GOLD MEDAL CLUB TASTE THE ADVENTURE

AUSTRALIA Great Southern estern Australia gains an enviable reputation for their worldW-class as the region surges in worldwide popularity. Among Australia’s world-class producing wine regions, it is entirely arguable that the wines of are the least known to the wine consuming world than any of their higher selling and more recognizable brothers. It is also debatable that these same wines have come further with regard to quality than any of the better known regions during their relatively brief period of existence (40 – 50 years). It is also notable that the area’s location (thousands of miles from the more populated sections of Australia) makes transportation and marketing of Western Australian wines more of a chore than other wine regions. Western Australia occupies almost one third of the country’s incredibly sprawling land mass, yet its impressive wine growing areas are all located in a smallish portion of that part of the country. These vineyard lands are directly south of the city of , a truly beautiful locale found on the southwestern tip of Australia. The vineyards themselves run for about 125 miles along the Australian coastline and about 60 miles into the country’s core area. The climate ranges from the coastal maritime sub regions of Albany and Denmark to the premium inland and continental vineyards of Mt. Barker, among the area’s highest landmasses. The district was initially a prolific and prosperous apple-growing region until the 1950’s when the country’s international apple market declined. Upon the advice of noted viticulturists, Western Australia was pronounced suitable for fine grape growing and significant plantings were begun during the mid to late 1960’s. This is relatively late with regard to Australia’s other wine regions that were planted hundreds of years earlier. Today, Western Australia’s vineyard total runs above 26,000 acres and is growing yearly, a tribute to the 400-plus wineries that inhabit the sparsely populated terrain. Many of these wineries are tiny, with limited production that is consumed within Western Australia itself. A number of the newer wineries are state-of-the-art facilities with the latest in winemaking facilities and techniques. The area is a wonderful beacon to tourists and wine lovers from many countries, with rustic inns and hotels complimenting the bucolic settings found around many curves and in the small towns that make up the area’s inhabitants. Amazingly, Western Australia’s wines were critically well received from inception and have steadily advanced in worldwide popularity. The wines have garnered a significant number of important awards while the area Bordeaux due to the climactic similarity of the two wine producing areas. When you consider that the Bordeaux wine industry is almost three hundred years old, such comparison is a feather in the cap of the fledgling Western

Australia wine industry Great Southern Wine Region The Great Southern Wine Region lays a relaxed four-hour drive southwest from Perth. It is very large by Western Australia standards but has a huge amount of plantable ground, a fact that allows for great popularity and an incredible growth area for both growers and new wineries. itself has emerged through worldwide The entire area is dominated by Australia’s press recognition as an international high portfolio of hardwood trees, the karri, marri caliber wine producing area. and jarrah, in addition to the venerable There are nine wine producing Eucalyptus that is so apparent throughout regions within Western Australia, some Napa Valley, Sonoma County and most of of which are virtually unknown in the northern California. United States and abroad. The largest of The first harvested vintages from the Great these regions is Great Southern, a highly Southern Wine Region were recorded in the defined area that is occupied by almost late 1960’s and early 1970’s and were good 6,000 planted acres. Mt. Barker is itself enough to win medals in competitions. These a sub region of Great Southern, and is early successes prompted added attention generally considered the finest growing from local landowners and more vines and additional varietals were planted area in Western Australia, consistently as the embryonic industry struggled to take its place in Australia’s burgeoning producing delicate wines that rival many wine growth pattern. other outstanding international wines. Continued A large percentage of the plantings are post 1980, and have benefitted from wine regions of Western Australia modern viticultural Western Australia is the country’s largest state, spanning the r e s e a r c h a n d entire western third of the continent. Its winemaking regions are developments. almost entirely concentrated in the south-western portion of the The wines state, with just over 26,150 acres planted under vine. This month’s p r o d u c e d i n International Series selections come from the Great Southern Western Australia region, the largest of the Western Australia wine regions with a vast are most correctly compared to the and diverse topography and an ideal environment for cool-climate classic wines of viticulture. Great Southern produces distinctive regional wines, and is especially known for its and Shiraz.

Photos top to bottom, left to right: Swan District • Western Australian vineyards create beautiful scenery amongst the arid landscape.

