When did this forum start?

[bacchaebabe]

Gavin,

been wondering about this lately as I've been trying to figure out how long I've been posting here.

I got internet access in 96 or 97 I think and I found this forum fairly soon afterwards but I can't remember when. There are still quite a few folks around from when I first started posting here but I was wondering when you first got the forum going in it's earliest version.

[Red Bigot]

The brain cell that knew that is long gone.

I think I first found the forum some time in 1997, but not sure when.

[Guest]

If you look at the "Memeber List" Gavin joined 28/7/03.
MM.

[Gavin Trott]

If you look at the "Memeber List" Gavin joined 28/7/03.
MM.

That's just 'this' version of the forum.

I started chatting on the internet before there was a world wide web, when dinosaurs roamed the internet, using ascii characters and posting on the old compuserve. Back then I met people like Robin Garr, and Brad Harrington and Mark Squires all of whom are still running forums.

Then the world wide web started, and pretty darn soon there was an 'auswine.com.au' ... pioneer stuff really.

It was simple, it was information, an online wine newsletter really, which, fairly soon after that developed into a rudimentary wine forum using some pretty dodgy free software.

Its taken its own shape from there powered mainly by the members, their level of interest and activity.

So actual starting date I do not recall, but its old in internet terms, as indeed, am I!

Oh and Meet your Maker, I recall doing one of those live chats in the very very early days hosting with John Duvall, ex Penfolds, to Compuserve members before most forums even existing.

Geez, I'm getting old!

[camw]

For a look at some of the old versions of the site ... some of the images are broken on the oldest dates though...

http://web.archive.org/web/*/auswine.com.au

[Red Bigot]

For a look at some of the old versions of the site ... some of the images are broken on the oldest dates though...

http://web.archive.org/web/*/auswine.com.au

I forgot about this place, thanks Cam. First post of mine I could find was in 1998.

[707]

Scary isn't it? It's now 2005, only seems like yesterday I discovered the Auswine forum. It was before I had a PC at home, I used to check it out when I was at Telstra so that's 1999'ish.

Many off the same people are still with us, regulars like Meta and 389 are gone. I remember Meta writing a post comparing the 1997 and the newly released 1998 Noon Reserve Shiraz, he described in detail how each one changed over a number of hours breathing.

Made me go to CD and buy some, thanks Meta!

[TORB]

I remember Meta writing a post comparing the 1997 and the newly released 1998 Noon Reserve Shiraz, he described in detail how each one changed over a number of hours breathing.

Made me go to CD and buy some, thanks Meta!

And then there was the ultimate I gotcha as a result of that post.

We organised an offline in Canberra comparing 97 and 98 reds blind; but this was with a difference. We provided participants with tasting notes of the wines they would be drinking, but not necessarily in the order the wines were presented and there were no names mentioned. The objective was to try and match each wine to each tasting note.

Brian and I took Metas tasting notes on the 97 and 98 Noons Shiraz that had been posted on this forum, cleaned up the English and included them in the list of wines provided. Meta had no idea they were his own notes and you should have seen the expression on his face at the end of the night, it was priceless and I'll never forget it.

[Red Bigot]

Scary isn't it? It's now 2005, only seems like yesterday I discovered the Auswine forum. It was before I had a PC at home, I used to check it out when I was at Telstra so that's 1999'ish.

Many off the same people are still with us, regulars like Meta and 389 are gone. I remember Meta writing a post comparing the 1997 and the newly released 1998 Noon Reserve Shiraz, he described in detail how each one changed over a number of hours breathing.

Made me go to CD and buy some, thanks Meta!

Meta is still alive and well and back in Bangkok. He got me onto Noons as well way back then. He visited us in April this year and we've been over to visit him 3 of the last 4 years. In April he somehow managed to get back into Thailand with 30 bottles of good Aus red that had been resting in my cellar (he is in the Thai Air Force, that helps), there are about 6 dozen more waiting for his next visit.

[Craig(NZ)]

I can remember posting well before I moved to Auckland and we have been here 6 years, so id guess late 1997 was my first post.

5/5/98 is the first post of mine I can find reviewing 93 Orlando Lawsons Shiraz

Met a few over the years; Meta, Kenzo, The Brisbane crowd, Ruano, Robin Garr, Sue Courtney, Adair, Lance Joe, and of course my good friend Rossi.

Made some good friends, pissed off even more haha

C.

[bacchaebabe]

Brian and I took Metas tasting notes on the 97 and 98 Noons Shiraz that had been posted on this forum, cleaned up the English and included them in the list of wines provided

Ric, you 'polished up the english'???? Hope Brian helped!

Yes, Meta got me on to Noons before the rush too - ever grateful. Amazing what one post can do to a winery's mailing list! I suppose the Parker points soon afterwards didn't help either.

Plenty of originals still here but always good to see new regular posters too. And always a shame when people fall off the radar like PLCB (Pinot-Loving Chickie Babe). The thread where we picked (got given) handles was a good one too.

Oh, the memories over the years.

[bacchaebabe]

Just checked out that link to the old forums and what a blast from the past. Ealiest post I could find from someone still posting was Muscat Mike doing a tasting note on 91 St George, 86 Lovedale and an 87? (Ithink) Vat 1. Some things never change, Mike!

I really used to like the old format too. Could only really see a few of the pages though as the newer ones redirect to here. Lots of names I'd forgotten. Amazing how many people pass through places like this really.

Good stuff.

[brad]

Can't remember when I first posted here but it was quite a long time ago and I'm pretty sure it was in response to some ridiculous statement by Ric.

[TORB]

Can't remember when I first posted here but it was quite a long time ago and I'm pretty sure it was in response to some ridiculous statement by Ric.

You are right, it was and that method sucks a lodda people in!

[Meta]

Hello all, I'm very very glad to here all these even with a big kong from TORB. Wow, what can I say.....thank you very much for just remembering me.


I am now in BKK, very hard to get access to good wine at reasonable price. I only have Brian (red bigot) and sometime from Ric (TORB) keep me not tooo far away from the info and the taste of wine.


It was very fun back then in 1997 on this board, when I started to obsess about OZ wine. Brian is my first wine instructor. He taught me well, too well. Too bad, I'm out of the circle now. I still come here to read from time to time though, but have no input.

Oh, well, Brian...Have you told people about my best wine drunk at my place in BKK from your last visit?????


Cheers, Meta

[Red Bigot]

Oh, well, Brian...Have you told people about my best wine drunk at my place in BKK from your last visit?????


Cheers, Meta

Hey Meta, good to see you here again. I posted what I could remember of the food and wine parts of our 2 days in BKK in July. It's here:
http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=3653
I'm still kicking myself for not taking photos of the superb spread of food and wine at your home, but I was just enjoying it all too much to think properly.

You'll just have to do it all over again next year when we visit again.

[TORB]

I'm still kicking myself....

With your broken leg, I trust you are doing it sitting down.