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
There are four organic/biodynamic wine producers in the Hunter Valley – Tamburlaine, Macquariedale, Krinklewood, and Harkham – and each have just had two of their bottles of wine sunk down to the bottom of the Hunter River. Owned and operated by Mark Davidson, Tamburlaine has two vineyard sites – 30 ha in the Hunter Valley, … Continue reading Hunter Valley Pioneers Sinking to New Depths
If you trek out between the vine rows in any vineyard that practices biodynamics you will soon notice how your feet are welcomed into the soil underfoot with each progressive step. Your shoes sink ever so slightly, ever so softly into the moist brown dirt, and once you’ve reached the end of one vine row … Continue reading Biodynamics 101 – The Soil = The Soul
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 was a Wednesday night in Sydney. The Tuesday before, I’d been invited down, by Richard Harkham, to a tasting at Circular Quay, to explore and experience ‘What’s New’ from Andrew Guard‘s most fascinating and most delicious bottles from Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Many of the bottles he had on show were fine examples … Continue reading Haunting Wines, Madmen, and some band you’ve probably never heard of…
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
Sorry to keep harping on about Rootstock (2013) – it’s just that it was such a bloody good event! While I was there I was able to sit down with wine journalist and writer, Max Allen to discuss a few things which related to the the event itself: biodynamics versus conventional agriculture and the rise … Continue reading Real Wine Drinkers Are All Punks…
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