Canberra Harvest Festivus.

So the Canberra Harvest Festival is on 14 and 15 April 2012. Each year some of the biggest and best wineries from the Canberra District host events and get into the festival spirit. This year, some 24 wineries will be participating.

You can't really go wrong with your selection of events, because the quality of the Canberra District has increased significantly in the last few years.

A Riesling Tide.

In my first post, I encouraged everyone to experience new varieties, and new styles. A friend of mine recently encouraged me to follow my own advice on a tasting in Canberra, and much to my surprise, I fell in love.

My wife and I recently went to breakfast with some friends to celebrate a birthday. After a fantastic breakfast at Podfood in Pialligo, we all decided to head to Mount Majura Vineyard as it was only 10 minutes drive away. The idea was that we would find something that each of us would enjoy with some cheese and crackers in the afternoon.

A Matter of Taste.

Len Evans book, ‘How to Taste Wine’ is the ultimate guide for a newcomer to wine appreciation. The take home point for me was that people should not struggle to find descriptive words for aromas and tastes when they aren’t there. Sometimes a good Shiraz tastes like a good Shiraz. Evan’s described the various aspects of wine tasting from colour, nose, palate, line and length, and how to identify good and bad qualities with each.

On our last morning in the vineyards, my wife had arranged for one final surprise. This time we went to the Hunter Resort for a session of 'Wine School'. Here they lead participants through a tasting of local varieties and showcased some of the smaller producers.

Le Tour.

A great cellar door experience can go a long way. Some wineries will offer services beyond the standard. Structured tastings and winery tours can greatly increase your enjoyment of the experience of tasting, and even of the wine itself. On the second day of our anniversary trip, we had one of these experiences.

We woke up reasonably early, because my wife said she had another surprise for me. She drove me away from our accommodation at Billabong Moon, and back towards the vineyards. We eventually arrived at Tyrrell's, for what I thought was going to be another cellar door tasting.

The Gift of Receiving.

From time to time you might receive a special bottle of wine as a gift. Wine can be special to people for a number of different reasons from vintages that celebrate your year of birth or anniversary, brands that have special significance, bottles that are iconic and symbolic in their own right. My wife and I have a few different bottles that we are keeping for special occasions, collected from various places for various purposes.


For our first anniversary, my wife gave me a gift that redefines the term 'special'.

Hit and Miss.

“Why would anyone spend that much on a bottle of wine? You can’t even taste the difference!”

An argument I often hear when people question the amount I may have spent on any particular bottle. I am not saying this argument is wrong, just that it is fundamentally redundant.

First of all, I think this perception comes from a lack of exposure to ‘good wine’, not necessarily that cheaper wines are all of the same quality as more expensive ones.

Not All Great Wine is Expensive.

Enjoying wine can be an expensive hobby. While it is true that price isn't always an indication of quality, it can be a good indication of the processes winemakers follow in order to produce their wine. Whatever the quality of the wine in the bottle, you can be sure that the more expensive bottles are subject to scrutinies that enhance the final product. If you ever find yourself in a bottle shop, unsure of what to buy, it can help to know some of these processes and the benefits they provide.

The Bottle That Changed Everything.

Every wine critic, journalist, blogger or home enthusiast tells a similar story about the origins of their passion. To some, that story could begin with a simple Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc. Others could trace it back to the moment they uncorked a 1971 Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache. The story that each of us tells about 'The Bottle That Changed Everything' is so unique, and so intensely personal that it is impossible to pinpoint the precise elements required to achieve the epiphany; the moment of clarity that converts us from indifferent, apathetic wine drinkers into true enthusiasts. It is rare that you will find it if you are looking for it, because it will never quite be what you expect.