The McLaren Vale wine region, in the north-west of Fleurieu Peninsula, is located approximately 35km south of Adelaide. It is by far the most important wine-producing area in the Fleurieu zone and is also regarded very highly throughout Australia and the world.  Grapes have been grown in this region since the arrival of the first settlers.  Pioneers such as Thomas Hardy and John Reynella, both iconic names in the Australian wine industry, are credited with  having realized the region’s potential in …

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Sauvignon Blanc is a widely planted, prolific, aromatic, white wine variety grown in many regions of the world.  It is thought to have originated in Bordeaux where it is usually blended with Semillion.  The Loire Valley in France, home to Sancerre, is probably the most well-known region for the grape in France.  In Italy, the best examples of Sauvignon Blanc are found in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region in the northeast part of the country, particularly in Collio and Grave.  In the new-world, it …

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One of the reasons Chardonnay is grown so widely around the world is its versatility. When grown in a cool climate with no oak aging, the resulting wine is crisp and light, with aromas of green apple and white flowers. On the other hand, growing Chardonnay in a warm climate and aging in oak gives a full-bodied, rich texture with spices and tropical fruit aromas and flavours. Depending on where it is grown and how it is handled in the …

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The western coast of Australia boasts that they make 2% of Australia’s wine, but win 90% of the medals in competition. It’s not hard to see why this is. While South Eastern Australia has a hot dry climate that makes it easy to ripen grapes year in and year out, winemakers know that the best wine is not just made from ripe grapes. The best wines generally comes from more moderate climates, where the temperatures fluctuate throughout the day. These …

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Italy produces an incredibly diverse range of wines and styles of wine.  Varietals grown in one region can taste very different when planted in neighbouring areas.  Of course this will be the result of many factors:  clonal selection, terroir, as well as vinification techniques, the use of oak and the length of the ageing process.  A good example is the Sangiovese grape.  Most people associate Sangiovese with Tuscany (home to Chianti).  Tuscany is adjacent to the Romagna, and a portion …

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The Marche (Le Marche) is one of Italy’s last untouched wine regions. Sandwiched between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea, Le Marche was long kept from realizing its full potential as a wine-growing area by poverty and geography – even with the relative prosperity of recent decades and the improvements in communication lines, Le Marche is still off the beaten track. Tuscany and Umbria lie just to the west, but the charms of rural Marche have remained largely undiscovered. …

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The McLaren Vale is one of my favourite wine producing regions in Australia. It is located a scenic 45 minute drive south of Adelaide, sandwiched between the McLaren Vale Hills and the St Vincent Gulf.  The climate of the region is Mediterranean with hot dry summers and cool damp winters. Although primarily a wine producing region, the stunning local scenery has encouraged tourists and artists alike to visit over the decades, creating a diverse and creative atmosphere, which seems to suit …

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