www.alexmacwine.com

AlexMacWine has found a fancy new home at www.alexmacwine.com from which I will be bringing you all the info you need to know to enjoy a glass of vino.

You will see that parts of the site are currently under construction but little by little I will bring you only the most important details about Australian wine regions and popular varieties grown here.

The blog will continue but from it's new home www.alexmacwine.com . There is a blog tab along the top navigation bar and I will keep you posted on everything I come across. Below is picture of what the home page looks like. I hope you like it!

Most importantly, if you like the blog and want to know a bit more about wine in a place for wine drinkers not experts, then please join the AlexMacWine community and follow me on twitter, instagram, facebook, via email or pintrest.

I look forward to sharing a glass with you. Lots of love Alex Mac

 

And a Wine Odyssey Christmas to you too!

As I am sure you can all guess, Christmas time is my favourite time of the year. Champagne corks pop like an African drumming group, people are feeling festive and giving, and the afternoon sun lends itself so kindly to a vino on a balcony with a friend.

Of course at this time of year we have our annual Wine Club Christmas party. Through the years our little club has grown to include many wonderful, passionate and wine enthusiastic women. With such a fabulous group in tow, there was no where else for us to head but Wine Odyssey at the Rocks.

Now, this is fabulous venue for anybody, wine lover or not. When we walked into the place which is easily located on the corner of Harrington and Argyle Streets in the rocks (diagonally opposite the Argyle Hotel), we were immediately amongst a party vibe of another groups Roman themed party. Needless to say, the fun began immediately!

Emma, Alex Mac & Stephanie

The Marketing and Events Manager, Remi Pinatel was a delight to deal with from the start. He escorted us wine club ladies up to a private function room where a table had been beautifully set, and by the windows tables lay prepared with dips and olives. It was from these tables that we were able to sip our champagne and gossip whilst overlooking the Christmas chaos on the streets of the rocks below. A most entertaining start to our evening.

Once the gaggle of geese had all arrived and were slightly champagned-up due to the speedy and efficient service, we headed to our table. Beautiful menus had been created to cater to the tastes of all ladies present and we had a choice of three entrees and three mains. Each dish had been carefully matched with a wine to bring out the flavours and we chose accordingly.

Remi was brilliant! First the wines came out and he spoke about each of the different styles and why they worked with the dishes we had ordered. Then before we became too engrossed in our wines, conversation and delicious meals, he made us play a mystery wine game. We each looked at the colour, smelled and tasted our wines. Then Remi asked us a series of questions and eliminated people along the way until we only had one winner.

It was a seriously fabulous evening spent learning, laughing and spreading Christmas cheer. We each paid $100 which we organised at the beginning of the night to avoid having to deal with the bill at the end. This included sparkling and nibbles on arrival, a substantial two course meal with matching wine, wine for our tasting game, a private room with two waiters and the personal service of the Marketing and Events Manager of this amazing wine venue. Now if that is not value I don't know what is.

This is not only a wine bar with fabulous food and brilliant wines, but it is a true experience where you can explore. Definitely on my must do Sydney wine list. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

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

How to Host a Wine Dinner

There is nothing more fabulous than being invited to a wine dinner at a private residence, except when that wine dinner is hosted by rock star wine maker Lisa McGuigan at her black and white themed apartment. While Lisa is clearly my cousin, she is also most certainly a master at hosting an outstanding dinner party. The following blog is simply a recap of one of the best wine functions I have ever attended. The idea being, that if you understand how an amazing dinner party is held, you will be inspired to host your own. Just remember, the excellence comes with the detail!

At 6:00pm on Wednesday evening 20th November a well dressed crowd began appearing in the lobby of a newly renovated building overlooking Sydney's lush green Hyde Park. Once through the grand three metre front doors, guests were ushered in the lift and landed high into the city skyline. An open front door and a sweet border collie named Lois Lane welcomed guests into the ultra modern apartment overlooking the St Mary's Cathedral. 

Transforming overnight from grey thunderous skies, the skyline was clear as day. Guests marvelled at the beauty of our city whilst sipping 2002 vintage Pommery and listening to the enchanting strums from the Harpist at the centre of the balcony. From 6:00 - 7:00pm the champagne flowed, whilst smartly dressed and meticulously mannered waitstaff served lobster cocktails. 

