Talking Tasmanian Wines with Andrew Pirie

Wine lovers watch this video on Tasmanian wines.

Tassie Wine at its Finest

As you would expect, refined Tassie wines are among the finest in the world because they are made from grapes grown in cool climates; autumn days are long, and summers are mild. Much like celebrated wines produced in Europe, this weather allows for growing grapes with a passionate flavour of sophistication. The island of Tasmania vintages graceful fashioned wines, including Sparkling wines, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasmania is known worldwide for producing award-winning supreme wines, with its Pinot Noir and sparkling wines at the top of the list.

Until the 1960s, all of the Australian wines were nothing out of the ordinary and of little value because they were very sugary and alcoholic. The wine industry then began focusing on the quality of its harvests by putting faith in the change of growing international grapes, such as Syrah, Chardonnay and Sémillon. By the middle of the 1980s, Australia grasped much of its goal, and its ground-breaking wines became renowned throughout the world. What was admired most about Australian wines was the strenuous rich flavour of the reds and whites created with Chardonnay and Sémillon grapes. In slightly over 20 years, Australia accomplished an innovative wine industry that soon became popular with both locals and tourists, especially in Tasmania. (more…)

Top Tasmanian Wines Provide Elegant and Delightful Experiences

Boasting of favorable climatic conditions and passionate growers, Tasmania produces some of the finest brands of wines in the world. With beautiful beading and creamy textures, these wines are created from classic varieties such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay—which provide them with brand value and award winning appreciation.

The top Tasmanian wines in the list of connoisseurs and wine lovers are:

Apsley Gorge 2005 Pinot Noir

Apsley Gorge 2005 Pinot Noir is famous for its fruit driven and rich nose– which reminds one of wild cherries. Along with overtones of charred oak, it also has a youthful palate and silky tannins. An exciting fruity palate provides it with a Burgundian texture, which is rarely noticed in the wines of this region or age. 2005 Pinot Noir is extremely well balanced and leaves behind a powerful aftertaste—showcasing its longevity. This wine is best enjoyed with meat preparations made from duck or venison. (more…)

Pick Wine Like the Pros

Wine tasting

Bringing a bottle of wine to an event or ordering from a large wine list at a restaurant can seem like a daunting task. You won’t want to pick a less than desirable wine, but you also won’t want to blow your budget ensuring that you scoop up the most expensive bottle. Thankfully, you don’t have to be a sommelier in order to pick wines like a pro. (more…)

Wine Tasting In the Yarra Valley

Image courtesy of Jessica Rabbit’s Flickr/flickr.com

It comes as no surprise to many that certain parts of Australia have centuries-old winemaking traditions. Even less of a surprise is the fact that on any given day, you can take winery tours that provide a first-hand insight into the culmination of the winery’s efforts, albeit in moderation. Most wine connoisseurs are familiar with the Yarra Valley – a region notorious for producing some of the best vino in the land. (more…)

Top 7 Wine Tours around Australia

Barossa Valley

Travellers to Australia can expect to indulge their senses in some of the most sumptuous wines in the world. From the Margaret Valley region to the Mornington Peninsula, wine connoisseurs everywhere will love the varying flavours on offer. One of the best things about wine tours in Australia is that almost every state has something different to offer travellers. When planning your next day of taste testing the finest drops of wine in the country, be sure to check out these not to be missed Australian wine tours. (more…)

Food and Wine

Tourism Australia Media Centre – Food and wine

Food, wine and lifestyle are the articulation of Australian culture, the way we live, work and play. As with all things Australian, it’s the contrasts that make our food and wine culture most fascinating. A true expression of our young, free-spirited and uninhibited culture, our food and wine have become one of the best ways to get to know us.

Whether you’re in the mood for a perfectly cooked, fresh-off-the-grass steak that won’t fit on the plate, Asian-fusion modern cuisine stacked in elegant nouveau style, a racy riesling with chilli mud crab (caught yourself), or a crocodile sausage with wattleseed sauce, this is the place!

Food, wine and all the in-betweens are a serious passion for us Aussies who have learnt the techniques, then bent the traditional rules to create impressive wines, spirits, beers and a cuisine all of our own. Our international successes are our booming wine industry, boutique beers, meats, fishand cheeses.

