Harvest Time

Most wineries (everywhere, not just Margaret River) depend on specialists to support them. Everything from accountants to pruners, truckers, pickers etc. Whilst those specialists might not be part of the winery permanent staff, they often perform key roles that the winery depends on.

Winemakers love to be 'in control' of EVERYTHING, even though a few things (like the weather) are just a bit beyond their reach. But any chance to be in control of the process puts a smile on their faces. Otherwise, they are left to manage the compromises that real life brings...like the rest of us do every day.

A critical compromise is when to pick. It becomes a juggle with the availability of the harvesting machine (usually a contractor) Vs the ideal in terms of ripeness and flavour. This is often a huge challenge for the winemaker. Fortunately for some, the winery that has their own harvesting machine can get closer to that ideal picking date. Vineyard managers and wine makers in those wineries with their own harvesters have plenty of other things to worry over....but the timing of the harvest isn't such a headache!

With a blind tasting to match one of three wines at my dinner party we had a lot of fun and some interesting discussion. The idea was simply to pick the wine that went best with the food.  The wines turned out to be Ashbrook Verdelho [94 points and $22], Sauvignon Blanc and Ashbrook Chardonnay [94 points and $35].

Most agreed that the spicy Asian soup was best matched by the Ashbrook Verdelho. My friend Andy is in love with the Ashbrook Chardonnay and according to him it was the wine of choice of the night. Our next dish was crispy skin Atlantic salmon on a bed of mash with steamed vegetables. We all chose the Ashbrook Chardonnay.

With a small glass of Vasse Felix cane Cut Semillon and some delicious cheese it didn't take long for discussion to swing to the merits and outstanding value of some great  Margaret River wines. We agreed that some of the best wines are the ones 'under the radar' and finding them is a bunch of fun.

 We moved on to a Hamelin Bay 2001 Shiraz. I am certain this wine has 10 years or more of life. It is immense and powerful...and delicious, but it needs some time in a carafe to open up.

I love these curiosity, dinners. There is no smarmy quiz,  just an invitation to savour the food and wine. I have to say that Ashbrook wine was a lot better than my cooking, but it was a fun dinner that any wine lover can enjoy All you need is enough glasses to allow everyone to sample all of the wines with each dish.  We put a colour tape on each glass so that everyone  gets the same wine in a specific glass. Loots of fun.

Great Wines & Great Value

There's no doubt many of us have spent money on wine and wondered about the wisdom of the purchase after the event. I know I have. Of course the two things most of us remember are the really great wines we've had....and the disappointments. The so so wines in the middle are usually ignored....when in fact they probably out to sit in the 'failures' side of the ledger. Let me explain.

For most of us, wine is the classic 'eyes are bigger than tummy' story. We imagine we drink more wine than we do. So it makes sense to try and make the wine 'special'. Trouble is, most 'special' wine carries a 'special' price tag. Right?    Not so!!!!

There are genuine bargains to be had and fortunately James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion has done much of the sip, slurp for us. I am an unabashed fan of this benchmark work in Australian wine.

Grab yourself a copy and get reading. You'll be amazed at the 'Great Wines & Great Value' you'll discover.

What's the Buzz in Margaret River?