At 7:00pm on the dot, Lisa rounded up her guests and asked them to take their seats at the table. Each seat had a beautifully written place card with the name of the guest on both sides so guests on either side of each other, and across the table could call each other by name. A menu was coiled and tied with Lisa's signature black leather which reminded you of her rock'n'roll style.

Everyone was seated in an orderly fashion along the long table for 24 and made small talk with their new neighbour. Those who had been involved in organising the event were spaced along the table amongst guests in order to keep the conversation flowing. Each dinner guest had three glasses of wine in front of them and a water glass to ensure a clean palate. The white wines were poured from left to right with the lightest on the left hand side and the heaviest on the right. With the amazing catering of Mason Rose we enjoyed thinly sliced turkey with a white sauce and pistachios and cranberries. The wines were from the new vintage of Lisa McGuigan's wines the first was the Wild Semillon, the second was the flagship Pinot Gris and the third a lightly oaked Chardonnay. Such a selection was an easy talking point amongst newly acquainted guests and worked perfectly with the light white meat dish.

Guests were asked before the first speech commenced to choose their main from a selection of three. One meat dish, one fish and one vegetarian. It is essential to request dietary requirements of guests before they arrive to avoid embarrassment. Again guests were provided with three Lisa McGuigan red wines, the first being the recently James Halliday four star awarded Pinot Noir, second, the Vanessa Vale Shiraz and finally the Platinum labelled Hunter Valley Shiraz.

Always the life of the party, Lisa spoke with her guests throughout the evening about the wines that they were drinking. Why they matched the carefully selected menu and how guests should taste wine to get the most out of it. By dessert time, guests were moving freely around the table and happily chatting as though they had known each other for years.

The key to any spectacular wine dinner is attention to detail. From the moment the guests arrive to the moment they depart you must be in control of the experience and have a plan for what happens next. This type of planning will ensure that the event goes off smoothly, and even if there is a drama you will be better equipped to deal with it. It also helps to have a talented wine maker, but if not just make sure you have heaps of personality and know how to bluff!

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

Mornington Peninsula Adventure with Lisa Lye

This month has been super busy with work and my gorgeous friend Lisa and I decided that a mid month reprieve to the Mornington Peninsula was exactly what we needed. To give our little getaway the respect it deserved we took the Friday off and headed from the bustling streets of Melbourne's CBD straight down the M11 just after lunch on Friday and headed for the coast. After a short drive of just over an hour we arrived at the idyllic Red Hill in the Mornington Peninsula which is characterised by huge gum trees that line the streets. 

After exiting the highway, we drove for another five minutes into another world. Turning left off the bitumen we turned into Lindenderry Winery and immediately the stresses and noise of the city was washed away. Greeted by the friendly Damien at the front desk we were swiftly checked in, upgraded to a larger suite with a view of their beautiful gardens and promised that a bottle of chilled Moët and Chandon would be delivered to our room. Nice! All I could think was 'Well done Lisa'! The afternoon was spent drinking champagne and catching up whilst enjoying freshly made scones and jam. Quite clearly the perfect start to an Alex Mac adventure.

For dinner we moseyed on along to the locally acclaimed restaurant 10 Minutes By Tractor which was about 5 minutes down the road by taxi. While the restaurant was pleasant and the food quite delicious it all seemed rather fussy to me. Small portions of artistic style food is not really my thing, especially when it is accompanied by a snooty sommelier who tells you that he can see what type of patron you are by the price of the wine you order! That said, the wine was delicious and very reasonably priced. It is unfortunate that they do themselves the disservice by representing their brand with such employees.

Our second day was just as fabulous. Starting with a tasting at the cellar door of Lindenderry Winery we tasted all they had to offer including sparkling, Chardonnay and Pinot noir, with the 2010 Pinot being the pick of the bunch. After a reprieve at the Red Hill day spa, we continued on our journey with some new recommendations to Peringa Estate which was definitely a great find. The tasting costs you $4.00 and you get to taste close to 20 wines. For someone who is learning about wine this is the place to go as you can really taste the difference between different varieties and vintages. Definitely worth a visit.

Finally we stopped at the Main Ridge Dairy which was super cute. The dairy is set up so visitors can taste all the different types of goats cheese, whilst also having a beautifully designed farm which allows guests to look out onto the property and watch the kids (baby goats) as they play fight and try to knock each other off the obstacle in the paddock.

After our $10 tasting plate we packed ourselves up in the car and headed back to Melbourne refreshed and ready to tackle the coming week. Is it just me or does time go by faster as you get older?

