This is my first post for 7 months - life takes its side trips doesn't it? I throught I'd reflect on the journey, especially wine experiences and ideas picked up from Auswine members and other wine friends.
Kerry and I have moved from Sydney to Melbourne - via holidays in WA and Italy after I retired (briefly, as it turns out) a year ago. I'm doing my best to spread wine appreciation in my work place and generally in Melbourne. Forumites constantly see how active and successful our Grape Mates wine group has been in Sydney. Three Grape mates have visited our home in five months - and some gorgeous wine was drunk.
Here are some (mostly) wine-related experiences from our Italian trip - lots of fine food and wine, very few churches:
1. In many, many respects, Italy was fascinating for a wine lover. The diversity of varietals stands out and the pride of locals in their Valley's drop (and cheese, & Olive Oil, & sliced pig and ...)
2. WOT(Trip): Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore, 2002 and 2003. (Cheaper in their restaurants than our best retailers. Hate Aussie wine taxes
.) Also loved the Barolos.3. Soave is gorgeous, and had a big flood in the town the day we were there.
4. A 'degustation' in Soave meant six Soave wines - not food. Oh well!
5. The Soave dessert wine was gorgeous - much more to my liking than the dry whites (Recito, maybe? ... worth trying)
6. The hospitality in restaurants was mostly great. eg In Greve - I asked for a superiore, sweeter fruited Chainti and they brought us a terrific one in the middle of the price range.
7. Order a good wine (not expensive by Aussie standards) and the best glasses suddenly appear, and so does appreciation for their guests' love of fine food and wine.
8. Verona and its wines were a highlight. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
9. Tuscan countryside (we were mostly around Lucca) really was as beautiful as postcards.
10. Naturally, we've emerged with a deepened regard for Italian wine, and European wines generally.
Some other reflections on good wine collection advice I appreciate now more than ever.
1. Your tastes are going to keep changing. (They have.)
2. Don't fill your cellar too fast.
3. Don't often buy more than six of a given wine, given vintage - especially when your cellar has built beyond introductory stage.
4. Keep trying new experiences. (My take: don't say you 'hate' a wine type; the top examples of any varietal and style are usually fantastic even if one dislikes most of that style.)
5. There's a sweet spot of PQ ratio in Aust (say, $25 to $50 wines); [thanks Brian]
It's good to have settled down in Melbourne and the new job [in Italian accent, with voice disorder: 'an offer I couldn't refuse'] and to feel ready to come back and chat with fellow wine lovers.
Kind regards,
John
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