Maurice O’Shea Award Dinner to partner with key wine conferences in July 2016

McWilliam’s CEO Rob Blackwell

McWilliam’s Wines, the Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference & Trade Exhibition (AWITC) and the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) are pleased to announce that the 2016 McWilliam’s Maurice O’Shea Award Event will be held in Adelaide on Monday 25 July 2016. The Maurice O’Shea Award Dinner will take place in conjunction with the 16th AWITC and the WFA Outlook Conference which are being held as a combined event in Adelaide from 24 to 28 July 2016.

McWilliam’s CEO Rob Blackwell said “McWilliam’s Wines is delighted to continue its association with the WFA Outlook Conference and to join for the first time with the AWITC. We look forward to welcoming delegates from the combined conference to the dinner.”

AWITC Chair, Dr Dan Johnson responded “The McWilliam’s Maurice O’Shea Award Dinner is widely regarded as the most prestigious event on the Australian wine industry calendar. It’s very exciting to be able to align this dinner with the 16th AWITC and Outlook. The Maurice O’Shea Award Dinner adds another very compelling reason for our industry to be in Adelaide from 24 to 28 July 2016”

WFA Chief Executive Paul Evans said “The combination of these major events back-to-back provides exceptional value for attendees and it promises to be a showcase week not to be missed. The Federation welcomes the opportunity to partner again with McWilliam’s and the Maurice O’Shea Dinner and I encourage members of our industry to circle the dates.”

Conference delegates will be able to book tickets to the Maurice O’Shea Award Dinner as part of their registration, which opens in February. Tickets will also be available directly from McWilliam’s Wines.

The McWilliam’s Maurice O’Shea Award recognises an individual, brand, institute, activity or entity that has made a historically significant contribution to the Australian wine industry. Nominations will be invited from across the wine industry in February.

Previous winners of the Maurice O’Shea Award are:

• Dr Peter Dry (2014)
• The Australian Screwcap Initiative (2012)
• Philip Laffer AM (2010)
• Dr John Gladstones (2008)
• The late Dr Ray Beckwith OAM (2006)
• The late Guenter Prass AM (2004)
• Australian Wine Research Institute (2002)
• Dr Wolf Blass AM (2000)
• The late Dr Bryce Rankine AM (1998)
• Brian Croser AO (1997)
• Hazel Murphy AM (1996)
• James Halliday AM (1995)
• The Jacob’s Creek Brand (1994)
• The late David Wynn AO (1993)
• The late Ron Potter OAM (1992)
• The late Len Evans OBE AO (1991)
• The late Max Schubert AM (1990)

Adelaide Hills wines making their mark

ADELAIDE HILLS WINES - THE SOUL OF SYDNEY & MAKING A MARK ON MELBOURNE'S MARKET

THE EAST COAST SHARING THE ESSENCE OF OUR FINEST FRUIT  

Sydneysiders will enjoy wines from the Adelaide Hills at what is tipped to be the coolest event of the forthcoming music festival season.

Sidewood Wines has been named as official wine supplier for Sydney's Soulfest on October 24 featuring more than 25 of the  smoothest soul and hip hop acts and headlined by none other than Lauryn Hill, Mary J Blige, Jill Scott, 9 x Grammy nominated Charlie Wilson and De La Soul among others.  Held in The Domain, the 10 hour event will see tens of thousands of patrons enjoying good food, good vibes and of course, great South Australian wine.

Meanwhile further down the east coast, Melbournians will also indulge in great Adelaide Hills wines at one of the city's largest tourist drawcards, the Victoria night markets.  With more than 730,000 people attending the markets over their 19 week summer season last year, Sidewood is thrilled to announce its exclusive partnership with the venue to run for both the summer and winter markets periods for the next three years with the highly awarded winery offering both wine and sparkling to visitors attending the massive venue.    

"We entered the music festival arena last summer as partners with the Woodford Festival in QLD – a six day event and Australia's largest festival and will partner with them for the next few years.  We also participated in a number of other eastern seaboard events over the 2014/15 summer and supplied wine and cider to Groovin the Moo up at the Oakbank Racetrack in the Adelaide Hills.  

"Markets are a new venture but the opportunity to be part of such an iconic local and tourist drawcard was an opportunity too good to refuse.    These event partnerships are a great way to introduce patrons to our brand and wines in a celebratory setting – which is exactly how and where good wine should be drunk" said Owen Inglis, owner and vigneron Sidewood Estate.

Closer to home, Sidewood is also the official wine supplier to Feast Festival and Groovin the Moo up at Oakbank – both for the second year running.  The latter event is particularly close to the heart of Sidewood with its estate located nearby the racetrack and Owen's love for and ownership of a number of racehorses.

www.sidewood.com.au                  

Lindeman's 2014 Early Harvest Semillon Sauvignon Blanc - a light alternative

A SEMILLON Sauvignon Blanc
that's 25% lighter in alcohol
and calories, yet full-flavoured to match
with seafood or chicken salads.

ONE TO NOTE:  IF you like to watch the alcohol content of the wine you are drinking, and that of course means the calories as well, Lindeman's have a 2014 Early Harvest Semillon Sauvignon Blanc that's 25 per cent lighter than regular wines – but without any compromise in flavour enjoyment.

By using select parcels of fruit from early ripening regions in south-eastern Australia, it meant lower sugar levels in that fruit – and thus lower alcohol in the resultant wine.

But with still nicely forward tropical fruit flavours and herbaceousness, this is a nice fresh and crisp drop to enjoy with seafoods or chicken salads – and value at just $16.

 for week beginning 28 September 2015

Mr Mick Pinot Grigio 2015 - Limestone Coast

ENJOY on outdoor summer days with
seafoods, white-meat salads
or spicy Asian choices.

