Wine Social, Drink it, taste it, share it!

Tastes of Rutherglen returns afresh in 2008 with local wineries, chefs and producers joining forces to host regional Victoria’s ultimate gourmet party! The event runs over 2 weekends and the whole region will be celebrating the grape harvest, so you can expect days filled with music & laughter, food, wine, and fun at this authentic and indulgent weekend experience.

Each of the 21 participating winery will offer a delicious entree size meal matched to a glass of specially selected matching wine. Cofield Wines are offering meals such as a confit of Milawa free-range duck, subtley flavoured with orange, star anise & thyme, accompanied by a spiced cherry, walnut and apple salad. To be involved simply purchase your preferred all-inclusive package from participating wineries or Regional Towns and let the indulgence begin.

For more information visit www.rutherglenvic.com
Date: Mar 08, 2008 (Sat) - Mar 16, 2008 (Sun)

This festival is now! It’s the largest of it’s kind and has something to suit everyone who loves good food and wine. From 22 February - 8 March, 2008 food and wine devotees from around the globe will once more descend upon Melbourne.

Spanning five distinct themes – City’s Alive, Gastronomy, World’s Longest Lunches, Slow Food and Regions Alive – the list is endless on what’s on in Melbourne at the moment. The events range from ‘the World’s longest lunch’ to ‘the Great Aussie BBQ’. For a full list of events and ticket information visit www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au.

We have a fantastic new competition starting today. All you have to do to enter is tell us in 25 words or less why you would like to win a Hunter Valley Privilege Plus card and add a review about a bottle of wine that you have tasted recently.

We have also added a new feature with our review system allowing your reviews to be viewed publicly or privately. This means that if you choose your review to be “public” your comment and star rating will be able to be read by others and if you choose for you review to be “private” only your star rating will be able to be read by others.

We are running this competition for 1 month and we have 5 of these great cards to giveaway so get writing! All of the information about our competition is in the competition section on www.winesocial.com.au We are looking forward to reading your entries and reviews so goodluck from the Winesocial team!

This shiney chrome wine ratchet from Built NY not only looks good but does the job with ease. The design is inspired by a wrench and has 2 screwbits to use depending on the age of the cork. It also has a mechanism that works without having to remove your grip from the handle. It’s pricey at AU$175 but if you’re looking for corkscrew for keeps this might be the one. You can order one through http://shop.until.com.au

Mar 29th, 2008 (Sat)—Mar 30th, 2008 (Sun)
Get down to Birkenhead Point Marina for the Mudgee Wine & Food Fair. If you love good wine and food then you’ll get a chance to taste the best that Mudgee has to offer at this event. With delicious mustards, cheeses, tapenades, olives and olive products all on offer to sample along with a variety of award winning wines, Mudgee shows off it’s best to the city of Sydney. Ticket prices start at just $10.00 which includes a Souvenir Wine Glass and 5 tasting tickets. $15.00 will get you a Souvenir Glass and 10 Tickets and for $25.00 you receive a Souvenir Wine Glass and 20 tasting tickets. For those wanting to share, the $30 package includes 2 Souvenir Wine glasses and 20 tasting tickets. Please note that all prices are GST inclusive, and you must have an official Souvenir Glass to participate in the tastings. For more information call 6372 7409 or visit www.mudgeewine.com.au

Over the weekend my husband and I went to a very slick cafe in Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley. The Firestick Cafe overlooks the original block of 90-year-old shiraz vines at the Poole’s Rock Winery Estate. With it’s large windows and open-plan dining area you feel like you are almost sitting amongst the surrounding vines and bushland. By day it has a relaxed casual atmosphere with reasonable prices and by night it becomes Rock Resturant with more of a fine dining experience serving both a degustation and an a la carte menu. Unfortunately or (fortunately) we only had time for a quick lunch but found our choice of 2 gourmet pizza’s up there with the best of them! The architectually designed building itself is designed to maximise the views of the area and looks amazing both inside and out. If you are looking for a bite to eat for lunch or dinner then it’s worth checking this place out. If you don’t end up eating you can always pop into the Poole’s Rock cellar door where I’m sure you will be equally impressed.