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

Cape Mentelle Wine Dinner at the Winery

Last night I went to an awesome wine dinner at the Winery Surry Hills which show cased a number of different wines from Cape Mentelle in the Margaret River. Cape Mentelle is the sister winery of the well known Cloudy Bay and produces wines that are traditionally made in the Bordeaux region of France. Their range of wines include a Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Merlot and Shiraz which we tasted at the dinner accompanied with some delicious food.

Morton Bay Bugs & Chardonnay

We started the evening with a glass of the Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2013 which the Chief Wine Maker Rob Mann described as fresh and lively. Generally I am not one for Sauvignon Blanc however the blend with Semillon seems to soften the taste and make it more palatable. Still not my first choice though.

Our first course was Roast Morton Bay Bugs served with a delicious dressing and a 2011 Chardonnay. The wine initially seemed heavy when I sipped it on its own, however when paired with the Morton Bay Bugs and creme fraiche sauce it was simply heavenly. The mixture of the creamy sauce with the medium bodied was just the perfect pair and definitely my pick of the night.

Pork Belly & 2011 Cab Merlot

The second course was slow cooked pork belly with artichoke, eggplant and prunes paired with a 2011 Cabernet Merlot. The food was absolutely delicious but the wine was just too young and tannic for me. What I mean by that is that there was a presence of the flavour like when you bite into a grape and accidentally chew the seed. Over time tannins in big reds soften and create delicious drinking wines that become smooth and fill the entire palate.

The third course was a small portion of seared venison with pancetta, beets and truffle served with a big 2011 Shiraz. Again, the food was delicious but the wine seemed too young to be serving. I am no expert but it seemed to be made of all the stuff of a good wine, just too young.

Rob Mann Senior Wine Maker at Cape Mentelle

I asked the wine maker whether he thought that the reds could benefit from some time in the bottle and he surprised me by saying that they were perfect to drink now. He also said that they had moved entirely to screw cap and that wines don't age as much under screw cap. This seems to be a great shame as they were delicious wines but simply had not had the time to evolve to their potential and seemingly never will.

All in all though we had a fabulous time and had the opportunity to meet some great people. I would definitely recommend checking out some of the wine events at the Winery in Surry Hills.

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

Divine Intervention

Last night was one of those nights, a simple Monday evening that would begin like all others but yet end as a defining moment. You know the type that I am taking about, those moments that are so coincidental that they couldn't possible be an accident. A moment of pure fate sent from above! Maybe I am exaggerating here a little, but hear me out. You may or may have not noticed that I have taken a little sabbatical from my blog. No excuses necessary, however after my mother passed away last year I lost my mojo and stepped off the wine scene for a while.

In April a friend told me about a new website called Airbnb and suggested that since I travel so often that I could rent my apartment. I started renting it on occasion and in June was contacted by a French lady by the name of Aline Baly. She requested to stay longer than I usually accept and we began corresponding more so than usual to organise. Aline mentioned that she would be hosting some wine master classes on a marketing trip for her family wine company. To thank me for my hospitality she invited me to the Chateau Coutet Master Class presented by Five Ways Cellars owners Ian and Prue Cook at their magnificent family home in Annandale.

I met Aline at my apartment and she looked quintessentially French.  Wearing ballet flats, a pashmina flung loosely across the shoulder and a Longchamp bag she looked effortlessly chic.

A quick cab ride away and we arrived at the Cook residence. Greeted by our friendly hosts with oysters and champagne we mingled among the other guests as everyone arrived. One gentleman asked me what I thought of Sauternes and whether I drink it often? Luckily we were called to the table before I had to give an answer. Phew, that was close!

Aline took control of the formalities like a star and had her audience captivated with her knowledge. Accompanied by home made Parmesan biscuits, chicken liver pâté, onion tart and cheese soufflé we tasted some of the most interesting and delicious wines I have ever come into contact with. The wines of Sauternes are sweet wines produced when the botrytis fungas attacks the grapes. We were encouraged to drink the wines with savoury food which was a first. To my delight the pairings were delicious.

Aline Baly & Ian Cook

My expertise in the specifics of the region still have a long way to go. However I can say that the experience of being invited into someone's home, to drink truly spectacular wine with delicious food is simply heaven. An experience that could only be topped by the host being one of Bordeaux's finest!

