Forget the Cricket...

So I hear that we haven't had the greatest first day at the Ashes today which is upsetting. But, typically of me, it prompted me to start thinking about how I quite fancy a glass of something Australian right now. My hubby will not be best pleased...

 

Aussie wines have come on leaps & bounds in the last few decades and, whilst I'll never totally forgive them for all that crappy Chardonnay they sent us back in the 1990’s, I will always be a fan of their real wines: the ones made by the smaller wineries, the ones that sing of the real Australia.

 

So you understand what I’m wittering on about, you need to understand that Australian wine falls into two categories:

 

·         Entry-level wines labelled "South Eastern Australia": these can be made from grapes picked anywhere within the entire South Eastern area of Australia (NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia) and normally retail for around £5. These are unexciting fruit bombs for glugging. Think quantity rather than quality as they produce A LOT.

·         Premium Aussie wines: this is where my heart lies, for this is where the excitement is. As you know, Australia is BIG, with vast swathes of land that are too hot & dry to make good wine. So you will notice that all the best wine regions are located in the coolest areas of the country, mainly in the South and near the coast.  

 

Here are some of my favourite wine regions and some recommendations so that you can better navigate the Australian wine shelves of your local wine shop or supermarket.

 

Barossa Valley

Northeast of Adelaide, the Barossa is most famous for its huge, spicy and chocolatey reds made from the Shiraz grape (aka Syrah, but the Australians decided to rename it). Other grapes are grown here, including Chardonnay, Semillon and Cabernet Sauvignon. Torbreck is my favourite Barossa winery, which makes delicious Rhone-style reds from Rhone varietals. Their wines are quite exclusive, normally only available from such retailers as Berry Bros, but I recently discovered they make an own-label red wine for M&S called Marananga Dam Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvédre for £15. Time to go shopping I think!

 

Clare Valley & Eden Valley

Both Clare Valley and Eden Valley (north and east of the Barossa Valley respectively) are famous for their deliciously mineral, floral and lime-flavoured Rieslings which are delicious with Thai food. Look out for Pewsey Vale and Petaluma.

 

McLaren Vale

McLaren Vale is just south of Adelaide and produces a wide range of grape varieties. Look out for the wines of D’Arenberg, with their wacky prominent labels, which are made from lots of different grape varieties including very old vine Grenache and Shiraz.

 

Coonawarra

This region has a very distinctive crumbly red soil called “Terra Rossa” and cool climate which makes it perfect for making some of Australia’s most superb Cabernet Sauvignons – intense blackcurrant with a hint of eucalyptus. Totally divine with a good steak.

 

Mornington Peninsula

This region juts out into the sea and provides some of the most beautiful Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays outside of Burgundy. Watch out for the wines from Stonier.

 

Margaret River

Many miles away in Western Australia lies Margaret River, a region with a strong maritime climate which means it is perfect for producing excellent Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Noir. This is where Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blends have become hugely popular, and one of my favourite examples of this blend is from Vasse Felix winery.

 

A lot of the wines I’ve mentioned are available through Waitrose at www.waitrosecellar.com as they have an amazing Australian wine selection, but I urge you to explore other stores to see what they offer from these wine regions. Remember that own-label wines can be a great value option (as M&S are demonstrating)

 

Happy Swigging!

Sauvignon Blanc Fatigue

"Cat's Pee": a typical aroma of Sauvignon Blanc

Have you, like me, become fed up of Sauvignon Blanc? Or are you perhaps curious to try something different that might offer you similar satisfaction? 

If the answer is yes, here follows a list of off-piste wines that should tickle your tastebuds. We’re talking zippy, citrusy, refreshing whites – just the thing we want to drink on sunny afternoons…

Gruner Veltliner 

Austria’s second most planted grape variety (behind Riesling, of course) is one of my favourite white wines. For a long time this grape was unknown in the UK, partly because the Austrians drank most of it themselves. But thanks to its success in the US (the Americans have nicknamed it “Gru-V”), export numbers are up. Its increasing popularity has led to plantings now appearing in New Zealand (yes, even the Kiwi winemakers are getting bored of Sauvignon Blanc)! Style-wise, young Gruner Veltliner is spritzy in style, full of citrus fruit, lettuce leaves, green peas and white pepper. It’s particularly delicious when served alongside Wiener Schnitzel (an excellent hangover cure I discovered on a trip to Vienna). 

Albarino/Alvarinho/Vinho Verde

Apologies for the catch-all heading, but the Albarino grape is grown in north-western Spain and also just over the border in Portugal where it is often used in blends in the increasingly popular Vinho Verde. The former can be quite pricey whereas the latter is still incredible value (so stock up while you can). If you’ve been on holiday to Portugal, you’ve no doubt experienced this wonderful wine and you’ll be delighted to know it seems to be creeping onto our supermarket shelves back home. This is a fresh, vibrant white wine that you can imagine drinking at sunset with the local Portuguese barbecued fish. 

Picpoul de Pinet

The name Picpoul translates locally as “lip-stinger”, and it is one of the best value zingy white wines that France can offer at the moment. From the Languedoc region, this wine is full of wonderful lemony freshness - you can imagine cracking this open at the seaside alongside an enormous seafood platter. 

Txakoli (pronounced “cha-ko-lee”)

A bone-dry white wine from the Basque region of Spain, this has a touch of spritz and a deliciously mineral finish so it’s not surprising that London wine lists are picking it up. The main grapes in this wine are the local Hondarribi Zuria and Hondarribi Beltza, but I wouldn’t expect you to remember that, just keep your eyes peeled for it as the perfect accompaniment to fish or vegetarian tapas. 

Assyrtiko

I do feel we should support the Greeks right now, and what better way than by buying their delicious wines. Yes, it’s not all about Retsina (although even THAT is getting better)! Assyrtiko was originally planted in Santorini and produces bone-dry whites with citrus aromas mixed with an earthy, mineral aftertaste due to the local volcanic soil. 

Happy Swigging!