Just a little bit about loving wine...

As the cool weather sets in and we replace bikinis and kaftans with stylish scarves and coats, so to does our taste in wine generally move from the crisp aromatics to something a little more smooth and comforting. Almost like Day and Night I have turned back into my red blooded wine loving self and see a few more red tainted blogs coming this way.

I just noticed the change last night as the cold snap of wind gushed around my bare neck. Jumping from the bus and hurrying along to the front door all I could think was that there was a lovely soft red to embrace me when I finally got inside. The sheer thought of the comfort a lovely glass of wine will bring when braving the weather, is almost as intoxicating as the drink itself. It occurred to me yesterday that there is just something so comforting about escaping the cold to warm up with a vino, and considering that Europe is so cold there is no wonder why they produce some of the best reds in the world.

Not only is the wine itself comforting but the premature conjuring of images about food and wine is a delight. The whole event in France begins with deciding what one will eat, followed by a spirited trip to the market to fetch the freshest of ingredients, the anticipation then builds as delicious complementary flavours permeate the air and whet the palate. Of course someone must bring the wine, but you can bet your bottom dollar that those guests have subtly acquired this information from the host and have selected a wine to match the meal perfectly. The actual meal itself is the icing on the cake as by this stage all the senses have been evoked through the preparation. Ahhh, such is the bliss of the delights of common day practices in France! Those foodies and winos among us can take heed from their practices though and add a modern twist.

Tonight I sit here drinking a delicious glass of Marlborough Pinot Noir from a label called Fox by John Belsham which retails for around $20. It is aged three years and has a slight brown tinge to the red colour. The palate is also more developed and the flavours last on my tongue for longer than I am able to resist another scrumptious sip. 

Unfortunately I do not have the luck of being invited to a dinner party with lavish courses this evening (or any evening that I can remember in recent history) however, as I walked home from yoga the crisp air hit my face and I was delighted by the thought of my Marlborough Pinot Noir that was going to greet me in my cosy apartment. The beauty of wine for me comes in so many different forms, from sharing with friends and family, to enjoying Sunday evening solitude with a glass all to myself. Perhaps I see the whole industry with rose tinted glasses, however as they say 'ignorance is bliss'.

This evenings blog may be a little more self indulgent rather than academic, however occasionally I think it is necessary to reassert why we do what we do, and why we love what we love. A life without passion is a sad life indeed and I am pleased to say that with a vino in my hand, or a lovely one waiting for me when I get home this will never be me. Decide what it is you love and make sure you have a little bit of it a lot of the time. Tonight I truly feel in a state of utter bliss.

Enjoy whatever you are drinking tonight and be grateful for the company you have sharing it with you. Tonight I don't need you to have a glass for me, I am having one for myself. Alex Mac.

The Southern Highlands - NSW

Recently I had the pleasure of being taken away for the weekend to the Southern Highlands and discovered one of the true treasures of NSW's wine country. With the McGuigan family hailing from the Hunter Valley it has always been the first place that my mind goes to when wine regions come up in conversation. Over the last 30 years the Hunter Valley has developed beautifully and it is a fantastic place to go for a weekend away. There are however some other regions in NSW that aren't quite as mature as the Hunter that are producing beautiful wines and offer a weekend getaway at a fraction of the price.

Centennial Winery

In a large city like Sydney the seasons blend smoothly and are difficult to distinguish rather than a cold chill one day that tells you the sunshine has gone for a while. Whereas in the Southern Highlands the vibrancy of the changing colours of the leaves in all shades of orange from a gold to auburn act as curtains down the streets and into the distance. It is truly like driving through a painting, and this is just the beginning.

The main area in Bowral has charming shops and cafes filled with delicious treats for a mid morning stop after the drive from Sydney. Only an hour and a half from Sydney, you can be in Bowral driving through the tree lined streets before you know it. 

The wineries are a little further out but are a delight to find. I was taken by a local to visit the Centennial winery which is the first five star winery in the Southern Highlands. It is an absolutely beautiful place to visit with gorgeously manicured gardens that lead up the driveway to the winery itself. 

The Southern Highlands is a cool climate region with about 60 vineyards and 10 wineries. Cool climate wines generally have a long growing season where the warmth of the day is minimal. This means that the grapes take a longer time to ripen than in warmer climates and therefore elegant wines with finesse can be produced. Personally I prefer wines from regions like this as they are light and easy to drink without food as an aperitif.

