Vinodiversity Blog

Australian Wine Shows in September

Many regional wine shows are held in September. In some cases only local wines are judges and in others entries are open to all the wines of that stste or even Australia.

The strong tradition of wine shows and awards allows winemakers to compare thier wines to those of their peers, and the awards given provide rough guidance to consumers as  what the quality of the wines are.

Often the judging is followed by a public tasting or a dinner and sometimes the wine  show is part of a larger regional festival. These events are well worth attending as they give participants a deeper knowledge of the local terroir.

If you can't make it you can always check out the results on the websites of the organising bodies

Some wine shows you might like to find out about

 

Riverland Wine Show

http://www.riverlandwine.org.au/wineshow.php

12-14 September, Includes wines from Riverland, Swan Hill, Murray Darling, Riverina and Rutherglen Regions.

Riverina Wine Show

http://www.riverina-winemakers.org.au/wineshow.htm 

10 September Includes International Sweet Wine Challenge

Barossa Wine Show

http://www.barossa.com/BGWA/winebarossa/wineshow.aspx

Judging 12-14 September, Dinner 15 September, Public Tasting 18 September

Mudgee Wine Show and Festival Show

http://www.mudgeewine.com.au/pages/Mudgee-Wine-Festival-Program-2011.html

 9- 25  September Mudgee Wine Show and Festival Show results out on 10 September

Kiama Wine Show

http://www.kiamawineshow.org.au/2011/index.htm

22-23 September

Rutherglen Wine Show

http://www.rutherglenwineshow.com.au/program-of-events.html

23 September

NSW Wine Awards

http://www.nswwine.com.au/

19-20 September

QLD Wine Awards

http://www.queenslandwineawards.org.au/

21 September

 

International Grenache Day

Last year grenache enthusiats started the International Grenache day.  This year the event willl be held on Friday 23 September 2011.

Thousands of participants and lots of events will take place around the world. Find out  here

Details on this Google map

Use the google map to zoom in on your area and find local events. You can take part in a local event, or if that's not possible you can get a couple of friends together and have your own event, but make sure you add it to the google map above. It's easy and fun!

International tempranillo day

Tempranillo Advocates Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS) is on holding the first International Tempranillo day on September 1 See details here.

The variety is really gathering traction in Australia as well see the main Vinodiversity page at 

http://www.vinodiversity.com/tempranillo.html

Rutherglen touring map

Winemakers of Rutherglen is a group promoting their region in Northeast Victoria.

They now have a map of the region in PDF format. It is a handy reference to 20 of the best wineries

 

You can download and print the map at http://www.winemakers.com.au and while you ar eon the site check out the other info about upcoming events.

Sagrantino Sessions

Sagrantino is the specail red grape variety of Umbria in Italy.  It makes fruity juicy red wines with oodles of tannin and structure.

A few innovative Australian wineries are producing wines from this variety, and the results so far have been quite promising. You can find out more by checking out the Sagrantino Sessions events in McLaren Vale below. 

List of australian wineries using Sagrantino can be found at http://www.vinodiversity.com/sagrantino.html

 

Alternatives win at Fed Square Showcase

Update Thursday 4 August Souma Savarro voted People's Choice as best white wine at Awards showcase.

Two alternative wines won accolades at the Federation Squre Regional Wine Showcase last night (3 Aug 2011) 

Soumah won a trophy for Best in Class for their 2010 Savarro made with Savagnin grapes.  Remember Savagnin, This is the stuff we thought was Albarino until a couple of years back. OK this wine is a wonderful mouthful of flavours made by Soumah newcomers to the Yarra valley.

Best in the Mediterranean red category was the 2008 Box Stallion Tempranillo.  It also won the trophy for best red wine in the show.

So we have two wines made from alternative varieties winning prizes against some fairly stiff competition from the traditional varieties. Great stuff and congratulations to the winemakers.

 

Love affair with Southern Italian wine

Just started Melbourne Film Festival so I decide to look at Silvestro's Terronia video on his Love Affair with Southern Italian Wine. Looking forward to the school in October and there are still some places left.

 

More info from http://www.vinodiversity.com/italian-wine-school.html

 

Awaiting Table Awaits

Just finalised my booking for Terronia the wine school of Southern Italy.

The video below shows a passionate Silvestro talking about his region, his school and the food and wine culture there.

The Awaiting Table Video from The Awaiting Table on Vimeo.

There are still places available.  See http://www.vinodiversity.com/italian-wine-school.html

You can see more about the cooking school and the wine school at

http://www.awaitingtable.com 

Make sure you tell Silvestro that Darby recommended you and so he will know that your appreciate great diverse wines - of which there are plenty in Puglia.

 

 

 

Fed Square this week

Looking forward to this month's Fed Square Showcase, the last for this cycle.  Next month is the annual awards night.

The wineries will be  from the Bendigo, Heathcote,  Sunbury,  Murray Darling and Swan Hill regions.

I'll be there with my maps of Italy, Spain & Portugal and France - as well as the Vinodiversity book plus De Lon's Wine Grape Varietal Table -a ll on display and for sale.

Image of the France map. it measures 660X990 mm. 

If you can't come and buy them you can order them for post from vinodiversity.com

Fed square wine Showcase

4-30pm - 8-30pm Wed and Thurdsay 6 and 7 July.

Details at http://www.fedsquare.com/index.cfm?pageID=74

See you there, come for a chat, or to buy some maps or a book.