The Auswine Forum

A few people in the last couple of weeks have come up with suggestions as to venues & themes, so I guess we should start discussing these things along with a possible date for the next one.

Some ideas floated were an options night (we try all the wines blind and are given three options of region/vintage/varietal to pick), concentrating on a particular varietal/vintage (say 1998 since it's 10 years from vintage), and a magnum/large-format night. What do people think of these, and do they have any other suggestions?

What does everyone think about a weekend mid-June (13/14th, 20/21st) for having it? Would someone else be interested in organising this one, and who wants to try a new venue/non-Chinese banquet menu like Al Amir or Jerusalem for something different?

Cheers,
Ian

Hi Guys,
Seeing the relative frequency of your offlines, has anyone thought of one around end July, early August. Myself and my gf (ex-adelaide) are doing our annual Barossa trip then and would be good to offload (sorry, read: share) some of the gems/bribes that we buy/receive during our trip. Would be happy to bring over some nice specimens from the apple isle for all to try.........

Thanks,
Piers

I am possibly around for those dates.

Taswegian wrote:Hi Guys,
Seeing the relative frequency of your offlines, has anyone thought of one around end July, early August. Myself and my gf (ex-adelaide) are doing our annual Barossa trip then and would be good to offload (sorry, read: share) some of the gems/bribes that we buy/receive during our trip. Would be happy to bring over some nice specimens from the apple isle for all to try.........

Thanks,
Piers

Hey Taswegian

Even if we don't have an official offline then, i'm sure a few people could be coaxed without much difficulty into a dinner

n4sir wrote:A few people in the last couple of weeks have come up with suggestions as to venues & themes, so I guess we should start discussing these things along with a possible date for the next one.

Some ideas floated were an options night (we try all the wines blind and are given three options of region/vintage/varietal to pick), concentrating on a particular varietal/vintage (say 1998 since it's 10 years from vintage), and a magnum/large-format night. What do people think of these, and do they have any other suggestions?

What does everyone think about a weekend mid-June (13/14th, 20/21st) for having it? Would someone else be interested in organising this one, and who wants to try a new venue/non-Chinese banquet menu like Al Amir or Jerusalem for something different?

Cheers,
Ian

My vote is for the 21st (the week before that i have my motorcycle course sat & sun and i don't want to be attempting that with a post-offline head!) andI am more than happy to organise it.

I'm keen for Jerusalem if others are.

Regarding the theme, i am under endowed in the magnum area (i don't have any!).
Another suggestion could be 10 + 5, ie a pairing of a 10 yo and 5 yo releases of the same wine?

Jerusalem seems to be limited to a maximum of 15 people in a group.

This most likely won't work ?

John #11 wrote:Jerusalem seems to be limited to a maximum of 15 people in a group.

This most likely won't work ?

I think we've only had more than 15 a couple of times, and 17 is really about the most we can have anyway as things get too stretched. I'm happy with Sarah organising it for Jerusalems at the 21st if it's okay with everyone else.

Cheers,
Ian

I'm in

I'm going to Melbourne the 21st, thus I vote for the 13/14th OR the 20th.
I think Jerusalem sounds like a good idea and I also think a vintage theme sounds cool (the 5yr old and 10yr old of the same wine theme also sounds cool, but it will be a difficult task if you don't already have the wine in your cellar).

Would everyone still be able to make Friday the 20th if we change it to that for Gustav?

So far we have:
scanlon
n4sir
rooview
steve
John #11?

I can't really see the 5/10 year theme working with many South Australian wines (the odd/even combination doesn't usually work), plus as Gustav mentioned some mighn't be so easy to source. 1994/1999/2004 and 1986/1991/1996 would be the vintages I'd look at for a five year gap, maybe 1998/2003 if you're very picky with the 03 selections.

Cheers,
Ian

Sarah, Sue and I would love to come, and either Friday 20th or Saturday 21st would be OK.

Ian, I can think of some really nice 1998/2003 and 1999/2004(surely "near enough") wines, or perhaps could we just choose 1 bottle from the current millennium, and 1 bottle from the previous millennium?

