Christmas is my favourite time of year. The smell of gardenias. The sun. The green grass. The promise of holidays. It's so good. This time of year is also perfect for opening lots of wines. I …
Wine shows cop a lot of flack. You need only read the feedback to my post on the 2018 Sydney Royal Wine Show exhibitors tasting to see that. But is it justified? And indeed do …
There is no reason why this tasting should be so bad. Yet every year I line up a collection of textural white wines and every year it's disappointing. Except that this lineup didn't suck at all. …
Topper's Mountain Barrel Aged Gewurztraminer 2015 This is the best Gewurz in Australia. Top of the list. King of the hill. A number one... What's even better is how unlikely it is. An unheralded region (and one of …
Huntington Estate Mudgee Gewurztraminer 2015 Now this is a surprise packet. I've got a massive soft spot for Gewurtz, but this Huntington Estate is good. Concentrated and varietal, the nose a riot of lychee fruit, before a …
The quest for quality BYO restaurants in my area (Sydney's northern beaches) is an endless pursuit. Sure, there are plenty of quality restaurants. There are also plenty of BYO restaurants. But there are precious few that …
Topper's Mountain Barrel Ferment Gewurztraminer 2014 In a few short years, Topper's Mountain has become one of the most exciting wine producers in the country, blazing a trail with not only alternate varieties, but blends that …
Kellermeister Eden Valley Eiswein 2010 An Eden Valley Gewurztraminer ice wine? Tricky. Hand-picked grapes are slowly frozen over 2 weeks and whole bunch pressed when frozen. But this doesn't tasty tricky. Just odd. Almost Muscat like in …
Toppers Mountain Bricolage Blanc 2013 (New England, NSW) Toppers Mountain is, by a large measure, New England's hero winery. The tablelands Clonakilla. A hotbed of fine wine in northern NSW. Part of the interest with Toppers is …
Spring Vale Louisa Sticky Gewurztraminer 2013 (East Coast, Tasmania)9.1%, Screwcap, $22CD 375ml The sweet wine for Spring Vale and it's cleverly, utilising a little skin contact (a week apparently) and a sweetness level that seems about …
Topper's Mountain new releases Tonight I have the new releases from Topper's Mountain on the bench, with both wines again showcasing the blinding intensity that this fine New England producer is famous for (and great packaging …
Spring Vale Gewurztraminer 2013 (East Coast, Tasmania) 13.6%, Screwcap, $28Source: Samplewww.springvalewines.com I think I can count on one hand how many bottles of straight Australian Gewurtz I've drunk over the years. Tasted heaps, love the variety, but …
Toppers Gewurtztraminer 2012 (New England, NSW) 12.6%, Screwcap, $35Source: Samplewww.toppers.com.au This week kicks off the NSW Wine Festival, a month long celebration of all things NSW wine. Considering that it once was a week-long festival, I …
Pizzini White Roman 2012 (King Valley, Vic) 12%, Screwcap, $18.50CD Source: Sample www.pizziniwines.com A blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Grigio. I like the usage of the Italian Grigio in lieu of French Gris. A reflection of Pizzini's outlook …
Sublime dry German wines: Rebholz Is it a Riesling or a Chardonnay? As a writer (or a pale imitation of one at least), I reserve the most respect for those who can say more with less words …
Waipara - the other Kiwi hotspot I've been digging through some old notes this week and chanced upon a file I thought I'd lost. A file of tasting notes actually, compiled during a very brief …
Cloudy Bay new releases If you're looking for me next weekend this is where I'll be. Stunning! Cloudy Bay. THE Marlborough icon. The winery that, along with Brancott (nee Montana), really propelled Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc into the popular …
Wooed by Henschke Henschke Hill of Grace Vineyard (Photo by Kate Parry) It must have been 6 or 7 degrees in the Henschke tasting room, perhaps less. Needless to say it was cold. I was cold. The wines …
Penfolds Cellar Reserve Range Cellar Reserve = character! One of the good things about being the most profitable part of the Treasury Wine Estate (nee Fosters) empire is that you really can dictate terms. By that I mean that …
McLaren Vale: Highlights from the new generation If I was in the mood for cliches, this article could be called 'Mclaren Vale: The next vintage' or 'McLaren Vale's new crop' or such. But I'm ditching all …
At 18 I started working in a small suburban bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. It was my first year of university, doing a degree that I didn't really like, and a liquor shop seemed like fun. Needless to say I discovered wine, my uni degree morphed into something completely different and wine/beer took over my life.
Almost twenty years later and I currently spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.
While wearing my writer cap I write features for the likes of National Liquor News, Gourmet Traveller WINE and the RAS plus I'm a Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert. Read more about me here or get in touch to book your next wine event with me here.