The crazy thing in all of this is that I had almost lost the drive behind my love of wine when my mother passed away. The coincidence to be sent Aline as a random guest in my apartment is just too great. It is clearly nothing less than divine intervention.

Until next time. Have a glass for me. Alex Mac

7 of the worlds most extreme wine cellars

I just received a link to the latest Concrete Playground newsletter which highlights 7 of the world's most extreme wine cellars. They are pretty AMAZING!!! Check it out

Here is a sneak preview.

Multi-million dollar estate, Tennessee

Modern Pacific Heights, San Francisco

Summer time wine - Rose

Last weekend was the first AlexMacWine Club of 2013 and we were all thinking pink! Rose is one of those wines that just beacons a summer day filled with sand between your toes and the smell of sizzling sausages wafting through the air. To pay homage to the summer time satisfier, this month's wine club was held poolside in Mona Vale.

Our host Laura, explained to her fellow wine clubbers that anything that starts with the letter P generally goes with Rose including prawns, pate, and pork. It is a wine that is generally made to drink now and should be served chilled, sometimes even with ice as is often done in the south of France.

We started the session off with a delicious glass of Rose Chandon. Interestingly sparkling rose is often made by mixing the juice of red and white wines. It is generally sweeter than its white counterparts and is a lovely point of difference to bring to a party. 

Each member brought a rose and we tried the Robert Stein 2012 Rose from Mudgee made with Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz, the 2011 Arrogant Frog Rose made with Syrah, the 2012 A.Retief rose from the Canberra district made from Cabernet Sauvignon, and the original and still one of the best a cuvee Mateus from Portugal.

Each wine demonstrated different characteristics. The Mateus was deep in colour, slightly sweet with a fizz on the tongue. The bottle was also an interesting and telling shape which made the blind tasting difficult not to cheat. 

The arrogant frog was everything but. A delicious and friendly wine that sells for a steal $10 per bottle. This wine was definitely stiff competition for other pricier counterparts.

The Robert Stein and A.Retief were the most similar in style. They had lighter shades of pink, which I am coming to learn means a drier style of rose, stronger berry aromas on the nose and much greater length, meaning the flavour stays in your mouth for a long time after.

As you can see, we had a fabulous time and there was very little left! But that always seems to be the case with wine club... go figure!?

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

Dickens Cider

I know that this is a wine blog however being a consumer and an enthusiast of a variety of different alcohols I think that it is necessary to mention the notable 'Dickens Cider House' in Launceston. 

Having been so lucky to taste some of the delicious wines from the south of Tasmania we continued our journey north and finally after hours of driving we reached our destination of Launceston. As you would know, driving is thirsty work and whilst on route we dreamed of taking that first sip of perfectly brewed apple cider that would quench a thirst of kings. 

I make the assumption (rightly or wrongly) that the readership of this blog is mostly women so I will take the liberty of labouring the name of 'Dick-ens Ci-der' which provided many giggles amongst the group before it even occurred to me that there would be something mildly amusing about the name.

Needless to say, the amusement caused meant that a trip to the Tasmanian cider producers local haunt was a necessity. And what a pleasant surprise! One of the great joys of travelling in my opinion is that you can simply be passing through a place that is a normal functional city but without significant importance to your travels, when all of a sudden you find a gem of a place that leaves an impression and makes it to the permanent memory bank of your stories. 'Dickens Cider House' in the little city of Launceston, Tasmania is one of those little gems and if you ever happen to pass through, you must stop for a cider with the locals.

It is a cosy little place with friendly staff who know all about the Dickens story and are more than willing to chat to anyone who sits up at the bar for a bevie. Up the back are more comfy seats and if you are feeling peckish you can get the bar staff to order you a pizza from across the road. Definitely worth a look in.

You can find it at  63a Brisbane St, Launceston or check out their wares at their website. http://www.dickenscider.com.au/

That's all for now. Until next time, have a glass for me. Alex Mac xxx

Beautiful Tasmania

Well hello there! I have just returned from an amazing food and wine extravaganza in Tasmania. It was my first time there and I couldn't believe how absolutely beautiful it was. The little island below the Victorian mainland definitely bats above its weight and is worth a visit from any mainlander who is yet to venture across the Tasman and especially anyone who has travelled the minimum 8 hour flight to get down under.

As we were travelling in a group with cars and motorbikes we met in Melbourne and caught the Spirit of Tasmania to Devonport. This was a long day but well worth the effort to have all out gear with us. We only stayed one night in Devonport before heading to Marion Bay for the Falls Festival over New Year, however there are plenty of wineries in the area to check out if you make it to Devonport. 

