Our annual trip to Oz in early November is in the planning stages. This year its going to be somewhat of a marathon endeavor because we want to see what is left of the Murray River (at least the part that still has water) and so we plan on a road trip visiting NSW, Vic and SA. Naturally wineries will be on the agenda and I’ve put the early list below. We usually aim for about 4 wineries a day simply because I try to organize to spend a couple of hours with the winemaker/cellar door staff to talk about the wines; rather then just belly up to the bar for a few sips and talk about the weather.
There are gaps in the list, especially for Orange and Canberra; and the Clare list is probably too heavy with red wine makers. So if you feel like adding a few names, and the reason why you think we should visit, please do. (NOTE: The numbering is not in any order of preference and we haven't yet make enquiries to the wineries so its not a list of the order we will visit either.)
Thanks,
Mike
EDIT: 14/8/08 - taking some of the advice below as well as some comments from others I've made a few changes to the list (in red). Additional changes, suggestions still welcome.
Orange wineries
1) Canobolas-Smith
2) Word of Mouth
3) Mayfield
Canberra wineries
1) Clonakilla
2) Shaw Vineyard
3) McKeller Ridge
4) Jeir or Helm
5) Mount Majura
6) Lerida Estate
7) LArk Hill
Canberra might prove a problem because we will be there during the Wine, Roses and All That Jazz festival. Most wineries will probably be too busy to give personal tastings but we'll send out requests anyway.
Rutherglen wineries
1) Buller and Son
2) Campbells
3) Chambers
4) Morris
5) All Saints
McLaren Vale wineries
1) Marius
2) Mollydooker
3) d’Arenberg
4) Samuel's Gorge
5) Kay Bros
Barossa wineries (Day 1)
1) Dutschke
2) Trevor Jones
3) Tim Smith
4)
Visit Barossa wineries (Day2)
1) Seppeltsfield
2) Teusner
3) Winter Creek
4) Red Nectar
Clare wineries
1) Kilikanoon
2) Neagles Rock
3) Wendouree
4) Paulett
5) Pike
6) Jim Barry
Your chance to influence my wine drinking
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KMP
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Your chance to influence my wine drinking
Last edited by KMP on Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:24 am, edited 3 times in total.
Re: Your chance to influence my wine drinking
KMP wrote:Our annual trip to Oz in early November is in the planning stages. This year its going to be somewhat of a marathon endeavor because we want to see what is left of the Murray River (at least the part that still has water) and so we plan on a road trip visiting NSW, Vic and SA. Naturally wineries will be on the agenda and I’ve put the early list below. We usually aim for about 4 wineries a day simply because I try to organize to spend a couple of hours with the winemaker/cellar door staff to talk about the wines; rather then just belly up to the bar for a few sips and talk about the weather.
There are gaps in the list, especially for Orange and Canberra; and the Clare list is probably too heavy with red wine makers. So if you feel like adding a few names, and the reason why you think we should visit, please do. (NOTE: The numbering is not in any order of preference and we haven't yet make enquiries to the wineries so its not a list of the order we will visit either.)
Thanks,
Mike
Orange wineries
1) Canobolas-Smith
2)
3)
Canberra wineries
1) Clonakilla
2)
3)
4)
Rutherglen wineries
1) Buller and Son
2) Campbells
3) Chambers
4) Morris
5) Stanton & Killen
McLaren Vale wineries
1) Marius
2) Kay Brothers
3) d’Arenberg
4) Redheads Studio
5) Pirramimma
Barossa wineries (Day 1)
1) Dutschke
2) Trevor Jones
3) Charles Melton
4) Bethany
Visit Barossa wineries (Day2)
1) Seppeltsfield
2) Tuesner
3) Winter Creek
4) Red Nectar
Clare wineries
1) Kilikanoon
2) Neagles Rock
3) Tim Adams
4) Pike
5) Jim Barry
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Maroon&Blue
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winetastic
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Mike, I assume you know you'll have to make appointments for some of these - Marius, Mitolo, Kalleske/Red Nectar, Dutschke, Winter Creek, Tuesner.