 

In the tasting room at Centennial there we were greeted by lovely knowledgeable staff who helped us taste through a number of wines on offer. Among the ones we tried were the Pinot Chardonnay Sparkling which is a delicious crisp sparkling made in the traditional French method; the Brut Rose, which was light pink in colour and a little sweeter to taste with a bit of a berry essence. Of the two sparklings we preferred the Pinot Chardonnay and bought a bottle for $27.99.

Pinot Grigio

Of the whites I tried the chardonnay and the Pinot Grigio which were both delicious and easy to drink. They both sell for $21.99 and are definitely worth trying at some point. Finally the reds were lovely. Centennial are definitely innovators in their attempt to try new and different varieties including Sangiovese and Tempranillo. Out of these reds personally I prefer the spice and hot Spaniard that the Tempranillo grape offers. This variety is light like a pinot noir but has a hint of spice like Shiraz without the Dracula affect on ones teeth. Tempranillo is another story all together though, one deserving its own blog.

In summary, for those looking for a weekend getaway that is close to Sydney, not too expensive and offers plenty of culinary and viticultural delights the Southern Highlands is the place to go. Check out the tourism link below for more ideas.

Southern Highlands Tourism

Centennial Vineyards

Until next time, have a glass for me. Alex Mac.

Investing in wine - what you need to know

When it comes to investing, knowledge is power and it pays to do your research. As the old adage goes ‘there is no free lunch’ and you must run as fast as you can from anyone silly enough to suggest that there is, especially when it comes to an unregulated asset class such as the fine wine market. While it might be romantic to think that the bottle of wine which you bought whilst travelling through the French countryside 20 years ago will now be worth a pretty penny, this is most likely not the case and there is more to investing in wine than biding your time.

Before we even enter the realm of parting with money for investment in wine there are a number of things to be considered and researched by the investor. To have the greatest possibility of a reasonable return it is imperative to understand the market and factor these elements into the investment. Now to say that there is no free lunch is not to say that there is not money to be made, however one must be extremely frugal in such an environment and trust only well respected wine merchants.

The investment should focus on the top wines from the top vintages. Just as it is likely that the first investment one would make in equities would be in a company listed on the ASX, the FTSE 100 or the Dow Jones, when investing in Fine Wine it is advisable to begin with Bordeaux. Dating back to 1855 Bordeaux wines have been classified into five categories ranking from the cream of the crop known as the ‘first growths’, closely followed by the ‘super seconds’, and then on to the third, fourth and fifth growths. The wine is classified on its ability to mature, the longer life of the wine to maturity, the better the quality. Wines in the ‘first growths’ category generally take 15-20 years to mature, if not more. The track record of Bordeaux wines demonstrates a consistent product from the region that investors can see as a benchmark. While there is always risk involved in investing, with Bordeaux wines there is at least a history, which can help the investor to understand the product more intimately.

Fine Wine is generally sold through an auction house directly to a wine merchant. Throughout the USA investment grade wines are almost exclusively sold at auction in Chicago. The prices set for the rest of the world take place at London auctions, which are used as the benchmark worldwide.  To determine the appropriate price one should pay for a case of a particular vintage of Bordeaux it is important to research the prices obtained at these auctions as well as the current retail pricing for the most popular wines. As all markets fluctuate, to truly understand the value of the product it is advisable to follow the prices on the market. Auction Fine Wine Prices can be found at a number of sources including WinePrices.com (http://wineprices.vinfolio.com).

Storing the wine correctly is imperative to retaining the value of your investment. Wine must be stored at 14 degrees Celsius and constant which is generally not possible in a home cellar. Storing the investment wine at home also runs the risk of a very expensive dinner party, especially if you have thirsty friends. The ability to prove the storage history of the wines will be advantageous on price when it comes time to make a profit. Professional storage however is an additional cost and should be considered in the entire investment as a whole, so not to erode ROI unknowingly. If the wines are purchased in Europe and stored ‘in bond’ or in a professional warehouse they are considered to be ‘wasting chattel’ (something that will ultimately deteriorate in value) and therefore you will not have to pay capital gains tax.

One of the most highly respected wine critics in the world is Robert Parker Jnr. The US wine commentator gives wine scores out of 100. Anything that is scored above 90 is likely to be worthy of considering as an investment grade wine. His website is at www.erobertparker.com.

Have a happy Easter and until next time have a glass for me! Alex Mac