Volume 109 the March 2009

Grapevine Publishing Mgr: Peter Rawlins EEditor: Roger King

Newsletter of the Guild of SA (Inc) www.wineguildsa.com

to present members’ badges to Greg and Libby Lang and we trust you have a long and THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE enjoyable involvement with The Clare Weekend was another successful function the Guild. We are always for the Guild, with about 40 members and guests in looking for new ideas, so attendance despite the extreme heat on the please don’t hesitate to talk to Saturday!! Our three hosts looked after us a Committee member if you tremendously, any suggestions for future each with their functions. individual style,

and all gave us The Guild gives members a plenty of variety of opportunities to increase their knowledge knowledge to of wine and our next function is no exception – a file away. The “Varietal Tasting” to be held at the North Adelaide tasting of a Primary School. Thanks to Paul Rogers who has taken number of the lead role in organising what promises to be a museum and vertical tastings of was terrific function. Full details are elsewhere in this indeed a privilege for our members. On behalf of the Newsletter. Guild I would like to again thank Richard and Rasa and their colleagues from Crabtree Wines, Hannah from Last year Jan and Niall O’Donnell Stringy Brae and Andrew and Jane from Mitchell organised a very popular “Extra- Wines. A full report curricular” dinner at Martinhas from Cameron Best is Restaurant at Adelaide TAFE. elsewhere in this They have kindly agreed to newsletter. organise another in May, so

check out the details elsewhere Once again we in the Newsletter. entertained a number of guests – Sharon Looking further ahead, our McGrath for the function on 14 June will be a visit to Fox Creek second time, and for at McLaren Vale, so make sure you put the the first time, Peter & date in your Diary now!! Dawn Rogers and Lorna

Davies-Colgate. We I look forward to catching up on the 5th of April. trust you enjoyed yourselves and that you are able to come to our next Roger King function. It was also good to see members Sharon Gemmel and Helena & Peter Runge who have not been able to attend for some time. It was also a pleasure

but is deceptively high in alcohol at 14% for such an easy-drinking chilled summer quaffer. 2009 Winery Tour – “The The winery is still on a high after recently being Trail” awarded “Best Australian Riesling” by Winestate magazine for their 2008 Watervale Riesling. We Wine Guild members had a comprehensive look at their flagship varietal returned on-mass to the with a vertical tasting of the ’08, ’06, ’03 & ’95 Clare Valley for the first Crabtree Watervale Riesling. Brief comment on time since 2004 to enjoy each include; a structured weekend of

tasting and evaluating 2008 – A great Riesling year, like ’02. Elegant, some of the fine punchy citrus, crisp, dry, high acid, long-length, Riesling’s this renowned bone dry. Could cellar for 10 years. region has to offer, and

a few other treats the 2006 – Awarded top Gold at Adelaide Wine Show. winemakers had for us. Some bottle age now developing.

Coincidentally the last Clare weekend visit was on 2003 - An excellent food wine, particularly with fish. the same dates, the 7th & 8th of February, five Don’t serve too cold as will lose some of the aged years earlier. Not surprisingly the February heat flavours. was consistent on both Saturday’s, climbing well into the high 30’s on both trips – perfect weather for 1995 – enjoying a chilled Riesling!) From the

museum for Three were selected for us to visit over the reference course of this weekend, Crabtree Watervale Wines, only. Almost Stringy Brae Wines & Mitchell Wines. Each of the “- wineries has the distinction of producing fine like”. Bottled Riesling but, as we enjoyed learning first-hand, with cork. each has developed their own individual, passionate, and parochial style. We then

tasted a Crabtree Watervale Wines 2008 (pronounced Tempraneo), a The first tasting of the weekend was of Crabtree 2008 barrel sample Windmill Cabernet Watervale wines. The tasting, originally planned for Sauvignon, a 2005 360 degree Shiraz/Cabernet the winery, was relocated to the historic Watervale and concluded with a smooth 2008 Vintage Port Hall to better cater for us in the extreme heat. barrel sample (will be available mid ’09).

After the tasting a small, but hearty, band of members ventured up to the winery for a brief but informative tour with Cellar Manager Brendan Pudney. A distinctive feature of the small winery is a unique insulated cool room which can house barrels in time of extreme heat.

The small but homely cellar door exudes the passion and friendliness of the Crabtree team. Be sure to ask about the origins of “scrotum block” when next visiting!

