhile grape declare it loud and proud. It’s enough to give a grape a self-esteem issue. In its homeland along...
Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Shiraz
Who makes it? Yalumba The Signature is one of the iconic red wines from the Hill-Smith portfolio. It became part of Australia’s vinous history from its first vintage in 1962. There has been 57 people who have added their penmanship to the label ever since. The...
Philipponat Royale Réserve Non Dosé Champagne
Philipponat is one of the original families of Champagne and they are one of a small handful that have a commercially available zero dosage Champagne. The ‘Non Dosé’ on this label simply indicates no additional sugar was added to this Champagne after it was disgorged....
Albarino! Alvarinho! Why we love it!
Albarino or Alvarinho? Well, it depends on where you come from really it does. Same grape, different accent! Albarino in Spain and when it crosses the border into neighbouring Portugal, it likes to be called Alvarinho. It is the star white wine grape...
The veritable story of Viognier, Vermentino & Verduzzo
There is light at the end of the Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Grigio soaked tunnel.... While I enjoy the odd glass of Sauvignon Blanc, I have made it my mission to remind everyone that there are more interesting white wines. Wines from what is often called...
Yalumba The Virgilius Viognier
Who makes it? Yalumba The Virgilius Viognier is part of Viognier story from the Hill-Smith portfolio. It is without a doubt one of the flagship wines of the brand. And unsurprisingly, one of the benchmark white wines for Australia. Yalumba have proven themselves as...
Latest videos:
Winery Spotlight: Rathfinny Wine Estate
Click here to watch this video. or click here to read about Rathfinny Wine Estate
Winemaker Series: Colette Bonnet Champagne
click here to watch video click here to read about Colette Bonnet Champagne
What to drink: Bordeaux wines for Christmas
Please click to watch video Note: First published 24th November, 2018
Winemaker Series: Gavin Monery, Vagabond
Click here to watch video click here to read about Vagabond Winery
Winemaker Series: Henry Connell, The Uncommon
click here to watch video click here to read about The Uncommon Wines and Henry Connell.
Winery Spotlight: Piggs Peake
click here to watch this video click here to read about Piggs Peake
Albarino! Alvarinho! Why we love it!
Albarino or Alvarinho? Well, it depends on where you come from really it does. Same grape, different accent! Albarino in Spain and when it crosses the border into neighbouring Portugal, it likes to be called Alvarinho. It is the star white wine grape...
English sparkling wines that you need to taste!
There are now many excellent English sparkling wines to choose from! In your search for great bubbles, don’t miss out on the opportunity to taste some of the elegant English sparkling wines that are becoming easier to find. I have reviewed a number in the past –...
Natural wines – 5 wines that you should be drinking.
‘Natural wines’ is a rather broad term. What does it mean? The best I can describe it is a wine that has been made with the least amount of human interference. This minimal human interference also may refer to the way the vineyard is looked after as well....
Yalumba – all the land around
Yalumba - the history The Hill Smith family have been making wine at Yalumba since their first vintage in 1854. When Samuel Smith planted the first grapes in 1849, he was already a savvy entrepreneur but it was a stint chasing Bendigo gold that helped fund...
Tahbilk – A bottled history in Marsanne
The Tahbilk range of marsanne tells a rich story steeped in the pioneering spirit of Australian winemaking and the Purbrick family. Nowhere else in Australia, to my knowledge, has the breadth of choice of straight marsanne wine on offer. The first vines The...
Langmeil, the Lindner family preserving Barossa history
Langmeil, one of the gems of the Barrossa Valley.... Australia’s Barossa Valley has a well-deserved reputation for some of the world’s finest wines. Amongst the producers that focus on delivering powerful red wines that tell a story of alcohol and dried fruit, there...
Women in Wine:
Cote Bonneville Chardonnay
Who makes it? Cote Bonneville is a family run winery in the Yakima Valley, Washington State. The Shiels family expanded the vineyard back in the early 1990s when they purchased it and daughter, Kerry Shiels, is now the winemaker. The oldest block in their DuBrul...
Jane Eyre Wines Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir
Who makes it? Jane Eyre is an Australian winemaker that also puts her stamp on French wine, including this Beaujolais wine from Chenas. She is now well known for her expertise in Pinot Noir after vintages at Cullen in Margaret River, Felton Road, Central Otago and Ata...
Santa Julia Organic Torrontes
Who makes it? Santa Julia is one of the Zuccardi family’s estates, with Julia Zuccardi at the head. The Torrontes grapes for this wines come from Mendoza vineyards at the foot of the Andes, from 600 metres above sea level. This simply means that the grapes are ripened...