“The job of a winemaker, through the means of great vines in a landscape, is to capture whatever it is that is true and noble, and pure in that landscape,” says Tim Kirk chief winemaker and CEO of Clonakilla. Situated approximately 25 minutes drive outside of Australia’s capital in the cool climate Canberra district of … Continue reading The Legend of Clonakilla – Giving the Landscape a Voice
The moon had reached the descending phase of it’s orbit around the earth and at Krinklwood biodynamic vineyard out at Broke, in the Hunter Valley, a diverse group of people began to arrive as the first rays of the new morning’s light pierced up and over the Brokenback range and scattered onto the earth below. … Continue reading New Ways of Thinking – Krinklewood Biodynamic Workshop
Preparation 501 is not the main ingredient used in a pair of button zipped Levi’s. Instead, it is one of the most important and most powerful elements of biodynamic agriculture. Made from crushed quartz crystal that has been buried within cow horns for 6 months during the ‘light’ time of the year – between spring … Continue reading Biodynamics 101 – Prep 501 – Use The Light Force
“I’m too much of a scientist to get my head around biodynamics”, says Mike De Iuliis (De-u-lee-iss) when I interview him at his cellar door on Broke Rd, Poklobin, in the Hunter Valley. The fruit for much of De Iuliis wines come from 70 acres of conventionally managed vineyard sites, including one of the Hunter’s most famous sites … Continue reading BD is BS but the Soil is Still the Soul – Mike De Iuliis
Moving closer towards artistic expression by “feeling our way to taste and flavour,” is the object of desire for Margaret River’s natural wine creators, Si Vintners. Owner/Winegrower’s, Sarah Morris and Iwo Jakimowicz (Si), fell into the deep dark, beautiful hole that is wine via a quirky combination of architecture, travel, art, surfing, and the obligatory … Continue reading Impressionist Winegrowers – Si Vintners, WA
Natural wines are, apparently, the most divisive topic in the wine world right now. Well, if that is the case, then someone forgot to tell that to the fifteen or so curious people that showed up to Real Food, in Newtown, on Tuesday night. Co-conspirators Mike Bennie (wine writer, terroirist, and dab hand at organising artisan … Continue reading Licking Molten Lava with Mike Bennie
‘It’s not about being far-out and groovy, and not using any chemicals’, says James Millton, a man who has been practicing biodynamic agriculture in New Zealand since 1986, ‘there are a whole lot of other tangents involved’. James, along with his wife Annie, have been custodians of the land at Poverty Bay, Gisborne on the … Continue reading The Spirit of Wine-Growing at Millton Vineyards
It is not necessary for an organic or biodynamic wine grower to be certified in order for them to sell their wines within Australia, or New Zealand. There are many wine growers who do not have certification, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t practice organic, or biodynamic viticulture in their vineyards. From a consumer … Continue reading Integrity from Paddock to Plate
David Paxton ‘was the proper Chemical Ali’ back in the early days of grape growing at Paxton Wines in the McLaren Vale, South Australia. A strict adherent to the chemical calender, Paxton – who originally grew almonds until making the switch to grapes in the 1980’s – wanted to be known as the best. His … Continue reading The Gentle Evolution of Paxton Vineyards
The Hunter Valley is the oldest wine region in Australia. It was the first wine region to be planted, back in the early 19th century, with cuttings brought back from Europe by James Busby, the father of Australian wine. Amongst those cuttings, six were of Syrah taken from the Rhône in France… in Australia we call … Continue reading ‘Let The Grapes Speak’ – Harkham Wines, Hunter Valley NSW
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