• Vineyards thrive in Mount Barker’s distinctive wine region. Peel • Xabregas owns three premium vineyards within Mount Barker. Geographe • The kangaroo is one of Australia’s most iconic animals. There are over 60 species living in all Blackwood Valley areas of Australia. • The giant Karri Tree is native to the southwest region Margaret River of Western Australia. Pemberton • Map of Western Australia’s wine regions. • Wines age in various oak barrels at Manjimup Xabregas’ winery facility in Mount Barker. • Xabregas’ 2008 Shiraz label. Great Southern • The flags of Australia and Western Xabregas Wines Australia. • Cover: The famous Pinnacles Desert is located in Western Australia’s Nambung National Park. reading an Australian wine label Australia: Fun Facts! Australian wine labels are relatively straightforward with the information The Australian Alps receive more snow they provide, and like American wines, do not use different quality classifications. Instead, Australian wine labels are more focused on than Switzerland. Australia has an average of 3 people defining the wine’s geographic origin. If a specific region is called living per square kilometer, making it one out on the label, then 85% of that wine’s contents must be from the of the lowest population densities in the defined region. This ‘85% rule’ also applies to the varietal and vintage world. of the wine if listed on the label. The Great Barrier Reef is the longest Australia’s mandatory and optional wine label requirements: reef in the world at over 2010 kilometers. (m) = mandatory information; (o) = optional information Australia was the third country, after the U.S. and Russia to launch a satellite into orbit. Varietal & Vintage Winery Australia is the only nation to occupy an Shiraz 2008 Description entire continent. Over 90% of Australia is dry, flat and arid. Brand/ Almost 3/4 of the land cannot support Winery Name Alcohol agriculture in any form. Xabregas 15.0% Australia was originally a British penal Region colony. The murderers and thieves were Country Great Southern Australia banished and deported to Australia as a form of punishment. Geographical Address of The world’s largest cattle ranch is in Origin Producer Australia. It is the size of the country of Western Australia Belgium! Bottle Volume Half of Australia’s total wine production 750 mL comes from South Australia. the flags of Australia

Continued from Great Southern Wine Region The Australian flag became recognized in 1954. It uses three prominent symbols: the British Union Jack, The Mt. Barker sub region is also the largest the Commonwealth Star, and the Southern Cross within the Great Southern area. Since it is constellation. The Union Jack symbolizes Australia’s inland and is made up of a number of higher loyalty to the British Empire. The Commonwealth Star, elevations, Great Southern has also been under the Union Jack, has six points representing the six federating colonies, identified as the coolest growing area in all of and a seventh point symbolizing the Territory of Papua and any future territories. Western Australia. The Southern Cross is one of the most distinctive constellations visible in the Although the climate Southern Hemisphere, and has been used to represent Australia since the early is still considered days of British settlement. M e d i t e r r a n e a n , The current flag of Western Australia was officially adopted there are lower by the government in 1953 and includes the British Union humidity levels and Jack and the state badge, depicting the native a good deal more Black Swan on a yellow disc. The sunshine than elsewhere. Moreover, the black swan has long been a excellent marri soils provide unparalleled symbol of Western Australia, in fact the original drainage throughout the area. colony was called the Swan River Settlement, and in 1875 the badge was officially adopted.

Cheers, Mate!

Order Toll Free: 1-800-266-8888 • Order by Fax: 1-800-266-8889 Order online at: www.goldmedalwine.com xperience some of Australia’s finest cool-climate varietals from Great Southern’s stand-out wine brand - Xabregas.

The Hogan FamilyE represents five generations of Western affordable prices, a comparative rarity in today’s competitive Australia pioneers that started with sheep grazing during the wine world. 1860’s. Their holdings and investments ranged from Perth All of Xabregas’ wines are produced at the Vintage to Mount Barker, and WineWorx, a modern production facility opened by Australia’s also involved forestry doyen wine writer and principal wine authority James Halliday. and other industries. The facility was reorganized and reopened in October, 2007 The family evolved to and now produces a number of wines for its award-winning its present status under client roster. The Xabregas Winery is a minority investor in the the guidance of Terry new Vintage WineWorx. Hogan, an insightful man The first release of 2,800 cases of Xabregas occurred who always displayed around the turn of the century and has steadily increased to a serious respect for about 15,000 cases, placing it among the largest wineries in European wines and the art of viniculture and winemaking. His the area. The investment in Vintage WineWorx has allowed the many travels abroad taught him the influence of great European company to utilize state-of-the-art winery equipment to facilitate wines and their growing environments. producing its award-winning wines. In the mid 1990’s, Terry Hogan (the former chairman of the

