I took the day off in Margaret River after my fellow taster and blogger Ned Goodwin headed to Perth Airport on the bus. It’s been an amazing two weeks in Australia, and about 1,200 wines later, I am so enthusiastic about the great wine continent.
I can’t think of a more exciting wine producing country at the moment than Australia. It is definitely on a special path with so many region and vineyard specific wine producers out there. And most are making wine at alcohols below their reference points in Europe. There is no comparison to most other New World areas like California, where so many are making high-octane wines.
It’s all about drinkability and balance. It all about soulful wines made by soulful winemakers. That’s why I coined #realaussiewine for my Twitter with Ned.
We believe in Real Aussie Wine.
I should have another tasting report out on Monday or Tuesday on #realaussiewine. It should be a report on Cabernet Sauvignon. There’s one perfect wine – 100 points.
But I have been relaxing a bit today before going to Perth Airport to fly to Beijing for a Brunello dinner with VIPs and top collectors.
I decided to go with my tasting coordinator Rosanne Quagliata to a simple lunch at the White Elephant Café on Prevelly Beach. We ordered some crispy white bait and calamari and a green salad with pesto and grilled hamoui cheese. We were dying for a crisp glass of dry Riesling.
“Sorry. We don’t have a license to serve alcohol,” I was told by the New Zealander at the cashier.
My heart sunk. One of the most beautiful views of the sea and fresh fish but no wine?
Thank God for the small liquor store around the corner where I found a bottle of 2009 Sons of Eden Riesling – not Margaret River, but Eden Valley in Barossa. The wine was so beautifully flinty and fresh.
It was another #realaussiewine moment…like so many over the last two weeks.
I have really enjoyed all your blogs and reports on #realaussiewine. I'm a thirsty to say the least. It's clear a Turn of the tide it's happening -and has been happening for a while- in Australia. Like many people out of the big continent, I just can wish and cross fingers, hoping one day to taste some of the wines you found. BTW, I'm glad I find your website. . .I enjoyed tremendously your blogging and writing on WS. You haven't change a piece! Cheers from the distance!