Having suffered from Asthma for the past 8 years I am constantly on the lookout for organic wines that contain low sulphur additions. Not too long ago I found out that it was the amount of sulphur in certain wines that has caused my endless bouts of instant hayfever and hightened Asthma symptoms. Fortunately I have never let my allergies get in the way of trying some great wines over the years but it is comforting to know that there are wines out there that really do reduce the amount of symptoms that are associated with Asthma and allergies. Organically grown Tamburlaine wines from the Hunter Valley produce wines that are low in sulphur. Sulphur preservative in Australian winemaking is allowed up to 400ppm, the organic standard allows a maximum of 125. Tamburlaine have also eliminated non-organic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, and now focus on maintaining healthy biologically active soil, and using natural alternatives against pests. Depending what you like they produce a variety of quality and exciting wines that are reasonably priced. Check out www.tamburlaine.com.au for more information.

How many times has a bottle of nice wine been wasted from being knocked over on a picnic or day out? Here’s a great solution to make drinking wine relaxing and easy anywhere! There’s not much more to say really about this nifty little gadget only it’s a simple idea but effective. They sell for $24.95 from www.steadysticks.com.

I often find myself looking for a bottle gift bag that doesn’t seem to exist! There seems to be a lot of patterned or plain bags in a number of predictable colours on the market and thats when I had a closer look on the net and found these quirky and fun paper gift bags from CB2. They come in a pack of 6 and each bag features a different wine quote printed in brushed silver foil. They are 100% recyclable so are environmentally friendly! The only draw back is that they are from a US site so it may take slightly longer to receive them. For enquiries and orders visit www.cb2.com

If you have a love for the taste of NZ wines then get along to this event in Sydney (Update: SOLD OUT), Melbourne, and Brisbane. The cost per person is $35 (booking fees apply) .With 400 premium NZ wines from 100 wine brands on show this will be a perfect opportunity to taste a wide NZ range of wines. The first dates are in Melbourne on February 18, Sydney on February 20 (SOLD OUT), Brisbane on February 24, with Adelaide and Perth dates yet to be confirmed. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.nzwineevents.com.au

On a recent and very hot trip to the Barossa Valley we managed to take time out from the hard work of wine tasting and touring the impressive countryside and thought we had earned ourselves (yet again!) an extended pit stop at one of the Barossa’s best restaurants. Upon entering 1918 you immediately feel welcome in the relaxed and casual atmosphere. From the tempura Risotto Stuffed Zucchini flowers to the Grilled lamb rump with eggplant & tomato relish it’s very hard to come to a decision about what to order with so many delicious meals on the menu. The meals have a definite Asian and Middle Eastern influence making each dish an exciting fusion of flavours. The wine list is full of the best local wines. We tried the Grant Burge Cameron Vale Cabernet and we finished our meal with a fine drop of port which was highly recommended. The prices were not over the top and it’s safe to say that everyone at our table (all 6 of us) were extremley content and very full on our departure from restaurant 1918. Oh and last but not least the desserts...my mouth is watering just thinking about them, Mango and vanilla bean panna cotta, sugar glass biscuit passionfruit and citrus compote and Persian fairy floss… say no more.

1918 Bistro & Grill
Open for Lunch and Dinner 7 days
Monday to Saturday: Lunch - 12.00pm to 2.30pm, Dinner - 6.30pm to 9.00pm
Sunday: Lunch - 12.00pm to 2.30pm, Dinner - 6.00pm to 8.00pm
Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.

