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top
tipples
by
Traveller’s Tales
This month I will be talking about exploring the wine
regions close to Adelaide and about the good things
that Aussie wine-making has done.
Having just come back from South Australia, I’m going
to have a look at the mighty Barossa and McLaren
regions. But let’s start with some technical stuff.
Did you know?
The temperature in the fermenting vessel can
get up to 35°C, blood temperature? When it
does so, however, lots of the fruit flavours and
aromas get lost. The wines end up hot,
flat and tasteless. A big problem for a country
like Australia, which is hot anyway.
The amazing solution to this problem was
to adopt industrial refrigeration techniques.
Now, the winemakers can control the ferment
temperature to between 20-30°C for reds and
7-16°C for whites, which are the ideal ranges.
What’s more, the Aussies have adopted
machine-harvesting and then extend that to
picking at night so that the grapes arrive cool in
the winery. So next time you are drinking that
fruity Aussie wine... offer a quick thank you to
their smart technicians!
Tasting wines in
South Australia
This is both free (mostly), easy and definitely
enjoyable. It’s a great experience to move from
one winery ‘cellar door’ to the next and compare
the wines tasted. Most cellar doors also have
restaurants or bistros attached. Sit, eat, drink
and enjoy the view. Fantastic!
Two considerations. Firstly, remember to use
the spittoons if you are doing a winery tour.
Secondly, if tempted to buy remember that
prices at the cellar door are top whack, but
you are paying for a great, a fun experience.
McLaren Vale
Originally only surveyed in the 1830s, it was
producing grapes for Seaview and Hardy’s
wineries in the 1840s. Now a protected area to
stop encroachment by the Adelaide suburbs in
the north, McLaren Vale is bounded to the south
and east by the Hills and to the west by the sea.
This is prime Shiraz country, where 50 per cent
of the crush is from this grape variety. There
are nearly 100 producers in McLaren Vale.
My top tip would be for d’Arenburg (especially
for older, mature wines, and Wirra Wirra).
Barossa Valley
First settled in the 1840s by German refugees
from Silesia, the Barossa is some 40 miles
northeast of Adelaide. Lying on high ground, its
potential for grape-growing was quickly identified.
Like the McLaren Vale, it too is dominated
by Shiraz. In fact, it has some of the oldest
commercial vineyards with Lot 1 in Tanunda
having been planted by Johan Fiedler in 1847...
amazing. Barossa Shiraz also features heavily in
Penfolds classic Grange Hermitage, but at $850
per bottle you may need a bank loan.
Top wineries abound in the Barossa. My tips
would be Yalumba, a family-owned winery,
for consistency and style, Ch Tanunda as an
amazing place (with super wines) and for a
smaller grower try Charlie Melton, who makes
classy reds.
Try his Nine
Popes, a
Chanteauneuf-
style wine.
Terrific.
REDHEADS VIN’ATUS TEMP
GARN GRACI £12.99
From the tiny RedHeads wine studio team
in the Barossa, this red combines a trio of
Spanish grapes. Yet the playful Vin’atus (its
name means ‘wine games’) is Australian
through and through with its dark, brooding
cherry fruit and toasty spice length.
LA CURIO THE NUBILE GSM 13
£17.99
Over the years, this GSM red has scored
90+ points from many critics. It’s from Adam
Hooper, in McLaren Vale, who tracks down
the very old vines – 80 years old in fact
– for this power packed red, then crafts it
every step of the way. Magnificent,
dense and long.
REDHEADS CORROBOREE
SHIRAZ 15 £13.99
Last vintage ‘Wine of the Show’ in London
and New York, this vintage Gold and Best
Value awards in China – we’re very proud
of this rich, smoky, berry red. It’s from
RedHeads in the Barossa and premium
Koonunga fruit.
All available from Laithwaites