WATCH PINOT GRIGIO BOOM THIS SUMMER

David Ellis

PUT your money on it, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris will boom across Australia this summer.

Although often referred to as "the same wine" because they're made using the same grape variety, Pinot Grigio has its origins in northern Italy and is a light, delicate, refreshing wine with lively acidity and crispness, whereas Pinot Gris tends to be more about ripeness, richness and sometimes a touch of residual sugar, and hails from the Alsace region of France.

Here in Australia a cracker Pinot Grigio for those who enjoy a summer's outdoor lifestyle and an easy-drinking, refreshing white with seafoods and salads, is a Mr Mick 2015 Pinot Grigio from South Australia's Limestone Coast.

Winemaker Tim Adams, who certainly needs no introduction when it comes to both Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris, says the combination of climate and soils on the Limestone Coast were what allowed him to create this Pinot Grigio, that's just so very similar to that from Italy. With lemon/lime, pear, white nectarine and apple flavours, it is fresh, crisp and refreshing – and at just $17 an ideal match with seafoods, white-meat salads or, if you like your food spicy, a range of Asian dishes.

 for week beginning 28 September 2015

Sommelier's international award & WA Wine List honours

Sommelier cellarbrates triple wine wins for Perth's The Terrace Hotel

Perth-based sommelier Antonio Vilaca had reason to celebrate last Friday night (4 Sept), when he was awarded the 'Food and Beverage Associate' for 2015 at the annual HM Awards ceremony held at Sydney Town Hall.

 

Presented in front of 600 hoteliers and industry suppliers, the HM Awards recognise staff, properties and hotel brands for industry excellence across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

 

Antonio is a sommelier of 30 years who manages a collection of over 3,000 wines at the BEST WESTERN PREMIER Terrace Hotel in Perth's West End.

 

The HM Award is the third wine accolade for The Terrace Hotel this year, with the hotel also awarded 'Hotel/Motel/Restaurant Wine List Winner' and 'Best Metropolitan Wine List Featuring WA Wines' at the recent WA Wine List Awards for Excellence.

 

Antonio said: "Sommeliers bring instrumental value to restaurants across the world. We have a careful focus on customer service and recommend the right wines to pair with a meal, which is very important for restaurant reviews and reputation."

 

Antonio uses a six-step approach to recommend wines. "I train our food and beverage staff to host customers through a wine tasting process. Each person is asked six initial questions to determine their flavour and style, depending on their meal and the season."

 

"Every customer prefers a different taste, and this is what I love most about helping them discover the perfect wine for them on the night. I am honoured to receive this award as I continue to take my customers on a culinary awakening when they dine at The Terrace Restaurant in Perth," he said.

About the BEST WESTERN PREMIER Terrace Hotel, Perth WA

 

The 5-star BEST WESTERN PREMIER Terrace Hotel has seven suites, eight deluxe rooms, three dining and meeting rooms, two alfresco dining areas and a Sommelier's Tasting Room with private wine vault housing over 3,000 labels of local and international wines. A $20 million restoration saw The Terrace Hotel reopen in 2012 and later join Best Western's upper-upscale BEST WESTERN PREMIER hotel type in May 2013. Best Western Australasia has 160 hotels in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific and three hotel types. See bestwestern.com.au

Follow @tcehotelperth or @bestwesternau on Instagram!

 

St Hugo Estate to Open in the Heart of the Barossa

The ultimate experience in Australian fine wine will arrive when the luxurious St HugoTM Estate opens in the Barossa Valley in 2016.

Designed with the wine connoisseur and luxury traveller in mind, the St Hugo Estate will set a global benchmark, immersing guests into the elegant world of one of Australia's most sought after wine labels.

This project has been supported by a $1 million grant from the Government of South Australia's Regional Development Fund through Primary Industries and Regions SA to boost jobs and investment in regions

The St Hugo Estate will offer a range of premium and exclusive experiences, with advance bookings recommended to avoid disappointment.

The Estate will be home to a first-class wine lounge where guests can savour a glass of St Hugo wine or partake in a carefully crafted wine flight designed to take them on a journey through the intricacies of the St Hugo wines.

Guests will also have access to the Estate's fine dining restaurant and chef's table, allowing them to enjoy intimate dining sessions crafted from local flavours and regional offerings, all curated to match the unparalleled elegance of St Hugo wines.

For the ultimate luxury seeker, the underground cellar and wine vault will offer VIP guests a private tasting session of St Hugo's most prized vintages.

The new Estate will be a true reflection of the St Hugo brand and bring to life Hugo Gramp's legacy of success, sophistication and excellence.

The building's history is rooted in the very origins of the Barossa as a settlement and a wine region. It was originally built in the 1850s by William Jacob, who conducted the first survey of the region in 1839 and chose to settle there. In 1918 Hugo Gramp was instrumental in the purchase of the property for Gramp & Sons and almost 100 years later the property will be home to the wines named in Hugo's honour.

Enquiries relating to advance bookings for the luxury experiences at the St Hugo Estate are welcome from 1 October 2015, with the doors opening to visitors from 1 July 2016.

An official opening will follow in September 2016 to coincide with the 131st anniversary of the Hugo Gramp's birthday.

# 'St Hugo Estate' refers to the building and not the source of grapes for St Hugo wines.

Traveloscopy | 

How to tell if your wine has gone bad - Wine Folly

An experienced drinker can tell almost instantly if a wine is past its prime. Question is, how do they do it? Well, this comes with a little practice, and here’s what to look for:

How it will look

Wines go bad when they are left open for too long. While some claim that open wines last for weeks, most will lose their luster after just a couple of days, so it’s wise to store open bottles properly. First thing to look at is the color and condition of the wine.

Read the full article here:

http://winefolly.com/tutorial/how-to-tell-if-wine-has-gone-bad/