Have a look through the last couple of TORB's SA Tour Diaries, that might give you some alternatives for McLarenVale and Barossa.
All Saints in Rutherglen might be worth a visit, big range of wines and might be a nice place to have lunch, or more casually at Pickled Sisters at Cofield.
Lark Hill can be fun, depending on the mood of whoever is behind the counter, and whether you upset Sue, if it is her.
Mt Majura and Shaw Estate are probably worth a visit too.
Have a look through the last couple of TORB's SA Tour Diaries, that might give you some alternatives for McLarenVale and Barossa.
All Saints in Rutherglen might be worth a visit, big range of wines and might be a nice place to have lunch, or more casually at Pickled Sisters at Cofield.
Lark Hill can be fun, depending on the mood of whoever is behind the counter, and whether you upset Sue, if it is her.
Mt Majura and Shaw Estate are probably worth a visit too.
Cheers
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Orange wineries
1) Canobolas-Smith - Yes (our monthly degustation dinner for August)
2) Word of Mouth
3) Mayfield - also has a great restaurant (The Schoolhouse)
Many wineries in Orange are only opened on week-ends or by appointment.
I think Word of Mouth is opened Friday, Saturday and Sunday
I would also highly recommend Lolli Redini for dinner and the restaurant at Borrodell on the Mount for lunch.
Canberra wineries
1) Clonakilla –yes
2) Mount Majura
3) Lerida Estate
4)
Plus Benchmark restaurant is worth a visit. They have about 100 wines by the glass on their wine list.
1) Canobolas-Smith - Yes (our monthly degustation dinner for August)
2) Word of Mouth
3) Mayfield - also has a great restaurant (The Schoolhouse)
Many wineries in Orange are only opened on week-ends or by appointment.
I think Word of Mouth is opened Friday, Saturday and Sunday
I would also highly recommend Lolli Redini for dinner and the restaurant at Borrodell on the Mount for lunch.
Canberra wineries
1) Clonakilla –yes
2) Mount Majura
3) Lerida Estate
4)
Plus Benchmark restaurant is worth a visit. They have about 100 wines by the glass on their wine list.
Sharkey
I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
Sharkey wrote:Orange wineries
1) Canobolas-Smith - Yes (our monthly degustation dinner for August)
2) Word of Mouth
3) Mayfield - also has a great restaurant (The Schoolhouse)
Many wineries in Orange are only opened on week-ends or by appointment.
I think Word of Mouth is opened Friday, Saturday and Sunday
I would also highly recommend Lolli Redini for dinner and the restaurant at Borrodell on the Mount for lunch.
Canberra wineries
1) Clonakilla –yes
2) Mount Majura
3) Lerida Estate
4)
Plus Benchmark restaurant is worth a visit. They have about 100 wines by the glass on their wine list.
I second these opinions for orange
It may be essential to organise an appointment at some places to get the sort of quality time you're seeking with key people - for example if you roll up to Clare on a Sunday I'd say there's a good chance you won't find many winemakers around unless you arrange it in advance.
Looking at your initial list, are you picking out wineries that have wines easier to obtain back in the USA, or stuff that's virtually little known and probably unique/hard to get? Your list seems to feature a bit of both.
Anyway, my recommendations to add to your list:
McLaren Vale:
Samuels Gorge - this place suits what you want for your visit, Justin McNamee is brilliant and the CD esspresso machine is a nice bonus.
Barossa Valley:
Kalleske - I'm surprised this didn't get a mention. Like Marius there's no CD, but I'm sure Troy or Tony could arrange something if you made an appointment (as long as they haven't already sold out everything). Yalumba & Henschke would be worth a visit too if you have the time.
