An axiom with perhaps European roots is “a grape variety won’t ripen every year if it is the right variety for the site.” I think the jury is still out for white varieties but it carries weight with red wine. Grapes tend to hold their acid and fruit character better when ripening occurs in cool … Read more
Cabernet Sauvignon is the single most planted red variety around the world and is probably the best recognised red amongst wine consumers. Historically speaking, it is a relatively new variety that appears to be a spontaneous cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc originating in France and having its first significant impact on the Bordeaux … Read more
So if we must put up with the frost there must be some reason to grow grapes in the brass monkey country… The vast majority of vineyards in the world are grown between the temperate latitudes of 30° and 50° with warm to hot climate grapes typically produced from the lower latitudes and Cool to … Read more
Contemporary winemaking in Orange NSW is relatively new dating back to a small wave of producers planting wine grapes in the early 1980’s and a much larger wave at the turn of the millenium leading to over 1500 hectares of wine grapes presently grown in the Orange region. There are a number of factors that … Read more
Many white wines are refreshing but they don’t keep inviting me back for another taste like a great chardonnay. Rob Geddes in his book ‘A Good Nose and Great Legs’ paints an interesting image of chardonnay: “If you could see wine in terms of a country landscape, what would you see? If it was riesling, … Read more