I can do 20th or 21st.

I would prefer drinking some wines with a bit of age.

20th works best for me. I'm open to themes... given enough notice

awright 20th it is!

Excellent! Count me in +2 (my wife and sister).
I think the "10 years from vintage" theme, as suggested by Ian, is my favourite. I tasted some very good 98 reds (especially Clare reds) a couple of days a go on a 96 vs 98 Classic Wines Club tasting (both vintages came out about equal when counting up votes for preferred wines). It would be cool to check out some dry SA or Tas Rieslings and Hunter Semillons from 98 as well.

Just changed the title seeing as now we have all settled on a date. I'm happy to leave the booking duties to Scanlon for this one.

So far we have 11 interested - that leaves space for 4 more people:
scanlon
n4sir
rooview +1
steve
John #11 +1
Gustav +2
Jamie Bahrain

Cheers,
Ian

I sincerely apologise but I am now out.

I evicted some tenants out of a Melbourne property and they have cancelled an earlier inspection; they now vacate on June 20th and I have to return to Melbourne from ADL on that date.

#@$@$

JamieBahrain wrote:I sincerely apologise but I am now out.

I evicted some tenants out of a Melbourne property and they have cancelled an earlier inspection; they now vacate on June 20th and I have to return to Melbourne from ADL on that date.

#@$@$

Sorry to hear that Jamie.

Quick correction to the previous list:

So far we have 10 interested - that leaves space for 5 more people:
scanlon
n4sir
rooview +1
steve
John #11 +1
Gustav +2


Cheers,
Ian

Hi Everyone

I have made the booking for the 20th.

7:00pm arrival for 7:30pm food start should give us some time with any sparklings that may be around for starters.

$35 ph for starters, entrees and mains (no additional corkage) and includes a belly dancer at 9:30pm! (who will no doubt target the vulnerable for some ritualised humiliation)
Coffee & sweets extra for those who want them, although we could just wander to the Apothecary for a nightcap instead
We have to finish up at jerusalems by 11pm.

The idea they take a max of 15 was off target - we have the room upstairs, and need 20 pax, so perhaps a few magnums may be worth encouraging.

rooview wrote:Alcohol, belly dancers and camels... oh my!

I'm definitely looking forward to the photos from this one!

I'd like to be involved and am flexible re theme. The Jerusleum brings back lots of memories and no doubt there will be a few more nice recollections in the future after this evening.
regards chris

Update:

So far we have 11 interested - that leaves space for 9 more people:
scanlon
n4sir
rooview +1
steve
John #11 +1
Gustav +2
ck

Jerusalem's web site stated a maximum of 15 upstairs, maybe they should update it!

" You can take away falafel rolls or take lunch downstairs during the weekdays but in the evenings or on weekends you may like to go upstairs for a group party or birthday where the function room holds up to 15 comfortably. "

It's a pretty big room, and i think it would comfortably hold more like 30!



and considering the decor downstairs I wouldn't be holding my breath for a website update within the next millenium

David and Pam will be there on the 20th.

Ian, I look forward to the food report on Jerusalem, I have intended to get there the last 2 times I was in Ade to no avail.

Catherine and I can make it, so add two to the count.

Sean

Alas, some family business has come up, and the two of us are off to London. It's unlikely we'll be back in time, so take us off the list.

Sean

Bert Werden wrote:Ian, I look forward to the food report on Jerusalem, I have intended to get there the last 2 times I was in Ade to no avail.

Make sure to let us know the next time you're back in town Bert, I'm sure we can arrange something.

Okay guys, have we settled on a theme yet - it looks like we were leaning towards either the 5-10 years old or 1998 ideas. What about 2003 or older, or 1998 or older (reds & whites)?

Cheers,
Ian

Ps. With the 11pm finish limit it may pay to keep a lid on the number of wines too - depending on how many are going, this may mean 1 bottle/person and/or a magnum or two bottles of the same wine/couple.