Swirl Sniff Spit - Spring: New Beginnings and New Releases

Just quietly, tickets are available for out Spring tasting here.

Spring is the season of new life, of new beginnings and renewal. In the wine industry it's when the vines start 'springing' back into life, a process known as budburst, and it's also when we start to see new releases hit the shelves and become available through wine clubs.

At Swirl, Sniff, Spit we're keen to show the best of some of these releases as we see them. As ever, there may be a few quirks, a few releases that year-in-year-out offer excellent drinking and will be perfect for the warmer months ahead.

Final line-up subject to confirmation:

Sparkling
Smallfry Cinsault Grenache Pétillant Naturel Rosé 2014 @SmallfryWines
Yangarra Pet Nat 2014 @Yangarra

Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc
Briar Ridge 2014 @BriarRidge

Guthrie Wines 'The Little Things' Sauvignon Blanc 2014 @HugeWino

Riesling

Pewsey Vale Eden Valley 2014 @Pewseyvale

O'Leary Walker Watervale 2014 @OLearyWalker

Other Whites
De Bortoli Vinoque Oval Pinot Blanc 2014 @DeBortoliWines
Chaffey Brothers Wine Co Düfte Punkt 2014 @ChaffeyBrosWine

Rosé
Oliver's Taranga Chica Mencia Rosé 2014 @OliversTaranga
Chaffey Brothers Wine Co 'Not Your Grandmother's' Rosé 2014 @ChaffeyBrosWine
Dominique Portet Rosé 2014 @portetwines 

Reds

Yangarra PF 2014 @Yangarra

Battle of Bosworth Puritan 2014 @BosworthWines

We hope you can join us for our September tasting.

Session 24 - That Vintage - A Look at 2011

After Session 23 - Myth Busters, dedicating an event to the wines from the 2011 vintage could be seen as a natural extension from there. That vintage - possibly the biggest myth of all to look to bust.

It was wet in many places. We get that. We certainly won't shy away from that. But that doesn't tell the whole story: that in Western Australia conditions were actually quite warm, that in the Hunter Valley they celebrated a highly regarded vintage, that it could be regarded as a producers' vintage, with great wines to be had if you know where to look.

We often find that in search of an attention grabbing headline too many commentators generalise about the state of the wine industry on this island continent. So, let's take a look at wines from that vintage and draw our own conclusions.

Bracket 1 – 'White Rhone' Varieties

John Duval Plexus 'White' n/a

Yangarra Viognier @Yangarra

Bracket 2 – Other Whites
Meerea Park Hell Hole Semillon @MeereaPark 
Xabregas Fig Tree Riesling @Xabregas_Wines
Xabregas Spencer Riesling @Xabregas_Wines

Bracket 3 – Chardonnay

Kooyong Clonale Chardonnay n/a
Yalumba FDW7c 2011@Yalumba
Tapanappa Chardonnay 2011 @Tapanappa

Bracket 4 – Pinot Noir
Stoney Rise Holyman Pinot Noir @StoneyRise 
Henty Farm Wines Pinot Noir @HentyFarmWine

Bracket 5 – Grenache & Friends
Brash Higgins GR/M Grenache Mataro 2011 @BrashHiggins
Cirillo Wines The Vincent Grenache 2011 @Cirillo1850Wine

Bracket 6 – Shiraz

De Iuliis Steven's Vineyard Shiraz @MikeDeIuliis

Cirillo Single Vineyard Shiraz @Cirillo1850Wine

Bracket 7 – Other Reds
Inkwell Wines Primitivo 2011 @InkwellWines
A.Rodda Cuvee du Chez @ARoddaWines
 

             

#Semsational - The Taste of Summer?

#Semsational is an initiative to introduce the good wine buying public to the delights of young Semillon wines.  Semillon has been described as "Australia's gift to the world", yet it is oft said that many outside of NSW aren't aware of the delights of this vinous nectar.


As a young wine, it is a perfect accompaniment for much of what we eat in Queensland: seafood, salads; on its own or with friends.  Another thing in its favour, low alcohol,  meaning you can have a glass without feeling squiffy!


So, #semsational brings to you this spiffing Semillon selection.  Interested? Era Bistro, 4th October at 7pm, $15 a ticket with canapes...


Scarborough Green Label 2011
Tempus Two 2011
DeIuliis Semillon 2011
Thomas Wines Braemore 2011
McGuigan Bin 9000 2011
Allandale Winemakers Reserve Single Vineyard 2011
Briar Ridge Dairy Hill 2011
Bimbadgen Estate 2011
Tower Estate 2011
Glandore Elliot Semillon 2011
Brokenwood 2011
Peppertree Tallawanta 2011
First Creek 2011
Tyrrell’s Vat 1 2011
Tulloch Wines 2011
Saddlers Creek 2011