We’re so passionate about coffee, we’ve even invented our own – the flat white. And there is an absolute smorgasbord of regional produce reflecting our clean environment, multicultural population and climatic diversity.

Some of this is among the oldest in the world. Aboriginal people have long lived on ‘bush tucker’ - native fruits, berries, seeds, meat and fish - which you can experience today in traditional style or used in modern cuisine by some of our leading chefs.

It’s a vast country with microclimates ranging from the steamy, tropical heat of the north just right for mangoes, avocados and macadamia nuts to the brisk cool climate of the south where Asian herbs, mussels, tuna and Chardonnay grapes flourish. (more…)

The wineries of Margaret River product 20 per cent of Australia’s premium wines

The relaxed atmosphere of Margaret River, Western Australia

Margaret River vineyard

There’€™s nothing like a seemingly endless supply of world-class wineries, boutique breweries, pounding surf breaks and extraordinary geological and natural phenomena – all in one place.

Originally a chilled out surfie town, Western Australia’€™s Margaret River has evolved into the ultimate smorgasbord of fine wine, good food and spectacular scenery, so much so that it was recently named one of the world’s Top Ten Regions in Lonely Planet’s 2010 Best in Travel.

With its Mediterranean style climate, it is one of the world’s premium wine-producing regions and is hugely appreciated for making more than 20 per cent of the Australia’s premium wines. Boutique beer breweries have also sprung up, offering brews ranging from traditional pale ales and pilsners, through to ginger or chocolate flavoured beers. Some of Australia’s best chefs produce a feast of top tucker – think exquisite cheeses, jam, condiments, olives and freshwater crayfish.

From the moment Mathew Flinders first spotted Cape Leeuwin and started mapping the Australian coastline in 1801, the Margaret River region has been as culturally diverse as it has been intriguing.

Artists from around the world have long been attracted to Margaret River’s rare beauty and relaxed atmosphere, and the list of internationally and nationally acclaimed photographers, jewellers, painters, glass blowers and wood, and metal working craftsmen is endless. Days are easily spent wandering the artisan trail – there’s an art or craft gallery on just about every corner. (more…)

Discover Tasmania

Discover Tasmania – Australia’s Hidden Island State

Russell Falls

Part of mainland Australia some 20-30,000 years ago then isolated by flooding at the end of the Ice Age, Tasmania was an aboriginal homeland until discovered by Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman (1642). Explorer James Cook claimed Australia for the English (1777) adding Tasmania in 1788. In 1856 the island was renamed Tasmania from the original Dutch name (Anthoony Van Dieman’s Landt). It’s capital city of Hobart (founded 1804) is the second largest city in Australia.

At 68,322 square kilometers (26383 square miles), this heart shaped island is the size of Ireland, Switzerland, or the state of West Virginia in the United States. Between 40-44 degrees latitude the notable winds that breeze across the island are known as the “Roaring 40’s”. The climate generally is mild and cool and produces exotic fruits, delicious produce, and a rising wine industry.

Tasmania is an essential part of today’s Australian tourism. At approximately 240km south of the Australian coastline, tourist can get to Tasmania via many cheap flights originating from Melborne. (more…)

Tasmanian Wine

photo: Tourism Australia

Australia’s unique and diverse climate provides an abundance of treasures to titillate the palate. The country has a variety of fresh produce and exotic tropical fruits grown in a clean pristine natural environment year round. The fabulously fresh seafood taken from the pure waters surrounding this wonderful country is also available in quantity and goes well with the naturally grown delights of the area.

A fairly recent addition to the cuisine offered in Australia is the resurgence of Tasmanian wines. Australians’ are blessed with a multicultural history and passion for excellent food and wine. The Tasmanian vineyards date back to 1838 in the Yarra Valley area. Though these vineyards and wineries flourished fairly well for nearly 50 years, they were damaged by the same blight that ravaged the European vineyards of the time. Interest in varietal wines fell off until the late 1960’s and 1970’s when there was a renewed movement to produce quality wines. (more…)