BOOK ADVICE ON 3,500 OF OUR WINES

OOK it now as a great Christmas
gift for family, friend – or yourself.

Wc19Aug13

David Ellis

IT'S not something we've given much thought to, but veteran wine industry author, lecturer and freelance writer, Robert Geddes mentioned the other day that to taste every one of the 3,500 current vintages of Australian wines available to us right now, we'd need to drink a different bottle of Aussie vino every day for more than nine years.

And to help those of us who sometimes struggle to find just the right wine we're really looking for – be we true enthusiasts or pure novices on the wine learning curve – Rob has tasted his way through all 3,500 for us (and some New Zealand ones as well,) and put his resultant tasting notes into a handy 500 page pocket-sized reference book.

Australian Wine Vintages 2014 is Rob's 31^st such edition and also covers everything from wine varieties to our Certified Organic and Biodynamic wineries, advice about vintage and flavour quality for every one of the wines reviewed, recommended best time by year to enjoy each of them, and notes on older wines dating back to the 90's.

Label images will also help speed-up browsing the bottle-shop shelves for what you are after, there's winery information and major wine region's cellar door addresses, Rob's Top 100 Wines and his Gold Star List – and an optional App version has an interactive travellers map, as well as Rob's and local winemaker's tips on places to eat and stay.

RIPPER red from Canberra district to go
with a creamy truffled scrambled eggs brunch.

This is a great guide and would make a wonderful Christmas or other gift at just $34.95, including free postage; order a copy on www.australianwinevintages.com.au

ONE TO NOTE: THE Canberra wine region is earning itself a solid reputation for classic Pinot Noir, and one maker you can rely on if you're a fan of this varietal is Lerida Estate – owner Jim Lumbers and winemaker Malcolm Burdett putting particular effort into their 2011 Lake George Pinot Noir that well-rewards in this absolute ripper red.

With cherry and red currant fruit flavours and savoury overtones, it says so much about just how good is the Lake George terroir; at $26.50 a great drop to savour and enjoy with creamy truffled scrambled eggs brunch for a leisurely Sunday morning brunch.

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com )