Adrian Tobin is one of the many I see who epitomise Granite Belt wine country. Easy going, loves a friendly chin-wag and nuts about what he does. Passion over profits and hectolitres, he crafts with meticulous detail, eagle-eyed and in tune with his vines, the terroir, the weather…all for only couple of precious barrels.
Why are roses planted at the end of rows of grape vines? A few theories exist.
One of my favourite alternative varieties from the Granite Belt (or “Strangebirds” in local parlance) has to be Saperavi. Normally a native of Georgia, this grape has really found a second home in here in the high altitude granitic soils. While an alternative variety in Australia, it’s definitely no stranger to the spotlight, holding their own in collecting awards back in the homeland in Georgia!
Tonnellerie de Champagne, where the oak barrels are still made by hand. Here, only a tiny number of barrels are crafted compared to the larger automated coopers in Burgundy and Bordeaux. Demand for oak barrels for both fermentation and maturation is increasing as Champagne houses experiment and move towards more oaked styles.
Do you have a minute? In today’s One Minute Wine Tour, I’m here in Henschke’s iconic Hill Of Grace vineyard in the Eden Valley, and thanks to South Australia being phylloxera-free, home to some of the oldest productive Shiraz vines in the world, dating back to 1860.
While traditional English Sparkling has come a long way in recent years, one can’t help but notice at the Wine GB tasting the sea of Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier blends on show, and one can often overhear tasters ruminating inevitably the parallels and comparisons with Champagne, in quality, winemaking and crucially, price.
Those who know me will know I always bang on about the Granite Belt, Australia’s smallest wine region and two hours’ drive from Brisbane, Queensland – the town where I grew up.