March 4th, 2024Wine notes with Clive Hartley
Go out and visit a wine region. A leading wine CEO is pleading with Australians to buy local red wine in support of grape growers facing tough years ahead.
“The best thing that consumers here in Australia can do is to get out and go to a region and visit a cellar door,” said Lee McLean, chief executive officer of Australian Grape & Wine, Australia’s national association of winegrape and wine producers.
Many larger producers and their army of growers are suffering. They once relied upon the Chinese export market worth $1.2 billion, but those days are over.
There is now a wine glut and red grapes will not be picked this vintage. You might not have noticed this glut in our local regions. The majority of these are populated with small, boutique wineries and it is not these that are suffering.
McLean is talking about larger areas such as the Murray-Darling which covers areas in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
A petition entitled “Save Riverland Wine” has begun, requesting government to cover the cost of harvesting shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. Not to be made into wine, but to be picked and dropped on the ground. Such is their plight.
So, plan a road trip along the Murray and call into some cellar doors. Grabbing a bargain is often hard to achieve these days.
Sadly, wines are often cheaper at the big wine retailers than direct from the winery, but at least you get to taste them before buying. At the cellar door it is worth asking the question – “is this exclusive to cellar door or is it available in retail and, if so, why should I buy direct?”
Maybe weigh up the benefits of joining a cellar door club. Often you are rewarded with discounts or special offers. One of the best clubs in Victoria is run by Tahbilk at Nagambie.
Trentham Estate on the Murray has a range of wines including a good varietal example of sauvignon blanc and nebbiolo. Or simply delicious on a hot day is their Frizzante Maestri, a sweet red that is served chilled.
Andrew Peace Wines in the Swan Hill region produce a quaffable range of well made wines under the Masterpeace brand priced at $15 a bottle. Some other brands in their portfolio are sold as low as $75 a case through the website.
Alternatively, look further afield at McLaren Vale wines. With the next vintage upon them they are moving the 2022 and 2023 vintage reds out.
Clive Hartley is an award-winning wine writer, educator and consultant. His Australian Wine Guide (7th ed) is available for purchase from Paradise Books in Daylesford or via his website – www.australianwineguide.com.au