EVENTS CALENDAR

Every Tuesday: Ransack Your Cellar – Must Margaret River
7 September 2012: Cape Divas present The Reunion dinner theatre at Voyager Estate
7 September 2012: Matt Gresham – Settlers Margaret River
8 September 2012: Margaret River Farmers’ Market – Community Resource Centre
8 September 2012: Grace Barbe – Settlers Margaret River
8 September – 19 October 2012: Jenny Doherty Art Exhibition - Hay Shed Hill
9 September 2012: Arts Margaret River Cinema “The Dark Knight Rises”
9 September 2012: Graeme Dickinson – Settlers Margaret River
13 September 2012: AWRI Roadshow Margaret River Seminar – Margaret River Education Campus
14 September 2012: Sneaky Weasel Gang – Settlers Margaret River
15 September 2012: Katchafire – Settlers Margaret River
16 September 2012: Arts Margaret River Cinema “Bully”
16 September 2012: Scott Bassham – Settlers Margaret River
19 September 2012: Harley Breen ‘The Kingswood & I’ – Margaret River Cultural Centre
21 September 2012: Oka – Settlers Margaret River
22 September 2012: Margaret River Farmers’ Market – Community Resource Centre
24 September 2012: Grygorian Brothers – Margaret River Cultural Centre
26 September 2012: Arts Margaret River Cinema “Hysteria”
29 September 2012: Margaret River Farmers’ Market – Community Resource Centre
29 September 2012: Limited Release Wine Dinner – Knee Deep Wines
30 September 2012: Arts Margaret River Cinema “My Past My Present”
4 October 2012: MRWIA AGM
4 October 2012: Oh Mercy – Settlers Margaret River
6 October 2012: Howard Park Wines International Pinot Tasting
8 – 14 October 2012: Margaret River International Pro Tennis Tournament – Margaret River Tennis Club
13 October 2012: Margaret River Farmers’ Market – Community Resource Centre
16 October 2012: MRWIA Board meeting
18 October 2012: SurfAid Surfing Chefs Margaret River – Must
20 October 2012: Cullen Wines 27th Great International Chardonnay Tasting
21 October 2012: Holden Monaro Show and Shine at Laurance Cellar
27 October 2012: Margaret River Farmers’ Market – Community Resource Centre
28 October 2012: Yum Cha at Vasse Felix
10 November 2012: Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting 30th Anniversary
10 November 2012: Margaret River Farmers’ Market – Community Resource Centre
16 November 2012: The Beards with The Snow Drops – Settlers Tavern
18 November 2012: Cullen Wines Annual Indian Indulgence Luncheon
22 – 25 November 2012: Margaret River Gourmet Escape
24 November 2012: Margaret River Farmers’ Market – Community Resource Centre
26 November 2012: Margaret River Cabernet Masterclass
26 – 29 November 2012: Margaret River Wine Show
29 November 2012: Margaret River Wine Show Gala Awards Dinner – Vasse Felix
7 – 9 December 2012: Australian Chamber Orchestra – Vasse Felix
8 December 2012: Margaret River Farmers’ Market – Community Resource Centre
8 December 2012 – 1 April 2013: Movies in the Vineyard – Cape Mentelle
18 December 2012: MRWIA Board meeting
22 December 2012: Margaret River Farmers’ Market – Community Resource Centre
20 – 22 February 2013: Emergence Creative Festival – Margaret River
15 – 19 May 2013: Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival 2013
28 May 2013: Margaret River Wine in Brisbane - Stewarts Wine Company
30 May 2013: Margaret River Wine in Sydney - Customs House, Circular Quay
1 June 2013: Margaret River Wine in Melbourne – Prince Wine Store
20 June 2013: Margaret River Wine in Perth – Fraser’s Restaurant, Kings Park

Standout and Affordable

Here's something that's impossible to ignore if you are interested in wine....


From Watershed Premium Wines MD - Geoff Barrett

"I am thrilled and delighted to advise that our 2010 Awakening Cabernet Sauvignon has today been awarded a Gold Medal and SIX TROPHIES in the 2012 Perth Royal Wine Show. The six trophies are as follows:

Best Cabernet

Best West Australian Red Wine

Best 2010 Red Table Wine

Best West Australian Wine

Best Red Table Wine

Best Wine of the Show"

So - Congratulations Geoff to you and your team. A great effort and recognition from your peers.

Wine Bargains in Margaret River

One of the upsides of the wine marketing business is that some of the little guys get left behind. Not so great for them, but great for those of us who have an eye for a bargain. Of course sorting out great wines that are under-priced...from a sea of 'ho hum' wines is the trick.

We all like to think of ourselves as discriminating sleuths when it comes to finding wine bargains, and to some extent (for me anyway), that's a big part of the fun of wine. But let's face it - you can waste a lot of time and money. Personally, I am not too proud to start with the recommendations of clever people who publish their conclusions about wines they have tasted. That seems like a good stating point for me. If the review strikes a chord with me, then I'll look for the wine.

I am an unabashed fan of James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion. I make no apologies for it. James and his professional crew spend a lot more time messing about with wine tasting than I would dare contemplate. I have 'the bible' with me always when I am conducting our Margaret River Confluence private wine tours (plug).  Seriously, it's the best guide to 'wine Bargains'. I can compare wines of similar ratings and look for that great value wine that's been hiding its light under a bushel.

Here's a couple I've found already:

Millbrook Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc. I know the winery isn't in Margaret River....but this wone is made entirely from margaret River fruit. They own one of my favourite Margaret River wineries (Deep Woods), so they have the presence here.  This wine is rated at 96 points in James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion. Price? $20. It's much more than a 'cheap and cheerful' wine and a dead set bargain!

Cape Mentelle 'Trinders' Cabernet Merlot 2009.  Great wine. 96 points. $32. Bargain!

Luxury Private Tours with Margaret River Confluence


Margaret River Confluence specialises in luxury, private, tailor-made experiences for modern day explorers.  No matter if you are on your own, with someone special or with a group of friends, our tailor-made excursions are crafted with you in mind.