Winery owner’s Richard Woods & Rasa Fabian Stringy Brae Wines purchased the winery from founder Robert The delightful Cellar Door, set Crabtree in 2007. They have assembled a young atop a picturesque rolling winemaking team headed by Kerri Thompson (ex vineyard in Sevenhill, provided Leasingham). Richard provided a lively an intimate setting for our presentation of their wines, commencing with a second tasting and lunch at 2008 Zibibbo. This drink-now, zesty, aromatic 2008 Stringy Brae Wines. wine is ideal as an accompaniment to spicy food,

Our host, winery manager Hannah Hannah has slowly integrated red blends into the Rantanan, led us Stringy Brae wine portfolio since 2002. With a love through a relaxed yet of the grape we may see more of this detailed tasting in two varietal as a stand alone bottling in future at Stringy parts – a pre-lunch Brae. Riesling vertical tasting & post-lunch selection During the course of the afternoon, it was really of varietal Shiraz and interesting to hear Hannah’s current preference to red blends. machine Riesling to actually reduce the handling of the berries compared with hand The vertical tasting of pruning. the elegant Stringy Brae estate-grown Moving forward, Hannah expressed the excitement Riesling consisted of she has in working together with her mentor David the ’04, ’00, ’99 & ’95 , with some relevant O’Leary from O’Leary Walker since they comments on each vintage as follows; commenced producing Stringy Brae wines in 2004.

2004 – Awarded prestigious Best Riesling in Hannah also re-confirmed the winery’s commitment Aust/NZ & Gold at the Adelaide Wine Show. This to ongoing re-investment in new American and wine pioneered success for Stringy Brae Riesling. French barrels to constantly be refreshing the This Riesling was the first Stringy Brae produced at barrel stock at the winery. O’Leary Walker. The Cellar Door is open by appointment only, but 2000 – First bottling. Elegant and with well worth pre-planning a weekend visit armed with good colour. Hand picked & produced at Mitchell a fresh picnic hamper. Wines. Mitchell Wines 1999 – Cork Closure. Machine harvested. Still has The sole destination for our Sunday tasting was the some years of drinking left. much acclaimed Mitchell winery. A much more

pleasant temperature in the mid 20’s prevailed as 1995 – Cork we gathered at 11am beneath the leafy trees closure. Made by surrounding the winery under the watchful eye of Andrew Mitchell. Louis the dog. We were greeted by hosts and Sweet honey winery owners Andrew & Jane Mitchell. character, but at

end of its drinking life now.

After the Riesling’s, lunch was a expansive selection of cold meats, local preserves, condiments, flavoursome salads and cheeses. Freshly prepared by a local Clare gourmet caterer “Wild Saffron”, the selection was perfect in the hot weather.

Four well crafted red wines were tasted after lunch – the ’04 & ’05 Shiraz & the ’04 & ’05 CSM blends (Cabernet/Shiraz/Malbec). Andrew hosted our tasting in the winery,

commencing with a vertical selection of Mitchell Started by Hannah’s parents Sally & Donald Watervale Riesling from vintages ’01, ’02 & the Willson in 1983, Stringy Brae Wines adheres to a current release ’08. A selection of comments are as simple core philosophy to make wines suited to the follows; Clare region – Riesling, &

Shiraz. Reinforcing 2001 – Screw cap, hand picked. Elegant, dry the family wine grown, low yield (1-2 tonne per acre). ’01 was the pedigree, cousins hottest summer since 1900. Craig & Mignonne

Willson own 2002 – Very different to ’01 as it was a very cool Bremerton Winery summer. Less colour than ’01, and developing in Langhorne slower than the ’01. Creek. legend status amongst the throng. This was 2008 – Elegant, with vibrant nose. Picked 6 weeks enjoyed with a selection earlier than the ’02 due to the hotter summer. of the current and aged Mitchell wines we had After the Riesling’s we progressed to a ’06 sampled earlier in the Semillon, a grape variety that Andrew says is winery. Fresh made ideally suited fudge brownies (almost to the Clare as legendary as the Valley. Chicken Salad!!) Spending 3 accompanied some months in impromptu commentary French Oak, from Andrew on his time Andrew feels in Clare and that spent that this over the years in French Semillon is a wineries. We also got an rich drink- appreciation of the benefit Andrew sees from now style, inviting young graduate winemakers from Europe to whereas the his winery each year. These and other humorous Hunter Semillon’s are more austere with longer insights gained by both Andrew and Jane over 30+ cellaring capacity. We then enjoyed sampling a ’98 years running the winery made for a relaxed Semillon which was characterised by its golden conclusion to the formalities of our day and colour. weekend.