94 Murray Street Tanunda SA 5352
Ph: 08 8563 0405
Fx: 08 8563 0229
Em:

Meet the wild bunch from the Barossa! A brilliant line up of Barossa’s top young winemakers and their wines…

“Sydney toasts Wildfire, the city’s hottest and most exciting world class dining experience. Taking full advantage of its awesome location and boasting world famous views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, Wildfire instantly won ‘the best new Sydney Restaurant’ by Vanity Fair Magazine July 2002, and the coveted Wine List of the Year 2002, 2003 & 2004 from the Restaurant & Catering Association NSW. With a sumptuous, ambient interior to rival the beauty of its position, one of Sydney’s largest open kitchens and customised facilities for wood firing and grilling on a grand scale, Wildfire delivers a totally sophisticated and sensory dining experience.” - yourrestaurants.com.au

Finishing off a month of brilliant dinners with an Australian showcase. A chance to see the best of the Barossa Valley and meet the winemakers?
Brazilian BBQ & Big Boys from the Barossa combine forces to knock your vinous socks off!

Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 At 07:00 PM
Duration: 3 Hours, contact Info: Ultimo Wine Centre - 02 9211 2380 www.ultimowinecentre.com.au

The Lovedale Long Lunch is an annual event, held on the third weekend in May. It is a progressive-type lunch where visitors wine and dine their way around the seven participating wineries over the weekend, enjoying a glass of wine, gourmet food and fabulous music. Here’s how to partake in one of Australia’s favourite wine events:

1. It doesn’t matter where you start, it doesn’t matter where you finish, but first purchase your “LLL” commemorative tasting glass ($5) at any of the participating Lovedale wineries.
2. Choose a plate of entrée size gourmet cuisine ($20) provided by some of the Hunter Valley’s most talented chefs, matched with a complimentary glass of the winemakers’ specially selected wine to accompany it.
3. Delicious desserts ($8), local cheese ($8), fresh coffee (from $2) and a host of other delights await you at every venue. (These items don’t include a complimentary glass of wine.) All prices are GST inclusive.
4. Relax and enjoy! Music and art add to the total indulgence of the senses as you wine and dine your way along the Lovedale trail.Take all day or all weekend to linger in the beauty of our spectacular vineyards, taste award winning wines and savour the best of Hunter cuisine.

It’s probably a good idea to start thinking about the Lovedale Long Lunch now so you can really make a weekend if it. Organised mini-bus trips might be the best option that way you could make it a fun and indulgent experience for you and your friends without the worry of a designated driver!

I probably couldn’t say it as well as Vinturi so I will use their words to explain this cool little device.

”Wine which has been allowed to breathe tastes better. as wine breathes, it opens up, and releases its intended aromas and flavors. Traditionally, decanters were used to aerate wine. however, decanting is time consuming, cumbersome, and inconvenient.”

Well, some may argue that is part of the fun of having a great bottle of red, but if you are particularly impatient and find decanting to be a chore then you might be interested in this product! You hold the Vinturi Aerator over a glass and the vinturi draws in and mixes the proper amount of air for the right amount of time, allowing your wine to breathe instantly. It is all a simple matter of fluid dynamics, its design creates an increase in the wine’s velocity and a decrease in its pressure. this pressure difference draws in air, which is mixed with wine for perfect aeration. SImple! Ok I took that from their description but it makes sense when you read it doesn’t it?

The outcome of aerating the wine is that you increase the aromas, flavours and produce a much smoother finish. There are quite a few different aerators on the market, some very reasonable and some in excess of US$200 so this sits in the modestly priced area at US$39.95 and has a very stylish design. You can find out more details on how to purchase the Vinturi here.

For most Sydneysiders a cosy yet elegant wine bar is something of a mirage for many dedicated wine drinkers. Unfortuantely wine bars in Sydney are few and far between so thats why when something comes along like Bambini Trust Restaurant and Wine Room it’s worth talking about. Think old world chandeliers, dark wood, marble, burnished mirrors, mixed with dim ambient light from ornate lamps then you are starting to get the picture of this European flavoured wine room. The furniture reflects bistros found in Paris and it’s the closest thing Sydney has to similar wine bars found in London and closer to home Melbourne. They have an extensive list of quality wines from both Australia and Europe such as Spy Valley Pinot Noir, Fermoy Estate Semillon and Pirramimma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon to name a few. The food is equally as good as the wine and makes Bambini a standout from the rest. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come and Sydney will begin to catch up on Melbourne in the wine bar stakes.