Wine Safari (Part One): Vinden Estate
Posts tagged ‘cellar door’
Artemis Shiraz Viognier
Take me away…
Wine is romanticized by the context in which we drink it.
If you think about the most memorable drop you’ve ever had, I’m guessing you’ll easily be able to remember the surroundings in which you drank it.
Just like the thought of drinking Jim Beam sparks the shiver a cold winters night and the smell of a country bush fire (ah, the days of my youth), recalling a memorable bottle of wine also carries the story of a beautiful place, or the unforgettable words of the person with whom you drank it.
In short, wine is not just a sensation of the palate – it is an experience. It carries a story.
On this note, I would like to introduce you to a wine that reminds me of home. Not only because I drank a half a bottle curled up on a rug by the wood fire, but also because this smooth sensation comes from a winery just down the road from me.
The Southern Highlands has a very cool climate, and therefore grows a lot more white grape varieties than red. As such, this 2009 Artemis Shiraz Viognier was a pleasant surprise – it just goes to show that an exceptional bottle of Shiraz can still be nurtured and produced in cooler conditions. I’m not sure if the Viognier is grown in the region or sourced from vineyards elsewhere – there seems to be very little documentation on this hidden gem!
Sip, Sip!
Deep purple in colour, this delicious blend is like velvet on your tongue; a fantastic balance of tannin & acidity. It smacks of darker kinds of fruit – plum, blueberries, blackberries, finishing with subtle suggestion of chocolate and spice.
As for purchase information, I must confess this bottle was given to me, so I can’t direct you your local bottle-o to pick some up. However, if I’ve successfully piqued your interest I would recommend contacting Artemis wines to put an order in. Or, even better – pay a visit to my home town, Mittagong, and wing by their Cellar Door. I’m informed that they’re only open on a weekday – so make sure you pop by then.
The area is full of many other boutique wineries- so a cheeky tour would definitely be an order! Click here to take a look at the Highlands HQ – a neat little website that lists all the main wineries in the area & their contact details.
Drop of Wine, Splash of Paint
And What Is This Wine?
A 2011 De Iuliis Cellar Release of Sangiovese.
Grown in the Hunter Valley, De Iuliis has done exceptionally well in producing such an enjoyable drop out of this Italian grape.
Radiant red, this Sangiovese has all the fresh fruit flavour minus the heavy alcohol content you’ll find in a Shiraz or Cab Sav. Crisp and delicate on the tongue, it’s one you’ll enjoy immensely with food. Work your way through a bottle over lunch or a light dinner, or sip on a glass when you’re after something sweet and refreshing.
If I had to give it personality traits, I’d describe this wine as both happy and youthful.
As a Cellar Release, unfortunately this wine is not readily accessible. To order a bottle (or half a dozen ;) I’d recommend contacting De Iuliis Wines and requesting some, or visit their Hunter Valley cellar door. If you’ve in the area, The Cracked Pepper restaurant adjacent to the winery looks worth a visit too.
Much to my delight, Michael De Iuliis seems quite active on Twitter too – so if you have any questions, or you simple want to say hi, flick him a Tweet!
Scrambled Eggs…
At the end of a long work week, when all coherent thought seems to get lost in my scrambled egg of a brain, sometimes there’s nothing I crave more than a blank canvas and a paintbrush; the simple task of crafting a composition from raw colour.
What better way to get the creative juices flowing than with some chillout beats and a light glass of wine.
And so I sit and swallow light. And sound. And Sangiovese.
Eventually the once flapping, curling chaos of paint transforms into recognisable shapes – an eye, an ear, a hand.
In this way, music, colour and flavour combine and create a language of their own, clean and pure. Unlike the heaviness of the spoken word, it is weightless, lifting everything to new, unexplored and imaginative territory…
Chillout Sessions:
Call Me Maybe Cover – Ben Howard
Old Pine – Ben Howard
1000 Things – Jason Mraz
Give Me One Reason – Tracy Chapman
Amen Omen – Ben Harper
Closer – Kings of Leon
Message In A Bottle – John Butler Trio
I Remember – Deadmau5
Perth – Bon Iver
15 Step – Radiohead
California Dreaming – The Mamas & The Papas
Drop In The Ocean – Ron Pope
