I couldn't be happier having our Smith Vineyard Chardonnay not only selected to be included in the running for this award but to go on and take the title of The Real Review White Wine of the Year.
From an extremely cold, challenging season with minuscule yields from poor flowering, the wines quality is testament to everyone who had a hand in its creation - from those in the vineyard through to the winery and the barrels it was matured in.
#beechworthwineregion #beechworthchardonnay
#betterthanburgundy
This could only be in North East Victoria - the photo taken on the farm in the Ovens valley this morning. An almost perfect day and a perfect landscape; then i realised that i had actually planted all those trees and vines on what was a barren paddock, starting many years ago!
#northeasthighcountry #ovensvalley #autumn #walnuts #grapevines
Tempranillo is unarguably Spain’s most recognisable variety – and it’s quietly becoming one of Australia’s most exciting. More hectares of tempranillo have been planted globally since 2000 than any other variety. In Australia, plantings are on the rise, producers are multiplying, and there’s a palpable sense that it’s poised to become our next mainstream red. But what does Australian tempranillo actually taste like – and is it as well suited to our conditions as we’d like to think? 🍷
We gathered every example of Australian tempranillo that we could find, blind-tasted them 🙈 at @bleakhousehotel with our panel of expert palates – Raquel Jones @weathercraftwine , Matt Froude @municipalwineandsake , Bonnie Spain @restaurantnavi , Stuart Richardson @senecavintners , Eliane Gordon @rumibrunswick@therocketsociety ; Jason Burns @citywineshop , Sarah Hilliker @bijou_bottle_store , David Murray @letuffeau . Each panellist named their top-six wines of the day – and their selections show that this blend can be much more than simply the sum of its parts.
👉 Head to younggunofwine.com 🔗 to read the full Deep Dive: Australia’s Best Tempranillo, read the backstory, and discover the wines that topped the blind tasting.
#DeepDive #Tempranillo #AustralianWine #YoungGunOfWine #DrinkBetterWine
Arguably Australia's oldest Chardonnay, in their 99th year (or 100 if you consider their year in the nursery before being planted out).
In 1976, French ampelograher and researcher Paul Truel visited many old Australian vineyards and identified 'other' varieties scattered through them, such as the 1927 Marsanne at Chateau Tahbilk. As well as finding varieties such as Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Trebbiano, Sauvignon Vert and Shiraz, Chardonnay was amongst them.
The original 'Marsanne' cuttings planted at Tahbilk were sourced from St Huberts in the Yarra Valley in the 1860's, making these 'clones' probably the oldest in the country.
#chardonnayvines #marsanne #victorianwine #goulburnvalley
The dry and warm autumn has been fantastic for growing grapes, picking and making wine, but great truffle seasons are usually the inverse.
So, it's been important in a year like this to add regular irrigation to mock rainfall during autumn - keeping the developing truffles in a humid (not wet) environment. We normally start to see the truffles break the surface during May, so we'll soon know how many of the mysterious truffle stars align come our first 'look' later in May.
#perigordtruffles #beechworthtruffles #quercusrobur #northeasthighcountry
Spot the Colorino!
(Sangio on the right and Chardonnay on the left).
Spectacular colours in the vineyard this autumn. Plenty of soil moisture due to pre harvest rains; warm weather; and almost no wind.
#autumnvibes #colorinovità #beechworthwineregion
The first Petite Arvine from the Europa vineyard at Stanley going into the press this morning. Similar ripeness and yield to FGR but harvest a month later.
I can't wait to see how it turns out. A true mountain wine.
#petitearvinegrapes #beechworthwineregion
Petite Arvine at Europa vineyard inching toward maturity. Titratable acidity is gradually dropping, so given the dry weather outlook, we may pick in 7 to 10 days. Current temperature is below 4 degrees, so not much sugar accumulation happening!
Likely the last grapes to come into the winery for #v2026.
#petitearvinegrapes #beechworthwineregion
Nets are off the Europa Pinot Noir in readiness for tomorrow's pick. New clones, including ENTAV 548 and Abel to come into the winery for the first time alongside MV6. Its hard to believe we picked FGR Pinot on 20th February - with that vineyard only about 180m lower in elevation than Europa. But eastern aspect, less wind, cooler and higher rainfall all adding up to the later harvest. The fruit on the vine tastes fantastic, so I can't wait to see what the finished wine is like!
#Stanley #beechworthwineregion #beecworthviticulture #pinotnoirgrapes ##coolclimateviticulture
The last fruit from FGR (maybe?). Yesterday's old Verdicchio in the press this morning. Couldn't fit another bunch!!
This coming week - Pinot Noir from Stanley, which will just leave a small amount of Petite Arvine and that's it.
#v2026 #beechworthwine #beechworthwineregion #verdicchiograpes
Lots of green everywhere, with fluffy clouds and high humidity. That means it's time for Sangiovese to come off before the next bout of rain which is forecast next week.
Atleast the end of the day today finished better than it began - diesel available again in Beechworth. Empty tractors and truck refuelled. Tractor and truck flat tyres repaired; and bird net machine going and all net on at Europa.
Lets hope there are no random rain clouds loitering to ruin tomorrow's pick!
#v2026 #sangiovesevines #beechworthwineregion