Sparkling in a our festival glasses

The festival was rustic and fun. We enjoyed the simple things in life like beautiful countryside, sleeping in a tent on a grass paddock with 16,000 other festival goers and drinking wine out of a bag that one of our crew ingeniously smuggled into the concert in the panel of the car door of his ute. 

Whilst very entertaining it wasn't until we hit the Taste Festival in Hobart that we really begun to see the culinary and viticultural skills of Tasmania shine. Similar to any other food and wine festival, local producers join together for 7 days along the Harbour of Salamanca and show off their wares. The best thing about this festival in particular is that it is free! All you have to do to try each and every wine is buy a $7 plastic glass which you use to get a sample of the different wines.

The festival deal at Clover Hill 

The restaurants around the Salamanca area also bat above their weight. It is hard to believe that Hobart only has a population of around 200,000 people. Along the foreshore there are a number of excellent restaurants with fresh produce and great wine lists. The one thing you might notice however is that when there are a few more people than expected the unsuspecting waitstaff tend to get a little hot under the collar and you might end up waiting some time for service or be denied a table at all even though there are some free. 

That said we only got turned away once and we found a perfectly acceptable substitute right next door at 'The Quarry'. The other little treat we found was the wine bar 'The Grape' from the photo below you can probably tell what an amazing selection of wine they had from Tasmania, Australia and around the world. Definitely worth a look in. 

It is a really cosy little wine bar and bottle shop where you can sample many different wines. They also have delicious platters with flavours to make the wines pop.

The Grape Wine Bar Salamanca

Blimy, already a full post and we have only made it to Hobart. Keep checking in and I will share the rest of my Tasmanian wine adventures. 

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

From another blog

My gorgeous friend and fellow wine clubber Ash has just created a new blog with her friend Axel, and guess who they wrote about in their most recent entry??? Little old me :)

Check out her blog at axelandash

I hope you are enjoying the festive season. Have a glass for me. Alex Mac xxx

AlexMacWine Club Schedule 2013

So it is nearly the end of the year which means lots of festivities, but also lots of preparation for 2013. To give you an idea what goes on at wine club I am publishing our schedule for 2013.

Why not create your own wine club and use some of these ideas to get you started? One of our fabulous wine clubbers Laura Jonsson has just written and published her first book titles '52 weeks of fun'. It gives you 52 great ideas of things to do with your girlfriends throughout the year. You can check it out at amazon or on her facebook page. I am pleased to say that AlexMacWine Club gets a mention and Mrs Jonsson was the one who suggested that I publish the secrets of Wine club for the world to enjoy.

Let me know if you have any questions or ideas.

As always, lots of love Alex Mac xx.

Tasmanian Devils

It is nearly the Christmas break and I have to admit I am very much looking forward to my holiday to Tasmania with a group of new friends. Normally I wouldn't have picked the island at the bottom of our great country as holiday destination but through a little research I have discovered that it is quite a wonderous little place with some seriously good wine.

In an attempt to get the most out of the trip I decided to have a look at some of the wineries that we might get to have a look at whilst we are travelling around. This is what I have found.

About the Region

Tasmania has a cool climate with a mild summer and long autumn days. In this type of environment the grapes ripen slowly and surely and therefore offer crisper/drier characteristics. The climate is similar to that of the famous European wines and therefore if you are interested in trying the European styles without the price tag then you don't have to go far!

Tasmania now produces some delicious and elegant cool climate wines that are gaining popularity including Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris and Sparkling wines. The wineries tend to be small but offer wine tastings at their cellar door. There are also a number of wineries that have lovely restaurants offering views of the water or the vineyard.

The Southern Wine Region

This region is made up of three different areas; the Coal River Valley which is a about 15 minutes by car north east of Hobart, Derwent Valley is a 35 minute drive and the Huon Valley/D'Entrecasteaux Channel region is around 30 minutes away. The climate is known as a maritime climate due to the proximity to the water which creates authentic cool climate wines. This would make an ideal day trip from Hobart where you can visit the historic villages of Richmond, New Norfolk, Huonville and Cygnet which have vineyard restaurants and cellar doors.

The Puddleduck vineyard looks super cute, The Richmond Tasting House has both Whisky and wine tasting which is sure to be a crowd pleaser and for the true enthusiast like moi there is Pooley Wines with a guided tour and lessons.