Perth Stock Exchange) and his friend and fellow stock broker Eve Winemaker Martin Cooper Broadley shared a vision of one day being in the wine business Senior Winemaker Martin Cooper and operating a commercial winery. To that extent, they consulted joined Xabregas Winery in December of the definitive work on Australian viticulture, Viticulture and 2009 with a list of credits that is nothing Environment, by Australia’s leading expert Dr. John Gladstone. short of remarkable. Only 35, Cooper is Hogan was thoroughly familiar with the Great Southern growing a graduate of the University of Adelaide area from his forestry dealings and Dr. Gladstone was careful who has already produced award- to point out that “the best vineyard growing environments of winning wines on three continents. the Great Southern lie to the south of Mount Barker and Muirs He is also the recipient of the 2003 Highway.” Heeding his advice, the partnership bought their Quantas Airlines Young Winemaker of the Year Award, first property, approximately six miles south of the picturesque given annually to Australia’s outstanding and emerging young mountain town. winemaker. Cooper has also been the senior winemaker at the prestigious McWilliams Group of Wineries. McWilliams The initial investment in property has now turned into three is Australia’s oldest winery (founded in 1877) and currently vineyards totaling over 275 acres of prime grape vines, most of enjoys its sixth generation of family ownership with wineries which are made into their Xabregas (pronounced Z-ab-regas) throughout Australia. brand of internationally acclaimed wines. The remainder of the fruit is sold to other top locally based wineries. Martin Cooper is also a co-owner of Cooper-Coffman Wine Company, owner of the award winning Eden Road Winery The winery’s name, Xabregas, by the way, has a colorful and others. history associated with it. It is named for Sao Lucien, a 15th Century monastery in the Lisbon, Portugal section that is known Despite his relative youth, as Xabregas. In some circles, the Portuguese are credited with Cooper is an independent spirit that discovering Australia and the name Xabregas lends homage to seems to fit into Xabregas’ plans for the early historical beliefs of the Hogan Family. The monastery developing the ultimate Western itself was originally built by the Australia winery. He has been Franciscan Fathers to provide quoted as saying that he makes alms for the poor. The frugal and wines that epitomize his own idiosyncratic tastes rather than charitable members of the order be driven by the so-called popular market place. While that inspired the present Xabregas might sound like a mouthful, Cooper has been able to back up owners to embrace their ancient his words with superlative wines and the highest international benevolent philosophy and only awards since he began his winemaking career. His particular release exceptional wines at passion is , one of the prime varietals grown at Xabregas.

The International Series features specially-selected imported hard-to-find wines of the world for members of the Gold Medal Wine Club.

“Bringing you the best 1-800-266-8888 www.goldmedalwine.com small wineries since 1992” featured Australian wines

Shiraz Xabregas 2008 Shiraz (Shi-RAHZ) The Xabregas 2008 Shiraz was produced from three premium vineyards within the Mount Barker region of Great Southern. Each vineyard carries Great Southern’s long, slow a uniqueness and influence adding a different personality to this wine, and the result is a Shiraz with excellent color, integrated tannins and intense ripening period produces fruit notes from start to finish. Awarded a Gold Medal and honored as Shiraz wines of great a Jimmy Watson Trophy Finalist at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show, elegance, fruit intensity the 2008 Shiraz is an impressive achievement from Xabregas. Deep and textural complexity. Its crimson red in color, this Shiraz has rich aromas of spices and black fruits and a complex texture with depth and nice structure. Sweet tannins are compelling combination supported by savory black fruits and hints of toasted oak. Try pairing with of flavors makes it one of spicy tomato based meals and beef filets. 100% Shiraz. the most desirable Great Southern wines. REORDER Enjoy now until 2014 • Member Price: $19.00 /bottle* Save 22% • Multi-Series Member Price: $17.00 /bottle* Save 31%

Cabernet - Merlot Xabregas 2007 Cabernet Merlot (Kah-behr-neh Mair-loh) The Xabregas 2007 Cabernet Merlot is a blend of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) with a smaller amount of Merlot (30%). Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon is a popular varietal within Great Southern’s Mount Barker region, producing wines with spicy, bold flavors. The Merlot adds a bit Merlot are the second and of softness, creating a deliciously smooth texture. As a result, this wine third most widely produced is very fruit driven, with sweet lifted aromas of mint, violet, black currant, red varietals in Great mulberry, and oak, with soft fine grained tannins and spiced oak nuances. Southern (following Shiraz), A deep red color and full, rich mouthfeel come from the 18 months of aging in oak. A lovely wine with nice integrated flavors and complexity. Try and blended together create pairing with spicy barbequed meats. a wine of vibrant spicy fruit with an elegant, soft, REORDER smooth texture. • Member Price: $19.00 /bottle* Save 22% Enjoy now until 2014 • Multi-Series Member Price: $17.00 /bottle* Save 31%

Chardonnay Xabregas 2007 ‘Show Reserve’ (Shar-don-nay) The Xabregas 2007 ‘Show Reserve’ Chardonnay was sourced from small vineyards in the Mount Barker region where climatic conditions are similar Chardonnays from Great to some of the premium wine growing regions of France. This wine is bright pale gold in color with luscious aromas of limes, peaches and apricots, Southern’s Mount Barker delicately mingled with soft seductive oak tones. It is nicely balanced with region are typically tightly rich, creamy stone fruit flavors and wonderful complexity. The 2007 ‘Show structured, elegant and Reserve’ Chardonnay received a Gold Medal at the Royal Melbourne Wine stone-fruit accented. Show, a Gold Medal at the Royal Perth Show, and a Silver Medal at the Quantas Wine Show of Western Australia. Try pairing with chicken, fish These wines age well and pasta dishes with creamy, butter sauces. 100% Chardonnay. and are produced in ever increasing quantities. REORDER • Member Price: $22.00 /bottle* Save 24% • Multi-Series Member Price: $19.00 /bottle* Save 34% Enjoy now until 2012

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