Clare Valley:
I'd seriously consider ditching Pikes and go to Pauletts instead because they don't charge a tasting fee, have better wines, and also a stunning view of the Polish Hill Valley from their balcony. I wasn't impressed with Kilikanoon, but you may get better service by making an appointment in advance - I prefer Mitchells next door, but then I've always liked them.
Cheers,
Ian
Ps. If you have a spare evening in Adelaide on your trip, I'm pretty sure we could arrange an offline again. Any excuse for us will do.
Looking at your initial list, are you picking out wineries that have wines easier to obtain back in the USA, or stuff that's virtually little known and probably unique/hard to get? Your list seems to feature a bit of both.
Anyway, my recommendations to add to your list:
McLaren Vale:
Samuels Gorge - this place suits what you want for your visit, Justin McNamee is brilliant and the CD esspresso machine is a nice bonus.
Barossa Valley:
Kalleske - I'm surprised this didn't get a mention. Like Marius there's no CD, but I'm sure Troy or Tony could arrange something if you made an appointment (as long as they haven't already sold out everything). Yalumba & Henschke would be worth a visit too if you have the time.
Clare Valley:
I'd seriously consider ditching Pikes and go to Pauletts instead because they don't charge a tasting fee, have better wines, and also a stunning view of the Polish Hill Valley from their balcony. I wasn't impressed with Kilikanoon, but you may get better service by making an appointment in advance - I prefer Mitchells next door, but then I've always liked them.
Cheers,
Ian
Ps. If you have a spare evening in Adelaide on your trip, I'm pretty sure we could arrange an offline again. Any excuse for us will do.
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
I second (third or fifth...) the motion on Mount Majura in Canberra. They do a good tasting and you should enquire about a nice plate of nibbles they can also provide (an assortment of cheese, olives, crackers, kangaroo jerky Not sure what they charge for this), went with a group of work collegues and food and wines were well received.
I've not been to Lark Hill but admit to being intrigued about how one might be received at their cellar door and reckon you should go there too.
I've not been to Lark Hill but admit to being intrigued about how one might be received at their cellar door and reckon you should go there too.
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KMP
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n4sir wrote:It may be essential to organise an appointment at some places to get the sort of quality time you're seeking with key people - for example if you roll up to Clare on a Sunday I'd say there's a good chance you won't find many winemakers around unless you arrange it in advance.
Looking at your initial list, are you picking out wineries that have wines easier to obtain back in the USA, or stuff that's virtually little known and probably unique/hard to get? Your list seems to feature a bit of both.
Anyway, my recommendations to add to your list:
McLaren Vale:
Samuels Gorge - this place suits what you want for your visit, Justin McNamee is brilliant and the CD esspresso machine is a nice bonus.
Barossa Valley:
Kalleske - I'm surprised this didn't get a mention. Like Marius there's no CD, but I'm sure Troy or Tony could arrange something if you made an appointment (as long as they haven't already sold out everything). Yalumba & Henschke would be worth a visit too if you have the time.
Clare Valley:
I'd seriously consider ditching Pikes and go to Pauletts instead because they don't charge a tasting fee, have better wines, and also a stunning view of the Polish Hill Valley from their balcony. I wasn't impressed with Kilikanoon, but you may get better service by making an appointment in advance - I prefer Mitchells next door, but then I've always liked them.
Cheers,
Ian
Ps. If you have a spare evening in Adelaide on your trip, I'm pretty sure we could arrange an offline again. Any excuse for us will do.
Ian,
Wineries were selected based on pretty much everything you list. Some places (like Dutschke, Trevor Jones, Winter Creek, Seppeltsfield, Kay Bros, Kilikanoon) are there because I buy their wines whenever I can and always like to see what they might have that might be a purchase either in Oz or over here.