The North West Wine Route

This area is near cradle mountain and is home to lesser known towns and village sides. This region is closer to Davenport and sports a similar climate. Vineyards to visit here include Ghost Rock vineyard which is just 10 minutes drive from Davenport. You can sit outside and relax on the terrace whilst sipping delicious wines, nibbling on local produce and taking on the ocean and mountain views... sounds like heaven right! Lake Barrington Estate is very close as well and has a range of wines called Alexandra, clearly a must try. This area actually has a ton of lovely places to visit and is definitely worth getting lost in. Hawley House is one that I will definitely be checking out, take a peek at the link.

Launceston, Tamar and the North

Again, close to a city, I must admit the locations of the wineries in Tasmania are very convenient! A few to check out here include Pipers Brook Vineyard which has an architecturally-acclaimed cellar door offers tastings and sales of Kreglinger sparkling, Pipers Brook and Ninth Island wines, Three Wishes Vineyard because we all need a little luck sometimes and of course saving the best until last Jansz... Begin and end with bubbles!

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

Drinking wine at Christmas time

As those of you who live at the bottom of the world along with me know, Christmas time is generally quite hot and therefore requires a very different wine list to our friends in the Northern Hemisphere.

Here are a few of my favourites to drink at Christmas time:

Bubbles, Fizz, Sparkling, Champagne

It is really all the same thing and in my opinion is something that can really be enjoyed all year round and on any occassion (except maybe a wake), however there is truly all the more reason to celebrate when everyone is getting on their festive cheer.

As a self proclaimed francophile I can definitely say that the French Champagne is close to my heart with some of my favourite brands consistently producing quality champagne including Veuve Cliquot, Moet Hennessy, Taittinger and Piper. These can be a little expensive though and are nice to keep for that special occassion or the first bottle for the evening. That said, when I was in Dan Murphy's recently I did purchase a few bottles of Piper for $35 per bottle which was a pretty incredible price! 

They have some great specials on at the moment, so if you can't go past the French stuff I recommend taking your car and stocking up. Dan Murphy's Champagne

For those of us who can only afford one special bottle never fear, local Aussie and other new world wine producers make some delicious bubbles that you won't even notice is not the original stuff. Some goodies include Jansz from Tasmania, Chandon - the little sister of Moet, and Grant Burge. Dan Murphy's Sparkling

White stuff

The Christmas parties are definitely in full swing now and the weekday lunches are beginning to fill up which is one of the best parts of the year. But what to drink? Generally I try to keep it light when eating out at a restaurant, especially when I have to go back to my desk and attempt to be productive in the afternoon. As a basic rule I usually pair light food with a light wine to try and make the flavour balance equal.

Wines that always come back in when summer comes knocking include a young Riesling such as the Pewsey Vale from the Eden Valley. This is a seriously easy drinking wine that subtly demonstrates the flavours without being too overpowering as I can sometimes find Riesling. I had this one last Friday at the new Merivale hot spot Mr Wong. It went superbly with our steamed ginger fish. I have also always loved a Pinot Gris but it is something that I am finding is becoming more and more brutalised as every Tom, Dick and Harry gets on the Pinot Gris train for a ride. Be careful when choosing this one and make sure that you get some advice if you don't have an idea of what you want. Some of the poor quality versions can taste watered down and tasteless.

Slurpable Red

The 'slurpable red' is a favourite term of my boyfriend who pretty much calls any resaonably priced tasty wine by this name. I quite like it myself as it says to me that I can have more than one glass when I am out without fear that I look like I am from the Twilight movies with blood-sucking teeth. No favourite brands at the moment but definitely feeling the medium bodied slurpable-ness of my friend Merlot.

Enjoy the festive season and until next time have a glass for me. Alex Mac!

Wine Etiquette - Drinking it right

Etiquette is generally something that you learn in school or from your parents that speaks to how one should behave in certain social occasions. However over time these become skewed and it can sometimes be difficult to decipher what is actually good manners, what is completely pretentious and then what is just plain silly. I thought it would be fun to do a little research and make sure that my wine etiquette skills are up to scratch before frequenting the parties of the silly season. This is what I found out... 

1. Fill 'er up!

When pouring yourself a glass of wine it is proper to fill a red wine glass 1/3 full, a white wine glass 1/2 full and a champagne flute 3/4 full. You can always go back for more... I know what you are thinking!