We concluded our tasting with the flagship McNicol The highlight of the three winery visits over the two- Shiraz (years ’00 & ’02). This wine is a tribute to days was the opportunity to vertically taste Andrew’s father who purchased the property in premium wines, in particular Riesling, from three 1949. The aged release of this wine is a testament different wineries over a 14 year period. In doing to the ongoing financial management of this winery, this we could really appreciate the range of the where the ’00 is the current release of this premium grape from the vibrant upfront fruit of the current Shiraz. The ’02, as noted with the Riesling, is a vintage through to the golden coloured, developed tighter, cooler climate wine than the ’00. honey characters of aged Riesling.

After the Our sincere thanks are extended to all of our tasting we winery hosts and staff who gave us so much of adjourning to their precious weekend time and expertise just prior the front to vintage. We were also extremely fortunate to courtyard for have the opportunity to purchase wines at special a Moroccan Guild pricing and/or gain access to purchase Spiced limited cellar release and aged wines. Chicken Salad made Cameron Best by Jane that quickly ascended to

Varietal Tasting - April Function

Our next function will be held at the North Adelaide Primary School, Tynte Street Nth Adelaide, commencing at 11.00am

At this event we will be turning our attention to the influence that the region in which the grapes are grown has on the final product. For this we have chosen two popular varieties - and cabernet sauvignon, and will taste each wine from 5 different regions. We will have premium wines to display characteristics which are typical of the areas.

To lead us through this tasting we are privileged to have Leigh Francis who is the Research

Manager of the Sensory unit at the Research Institute. Leigh spends his working days evaluating wines and gets paid for it. (How does somebody get a job like that??).

While this can be a learning exercise it will not be a test, so you are all encouraged to come along and enjoy the fine wine and great company.

Tastings will be followed by a lunch of fresh gourmet baquettes. Bring a bottle of wine if you would like wine with your lunch. Soft drinks, tea, coffee and cake will be provided.

NEXT FUNCTION

Commencing 11 am sharp 5 April 2009

Tasting of Premium Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon wines led by Leigh Francis, Research Manager, Sensory, - Australian Wine Research Institute

North Adelaide Primary School, 62-80 Tynte Street, North Adelaide (Parking available in the school grounds)

Lunch of gourmet baguettes and cake BYO Wine for consumption with lunch $30 members $35 non members

Extra Curricular Dinner – Friday 15th May 2009, commencing at 6.30pm

Following the success of last year’s dinner at Martinhas Training Restaurant it has been decided to do it again. Martinhas is the TAFE training restaurant and provides an excellent al la carte menu, at a reasonable price. Typically this is about $8.00 for entrée and $12-15.00 for mains dishes.

Corkage charge for BYO wine is also not expensive.

Everybody had a fun time last year in a very relaxed atmosphere.

The Restaurant is located at TAFE, Level 3 West Wing, 120 Currie Street Adelaide

If you would like to attend, we require a $10.00/head deposit, payable at the April function (5th) or to Paul Rogers by 17th April (BSB, cheque or money order – see details elsewhere in the Grapevine).

2009 FUNCTIONS Date Function 5 April 2009 Varietal Tasting – North Adelaide Primary School 15 May 2009 Dinner at Martinhas Restaurant, Adelaide TAFE 14 June 2009 Winery Technical Tour – McLaren Vale 9 August 2009 Annual General Meeting 11 October 2009 To be advised

Wine Guild of SA Committee Contacts 2008-09

Position Home phone Mobile email Roger King President 8370 6903 0424 027 982 [email protected] Pete Rawlins Vice-President 8367 9405 0400 115 249 [email protected] Paul Rogers Secretary 8390 1526 0419 8243 25 [email protected] Brian Longford Treasurer 8264 5794 0406 305 749 [email protected] Grant Ward Committee 0414 727 747 [email protected] Cameron Best Committee 83367116 0403 047 145 [email protected] Phil Harris Committee 8387 2823 0407 132 789 [email protected]

ACCEPTANCE SLIP Varietal Tasting First Name(s)……………………………………………………Surname(s)………………………………………………….

No. of Members attending @ $30 Amount $ ______

No. of Guests attending @ $35 Amount $ ______

Please forward to: Paul Rogers, PO Box 153 Summertown, 5141 by Friday 21st March 2009. Make cheques and Money Orders payable to “Wine Guild of SA”. Details for EFT payments are as follows: Financial Institution: Community CPS Credit Union, BSB: 805-222, Account No: 22498522, Account Name: Wine Guild of SA Inc. Please make sure to include your name(s) with EFT payments. Phone and email registrations to Paul Rogers (8390 1526) are also accepted. Also please advise Paul if you require a vegetarian or other special meal.