Australian Wines Character of Each, the Tasting Packed Quite a Punch
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MasterClass MasterClass wine scenario. He laid emphasis on the fact that Australia with its sheer land size is equivalent to a continent, especially when compared to other wine countries of Europe. Such a vastness of terrain offers great diversity of micro climates and soil types. As regards Victoria, the region has a largely Mediterranean climate and its viticultural roots can be traced to the mid nineteenth century. Victoria produces varietal wines largely from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz apart from several other grapes like Muscat, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Marsanne, Roussanne to name a few. Victoria is broadly demarcated into three regions viz. Central Victoria (Heathcote, Goulburn Valley, Strathbogie Ranges ,Upper Goulburn) North Eastern Victoria (Rutherglen, Glenrowan, King Valley, Alpine Valleys, Beechworth) and Port Philip (Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Sunbury, Macedon Ranges). Apart from there are other ‘ungrouped’ regions like Pyrenees, Bendigo and Swan Hill and Gippsland. Wineries Represented at the MasterClass Lethbridge Sub Region: Geelong, Port Philip A MasterClass by Sommelier Magandeep Singh at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi A MasterClass with showcased five wines from Victoria along with a Melbourne Gin, to an audience comprising importers, hospitality professionals and media. The number of wines may appear small, but going by the distinctive Australian Wines character of each, the tasting packed quite a punch. The quorum included two each, Chardonnay and 86 Pinot Noir, followed by a Shiraz wine. Out of these, 87 De Bortoli Woodfired Shiraz has been in the Indian any of us may be aware that Australia New Delhi and AUSTRADE probably market for quite some time now; being imported by is one of the top exporters of wines to recognises this potential, as they have Prestige Wines and Spirits. The gin called MGC (an India. Most likely, we also know that been promoting their country’s wines acronym for The Melbourne Gin Company) is also M this mantle is largely incumbent on a few fairly regularly in India. In Feb 2020, already being imported in India by a Bengaluru- popular Aussie brands like Jacob’s Creek, before the Coronavirus outbreak, the based company. The owners of Lethbridge winery come from Penfolds, De Bortoli et al. It therefore Australia India Business Exchange a scientific background and are said to have 2020 makes good sense for other Australian (AIBX) programme showcased a range of Victoria and the Diversity of Australian approached winemaking based on their analyses of 2020 wines (plenty of them being out there) to wines from Australia. The latest on the Terroir soil type, degree days and other climatic indicators. April April explore the Indian shores to tap into the block were wines from Victoria, a region After the casual ‘self-poured’ rounds of gin as the Their formal education in winemaking of course has potential of our growing market of wines. on the south eastern tip of the Australian guests assembled, the MasterClass commenced with enabled this pursuit of passion. Both their wines that Spiritz The Australian High Commission in mainland. Col. Ravi Joshi Singh taking us briefly through the wine regions of we tasted had pretty interesting labels, with hand Spiritz Victoria, highlighting its importance in the Australian scripted descriptions on the front label itself. Cover Story MasterClass with lesser intense fruit flavours. It comes across as a Garagiste Le Stagiaire Pinot Noir 2017 wee bit weightier than an average Beaujolais Nouveau. Region: Mornington Peninsula, Port Philip Menage a Noir is made using partial whole bunches, The French influence on the wine world is often open fermented and aged in a mix of stainless steel and noticeable in label names. Garagiste in French 2nd/3rd use barrels. The wine had an appetising nose means ‘garage owner’ and I guess that might imply of fresh cherries and strawberries, followed by a light- the ‘boutique’ nature of this winery that has limited medium juicy palate which was gum drying towards production. Le Stagiaire means ‘the apprentice’ and the finish. Overall, it is a light-hearted and enjoyable this wine is a blend of Pinot Noir grapes from four wine, good on its own or with pass around snacks. separate vineyards across the Mornington peninsula. The wine is neither fined nor filtered, thus giving it a Fowles Wine beautiful layered complexity. Sub Region: Strathbogie Ranges, Central Victoria This translucent ruby-garnet coloured wine turned Strathbogie Ranges is a huge granite peninsula out to be my favourite at the tasting. It had a fleshy dense pushed up from the ocean that lies 100 kilometres north red fruit’s character with a hint of black pepper and a of Melbourne. Starting from the winemaker and owner little prickliness on the tongue tip. The finish of the wine Matt Fowles, the team at Fowles winery comes from was lingering and a little powdery; well justified with its diverse professional backgrounds but with a common unfiltered character. passion for wine. While Matt is a former lawyer, his wife Luise (Lu) is an ex graphic designer and accounting De Bortoli Woodfired Shiraz 2018 professional who is now the force behind their branding Sub Region: Heathcote, Central Victoria and design. We tasted their intriguing wine called Ladies A couple of years back, I had tasted a different who Shoot their Lunch that they call as “the world’s first vintage of this wine at its launch and ever since it has wine blended to complement wild game meat”. been a regular on my buying list. Heathcote region is well-known for its full bodied reds, and this wine is no Ladies Who Shoot their Lunch exception. Chardonnay (Wild Fermented) According to the producer, ‘Woodfired’ here indicates Adhering to its description, LWSTL Chardonnay is the wine’s particular affinity to chargrilled food and Lethebridge Chardonnay 2017 fermented with ambient wild yeast. It is matured in a cured meats. This was told to me by Darren Blood, Lethebridge Chardonnay 2017 was of medium lemon selection of new and one year old French oak barrels; Export Manager, De Bortoli Wines, who had hosted the colour with tropical fruit aromas; notably guava and produced by six different Coopers. The label of the inaugural tasting. melon. The wine was dry and well-balanced with good wine is colourful and attractive, depicting its hunter- De Bortoli Woodfired Shiraz 2018 is deep ruby acidity and it had a complex and creamy palate ending on gatherer demeanour. coloured with dense black fruits’ and sweet spice a mineral note. I found it to be a powerful white wine that This pale clear lemon wine had citrus, gooseberry notes. Full bodied and rounded on the palate, it can go well with a range of food options including those aromas and a crunchy acidity, which is akin to biting comes with dark berry and sweet vanilla flavours. that may classically be paired with light-medium bodied into a green apple. The wine is light, refreshing and I was happy that the wine measured up to my red wines. Notwithstanding that, the wine is very much according to me, ideally suited as a summer refresher. expectations yet again. enjoyable on its own, but I would definitely prefer it with food. 88 89 Lethbridge Menage A Noir Pinot Noir 2018 The French name of this wine perhaps depicts the fondness of the winemaker for France. In French, Menage a Noir may not mean anything significant but a popular phrase in French –‘Menage à Trois’ means a threesome. That made me guess that such naming maybe is a take on the team of their founders - Ray Nadeson, Maree Collis and 2020 Adrian Thomas. 2020 Menage a Noir is a light-bodied Pinot Noir that gave an April April impression of being somewhere between a Bordeaux Claret and a Beaujolais Nouveau. I describe it so because the light Spiritz ruby coloured wine appeared somewhat like a Claret, albeit Spiritz.