Some news about new and exciting pages on Vinodiversity, a bargain alternative varietal and a Special Vinodiversity Tasting

Time flies when you are having fun. I had thought that I'd have more time to get my newsletter out once I freed myself from the shackles of my day job. But now I'm moonlighting on another website aimed at helping small businesses get some value out of their websites. It's called Ozarticles, and it aims to get some Australian content onto the web. Check it out if you like, it's at http://www.ozarticles.com

Back to Wine, (that's why you're reading this, OK?)

I have been compiling some reports on the 2005 Vintage for alternative varieties and thus far I have reports from several wineries throughout Australia. 2005 seems to have been a great vintage virtually everywhere, so we consumers can look forward to some beaut wine over the next few years. See the reports here

My good friend Peter May has written an article about his role in the introduction of Lagrein into Australia. For those of you who don't know, Lagrein is a red wine variety from Trentino-Alto Aldige. A few growers are now producing wine from it. I must say that when I first tried a lagrein I thought that these guys were on the wrong tram. They had gone to enormous trouble to make something similar to shiraz, or so I thought. But the latest Lagrein from Cobaw Ridge proves that the effort was well worthwhile and I was so wrong.

Dan Crane is Winemaker for Peter R Brown Vineyards, the outfit that operates both All Saints Winery and St Leonards Winery in the Rutherglen Region. He has written an excellent article explaining how he uses long maceration to tame the heroic tannins in Durif.

The articles by Peter May and by Dan Crane can be found at https://www.vinodiversity.com/winemakers-tales.html

Over the next couple of weeks I will be compiling some information for an article about "The Next Shiraz" I will be using this to do a bit of a survey on the up and coming red varietals in Australia. If you can't wait to find out the verdict then you can get some progress reports at the Vinodiversity Blog.

Those who have been longer term subscribers to this newsletter will remember how I raved about the bargain priced Yendah Vale Sangiovese. It is a superb wine and it'sstill at a bargain price. If you want to see what I said about it last November see https://www.vinodiversity.com/Vinodiversity_News-newsletter-003.html

Well the wine is still available and for just $8.95 per bottle by the dozen. The RRP for this wine is about $18.00 and I would still reccommend it at that price. I have tried about 15-20 Aussie Sangiovese wines over the past year and this one is as good as any. I bought 2 dozen last year and I have nearly finished them, so I will be getting some myself. A great red for winter foods, but I drank lots at barbies over the summer. Remember Italian wines, especially reds, are best enjoyed with food.

But hurry, this wine is available freight free anywhere in Australia until Monday 23 May.

To get some of this bargain wine go to https://www.vinodiversity.com/WMC While you are there you will see some other weekly specials, also with the freight free offer and discounted prices.

Finally a free tasting event

Vinodiversity, along with the Jwow Wine bar is holding a tasting of some varietal wines at a special event. Some wierd and wonderful wines will be available for tasting including Saperavi, Marzemino, Teroldego and Dry Orange Muscat. I would love to meet you there.

The date is Thursday 9 June from 5-30 to 8-30 pm.

Jwow is at 243 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne. Close to Swanston Street, near the front of the State Library.

Jwow, is a Chinese word meaning wine, prononuced like the Italian 'ciao' You can drop in at any time, there is always something interesting to buy by the glass or to take away. Jwow Wine Bar

As ususal I would love to hear from you, just hit the reply button, or why not forward this on to a friend.