Others (like Mollydooker, d’Arenberg, Tim Smith, Teusner, Neagles Rock) are there because I see them as being interesting stories and/or characters that are worth a visit. And some of the ones that you folks have suggested (Samuel’s Gorge, and the Canberra and Orange wineries) have been included because of the suggestion and a quick look at how Halliday has rated both the winery and the wines.
In terms of Kalleske. We visited with Troy in 2004 (and I always buy his wines anyway) so I figured that rather than a return visit I’d try to visit a winery where he is the winemaker, hence Red Nectar.
Re an offline – let me get back to you. We will be within a stones throw of Adelaide for a few days, it will just depend on how busy those days are.
Mike
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Anonymous
Another vote for Rockford and Grant Burge in the Barossa. 
Gnaedenfrais is a lovely change of pace in the Barossa too, on the way back from Seppeltsfield. Awesome view over an old church and the valley.
Also hit Penfolds on the way to Nuriootpa, for the cellar door only release of an anniversary edition of Koonunga Hill. I was convinced (despite their assurances) that I'd seen it in Dan Murphy's, and missed a chance to pick some up back in May.
What about the Coonawarra? Hell of a long way to come without heading there!!
Gnaedenfrais is a lovely change of pace in the Barossa too, on the way back from Seppeltsfield. Awesome view over an old church and the valley.
Also hit Penfolds on the way to Nuriootpa, for the cellar door only release of an anniversary edition of Koonunga Hill. I was convinced (despite their assurances) that I'd seen it in Dan Murphy's, and missed a chance to pick some up back in May.
What about the Coonawarra? Hell of a long way to come without heading there!!
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KMP
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Mining Man wrote:Another vote for Rockford and Grant Burge in the Barossa.
Gnaedenfrais is a lovely change of pace in the Barossa too, on the way back from Seppeltsfield. Awesome view over an old church and the valley.
Also hit Penfolds on the way to Nuriootpa, for the cellar door only release of an anniversary edition of Koonunga Hill. I was convinced (despite their assurances) that I'd seen it in Dan Murphy's, and missed a chance to pick some up back in May.
What about the Coonawarra? Hell of a long way to come without heading there!!
Actually had a quick cellar door tasting at Grant Burge last year, and we visited Gnadenfrei Estate at the end of 2004. Both are possibilities but I'd really like to fill in a few spots with wineries that are new to me.
Coonawarra was on the list of regions to visit but it lost out to McLaren Vale in the end. We would also have liked to have seen a few more places in Victoria but we just don't have the time. But we come back to Oz every year so we will eventually get everywhere!
Mike
Two Hands
Two Hands is also well worth a visit in the barossa . In there they also have regional Variety and pop into Maggie Biers for morning tea , She has some wonderful Jams , Pate,s etc
Regards Dazza
Regards Dazza
Some people slurp it,others swill it,a few sip on it,some gaze at it for hours ,enough now wheres the RED
Just a couple that you might like to visit:
Diggers Bluff (Barossa) - Tim and Travis, Rocky's sons, make a couple you would like - actually Tim makes them, but don't tell Trav I said that. An aged released, predominantly Cab Sauv that drinks like an old claret and a top end shiraz that is pretty good. Ask Tim if he has any white, I believe he may have made one this year. Plus see if he has any Noon Goon left to try!
Wilson Vineyard (Clare) does pretty damned good Riesling! Their Hand Plunge Shiaz is not bad either. Plus they have a zin, merlot and CS, plus other whites.
PM me if you want contact details.
Also, get yourself a copy of Wayne's 'My Dad Has Purple Hands' when your there. You can then start getting signatures against each of the winemakers on the lunch table shown in the book. Each is a 'real' winemaker shown in characiture (sp?).
Have fun.
Diggers Bluff (Barossa) - Tim and Travis, Rocky's sons, make a couple you would like - actually Tim makes them, but don't tell Trav I said that. An aged released, predominantly Cab Sauv that drinks like an old claret and a top end shiraz that is pretty good. Ask Tim if he has any white, I believe he may have made one this year. Plus see if he has any Noon Goon left to try!
