Tag Archives: Victoria

The Vincast with Viv Thomson from Best’s Wines

When the Thomson family bought the Best’s vineyard and winery in the 1920s they were continuing and building on a tradition that began 150 years ago. Great Western is one of the most historic regions in Australian wine, and it is here that some of the oldest vines and winemaking history continue to this day. Viv Thomson is the fourth generation to run this historic estate, and has been involved with the family business for the better part of 50 years. On this episode of The Vincast he shared with me not only his family’s story, but also how the wine industry has changed since the 1960s.

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Viv Thompson from Best's Wines

Viv Thomson from Best’s Wines

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Let’s Taste – My Granny’s Cellar!!

Last September my amazing Grandmother passed away at the incredible age of 89 (vintage 1927). As my family went through the emotional process of organising and cleaning her house of 40 years, I discovered a number of bottles of wine in the cupboard under the stairs. With permission from my family I opened some of these bottles on this video, and the results were quite surprising.

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February 8, 2016 · 10:28 am

Let’s Taste – Liquid Rock ‘N’ Roll Nebbiolo 2013 WITH Vegetarian Lasagne

Recent guest on The Vincast Podcast Alex Byrne gave me a bottle of his Nebbiolo 2013, made from fruit grown in the Heathcote region, under the Liquid Rock ‘N’ Roll brand. I thought I might try a wine and food pairing exercise, as I was having a plate of vegetarian lasagne. What do you think is the best pairing wine for lasagne??

Liquid Rock 'N' Roll Nebbiolo 2013

Liquid Rock ‘N’ Roll Nebbiolo 2013

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February 3, 2016 · 4:20 pm

The Vincast with Alex Byrne from Byrne Wines & Noisy Ritual

Originally born in Ballarat, Alex discovered an interest in wine helping a childhood friend in his family winery for harvest one year. He then worked vintages in numerous regions and countries, before returning to Australia and commencing employment at Lethbridge Wines in Geelong. Here he started playing around with his own wines, quickly getting some attention for himself with the Byrne Wines brand. More recently he launched Noisy Ritual with some friends. Noisy Ritual is an urban winery that allows people to become members and work together to make wine that they can then enjoy with their friends and family.

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Alex Byrne

Alex Byrne

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The Vincast Episode with Gilles Lapalus from Maidenii

Gilles Lapalus was “born in a barrel”, as wine is in his family in the Burgundy region of France. After working for many years in different roles he took a trip to the furthest place he could think of, Australia. It was here that he was not only introduced to the “new world” of wine, but also his partner. Gaining experience in South and North America, he pursued further projects in France and Italy before he was lured back to Australia and became the winemaker at Sutton Grange just outside Melbourne. During his tenure he introduced many elements to the brand, and also launched a vermouth to a thirsty Melbourne bar scene.

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Gilles Lapalus from Maidenii

Gilles Lapalus from Maidenii

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The Vincast with Daniel Fischl from Linnaea Vineyards

Daniel Fischl didn’t find working in laboratories particularly appealing, and whilst completing a PhD in Plant Molecular Genetics at UC Davis (California) he was introduced to viticulture and was seduced with what lay outside. It also helped that the viticulture and winemaking students seemed to have more fun. Fast forward many years of experience consulting as a viticulturist and agricultural scientist, he and his winemaker wife Michelle started the Linnaea Vineyards project with a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. As he got work consulting in vineyards around the world he and Michelle discovered more terroirs and made more wines, across a number of continents and expressions.

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Daniel Fiscal from Linnaea Vineyards

Daniel Fiscal from Linnaea Vineyards

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Let’s Taste – Out of Step Nebbiolo 2014

Did you happen to listen to recent double episode of The Vincast wine podcast with Dave Chatfield and Nathan Reeves, the guys behind Out of Step Wine Company? Perhaps you’ve seen my previous Let’s Taste videos of some of their white wines? Well here are my impressions of their nebbiolo wine from 2014, the fruit of which came from the Malakoff vineyard in the Pyrenees region of Victoria. Let me know what you think!

Out of Step Nebbiolo 2014

Out of Step Nebbiolo 2014

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January 6, 2016 · 9:28 am

Let’s Taste – Bindi Macedon Cuvée 2003

When I was still discovering more about wine, about one year into my tenure at Chandon, I was running some little wine dinners with family members. One of these started with a sparkling wine made by Bindi Winegrowers. It was an extended lees-contact methode traditionelle, that I believe had spent seven years on lees. I’m not sure when, but at some point they stopped making this wine, but perhaps still have wine still sitting on lees which is periodically disgorged.

I spotted this 2003 vintage which spend ten years on lees in my local bottle shop, and couldn’t resist toasting the new year with it. Here are my impressions, what do you think? Have you tasted this wine?

Bindi Macedon Cuvée 2003

Bindi Macedon Cuvée 2003

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January 5, 2016 · 7:10 pm

Let’s Taste – Coldstream Hills Reserve Pinot Noir 2002

Back when I worked in the cellar door at Domaine Chandon in the Yarra Valley, one of my colleagues lived at Coldstream Hills as her partner was one of the winemakers. She was kind enough to put together a mixed dozen of reserve wines of various vintages, some of which are still in my cellar. I thought it was about time to open this bottle, the Reserve Pinot Noir 2002. What are your thoughts, do you agree? Let me know in the comments.

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December 30, 2015 · 12:13 pm

Let’s Taste – Main Ridge Chardonnay, The Acre & Half Acre Pinot Noir 2014

Main Ridge Estate make my favourite wine in the world, the Half Acre Pinot Noir. Theirs was one of the first cellar doors I ever visited, back when I was still learning about wine. I visited a few months ago, I think just after the estate had been sold, bought some current release bottles and also placed an order for the soon to be released 2014 wines. I opened the three for the first time to see what they present, and perhaps give me an idea how long I should keep them.

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December 30, 2015 · 12:10 pm