2. Glass grabber

Hold the glass by the stem for all types of wine. This prevents you warming white wine that should be served chilled and also stops you leaving smudgy fingerprints at the top of your glass. I learnt this one the hard way, having to change a smudgy glass half way through a business lunch. Eeek. Let's just say whatever the reason it is always better to hold by the stem.

3. Too many wines, what to drink first?

When drinking wine it is always best to start with the lightest wine first starting from the lightest of whites to the heaviest reds. If you don't know which variety is lighter then go by the colour of the wine. Generally speaking the lighter the colour in both white and red the lighter the wine will be. The reason you do this, is because as the wines become heavier so do the flavours and it will be very difficult to go backwards to taste the subtler flavours.

4. Hostess with the mostess

It is the host's job to make sure that the glasses of all the guests stay full, so grab that bottle and mingle with those party goers!

5. Would you like to try the wine?

The waiter will generally pour a small amount of wine into the glass of the person who ordered the bottle. This is so you can make sure that the wine is not corked, NOT for you to taste it and see if you don't like it. Wine that is stored under screw cap is almost never corked (because there is no cork) so you can just tell the waiter that it will be fine if you prefer not to go through the motions.

6. Merci beaucoup!

When someone brings an expensive bottle of wine to a dinner party you are hosting it is bad manners to put it on your wine rack and keep for your self. It is much better to graciously accept the wine and say how well it will go with whatever dish it best matches. If you are concerned about the wine that your guests bring match the wine why not let them know that you will be cooking?

7. You don't know what you don't know...

When you are at a restaurant ask the sommelier their advice. It is their job to create a wine list that specifically goes with the menu. They have tasted every wine on the list and will be able to help you find something that will suit what you are going to eat to your taste in wine.

I hope these little tips help you through the party season with a spring of confidence in your step.

Until next time. Have a glass for me. Alex Mac x

Other blogs to check out about Wine Etiquette:

A CUP OF JO - Super fun blog

Winery2U - First time here but some interesting tips and wineries to visit

A spring in our step

Finally Spring is here bringing us a refreshed outlook on life as the gloom of winter dissipates behind us. While we are not yet ready to put all of our coats and stockings away, it is definitely time to put our toe in the water and start exploring new wines to match our sunny disposition and enjoy that glorious ride into the lazy summer days.

Just as I am ready to park my parker, I am also ready to leave those big reds on my wine rack and start enjoying the lighter side of life. Moving from a big red to the lightest of whites is clearly a process though, I will need to adapt my wine selection to the weather and warm up to summer where I foresee myself sipping Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at a picnic in the park, relaxing with a Rose at an afternoon BBQ or bubbling away with the festivities of Champagne in the lead up to Christmas. But what lies in between? Well, I will have you know that there is an assortment of wines to sample in white and red that will tempt your taste buds in this beautiful interim season.

On a Spring day where the sun is shining, yet there is a chill in the air you may still need something soothing, a quality which I find mostly in red wine. A medium bodied version that I have recently taken notice of is Merlot. It is an interesting grape dark blue in colour. It is widely planted throughout the world as it can be used on its own to create a single variety wine (known as a varietal), or it can be blended with other grapes to create a multitude of wines differing in complexity and flavours. It is a grape that ripens quickly and is best produced in cool climate regions.

The best quality Merlot is grown in Australian vineyards in the cooler areas of Adelaide Hills, Eden Valley, Orange and the Limestone Coast. As recommended on the Australian Good Food and Travel Guide some Merlots worth trying this Spring are recommended below. Try one of the ones suggested or speak with the shop assistant at an independent local bottle shop to get some advice on a good wine. One I really like is the Wolf Blass Yellow Label Merlot. It is very affordable at $15.99 and is a really easy wine to drink.

Enjoy the first days of Spring and until next time, have a glass for me. Alex Mac

Taylors Clare Valley Merlot 2006

This wine is one of substance with fleshy fullness of flavour. The palate has an abundance of red be...

RRP: $19.99 |

Bliss Vineyard Merlot 2005

With optimal temperatures for a unprecedented growing season, 2005 afforded us the perfect weather f...

RRP: $21.00 |

Printhie Orange Merlot 2006

A complex bouquet of earthy, blackberry aromas. This Merlot continues onto a round and soft palate d...

RRP: $19.00 |

Blue Pyrenees Merlot 2006

Winery: Blue Pyrenees Estate