Wilson Vineyard (Clare) does pretty damned good Riesling! Their Hand Plunge Shiaz is not bad either. Plus they have a zin, merlot and CS, plus other whites.
PM me if you want contact details.
Also, get yourself a copy of Wayne's 'My Dad Has Purple Hands' when your there. You can then start getting signatures against each of the winemakers on the lunch table shown in the book. Each is a 'real' winemaker shown in characiture (sp?).
Have fun.
Barossa Shiraz
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KMP
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JohnP wrote:Just a couple that you might like to visit:
Diggers Bluff (Barossa) - Tim and Travis, Rocky's sons, make a couple you would like - actually Tim makes them, but don't tell Trav I said that. An aged released, predominantly Cab Sauv that drinks like an old claret and a top end shiraz that is pretty good. Ask Tim if he has any white, I believe he may have made one this year. Plus see if he has any Noon Goon left to try!
Wilson Vineyard (Clare) does pretty damned good Riesling! Their Hand Plunge Shiaz is not bad either. Plus they have a zin, merlot and CS, plus other whites.
PM me if you want contact details.
Also, get yourself a copy of Wayne's 'My Dad Has Purple Hands' when your there. You can then start getting signatures against each of the winemakers on the lunch table shown in the book. Each is a 'real' winemaker shown in characiture (sp?).
Have fun.
Recommendations from the Stonewaller! You could, of course, just come with us.
I’ll add these two to the mix. We have further refined the itinerary (Miranda keeps reminding me that this is a vacation) because of the wine festival in the Canberra region; likely to be bl^^%$ zoo. The plan is now to go through Young from Orange and see if we can get a tasting at Chalkers Crossing (Hill Tops), fight our way through the crowds at Clonakilla and then head to Rutherglen. That will give us an extra two half days, and so we can now try All Saints for lunch, wine and cheese tasting, and see if Smithy has time for us at Warrabilla. We can also take a bit more time along the Murray as we head to SA.
Mike
Mike,
Any of The Artisans of the Barossa are worth a shot.
Greg Hobbs asked me to let me know that he would be happy to see you. (For some reason he couldn't log in.)
Also, see my comments on a Taste Of Eden in Angaston. http://torbwine.com/pf/SA2008C4.htm That is a unique experience and well worth your limited time.
Any of The Artisans of the Barossa are worth a shot.
Greg Hobbs asked me to let me know that he would be happy to see you. (For some reason he couldn't log in.)
Also, see my comments on a Taste Of Eden in Angaston. http://torbwine.com/pf/SA2008C4.htm That is a unique experience and well worth your limited time.
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KMP
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TORB wrote:Mike,
Any of The Artisans of the Barossa are worth a shot.
Greg Hobbs asked me to let me know that he would be happy to see you. (For some reason he couldn't log in.)
Also, see my comments on a Taste Of Eden in Angaston. http://torbwine.com/pf/SA2008C4.htm That is a unique experience and well worth your limited time.
Thanks for this Ric. I'll add Hobbs to the list; should be emailing out requests for appointments over the next couple of weeks.
Saw your Tour Diary with the bit on Taste Eden Valley. It looks so interesting that I put in on the alternatives list. We should be abel to drop by, especially seeing as we will be staying in Angaston (Walnut Cottage).
Mike
KMP - I'd have to echo a few sentiments and say that Rockford is a must. As someone fairly new to wine it was an awesome property/cellar door to visit and the staff were extremely welcoming. Very rustic and beautiful.
Also loved the Henschke CD - they gave us a full tasting of their entire range, and even got a small sample of an 04 (?) HOG they had opened. I highly recommend the Euphonium, it's awesome value.
Also loved the Henschke CD - they gave us a full tasting of their entire range, and even got a small sample of an 04 (?) HOG they had opened. I highly recommend the Euphonium, it's awesome value.