Wine Lessons > Viva Lagrein
Viva Lagrein
The following article was Dave’s submission for the 2006 ‘Working with Wine’ Competition...
Lagrein. Could this obscure Italian native be the variety that quenches Australian winemaker’s insatiable desire to discover the next big thing while still offering a level of comfort and familiarity to consumers? Or is it just another novelty?
“I am a convert to the cause,” wrote James Halliday in the Weekend Australian (March 6-7, 2004) following an extensive Lagrein tasting of Italian and Australian examples. But, will the Australian consumer follow suit?
Lagrein Dunkel - pronounced lah-GRAYN doon-KEL - does promise to offer a palatable answer to both producers and consumers.
Lagrein originates on the banks and slopes surrounding the Adige River. Set in the alpine valleys of South Tyrol in Italy’s far north-east this is an area steeped in history and controversy. Ceded to Italy from Austria following World War I, the semi-autonomous region of South Tyrol is considered the birthplace of the modern vineyard trestle system and is also said to have been where the Romans discovered the use of wooden barrels for storing and transporting wine.
Although the region shows plenty of promise for producing high quality aromatic white wine styles, reds still dominate the South Tyrol landscape. Much of the regions wine is produced in bulk and sent to Italy’s northern neighbours, notably Germany and Austria.
Lagrein’s naturally deep colour, vibrant fruit flavours and rich tannins as well as its ability to fully ripen in cooler climates has made it an important variety for red wine production in the region. Once used as a blending variety and to produce rose wines of much renown, Lagrein is now instead held in esteem by growers for its ability to deliver dark, robust single varietal reds.
Lagrein’s ability to ripen fully in cool climates is what first attracted Dr Peter May, former Head of University of Melbourne’s Burnley Campus to the variety. In 1988 Dr May sourced 18 vines from the CSIRO and planted them in his experimental vineyard at Kyneton in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges. It was one of the early wines made from this vineyard that lead to the first commercial planting of the variety in Australia.
“I was impressed by the variety’s depth of colour and intriguing flavours,” says Alan Cooper of Cobaw Ridge in the Macedon Ranges. Cooper believes that site selection is vital for achieving the best from this variety. Low fertility, sandy granite soils help control the vigorous tendencies of the vine. Cool to temperate climates allow a full flavour spectrum to be achieved. It is this depth of flavour that acts as a beautiful balance to the variety’s naturally juicy acidity and plush tannins.
“Plush” is a great word for describing Cooper’s Lagrein. Both the 2003 and 2004 demonstrate Lagrein’s trademark dense colour, tannins - which Cooper describes as “firm without being heavy” - and refreshing acidity. The 2004 displays a more floral nature with aromatic violet and sweet berry fruit characters, while the 2003 shows greater depth in berry characters and a finer chalky nature on the palate. The inky black-magenta hues of the 2006 tank samples demonstrate just how intense the variety’s colour can be.
Cooper firmly believes that “a cool climate is essential for delivering a true expression of the variety.” He feels that the warmer regions’ wines are a “little jammy and somewhat rustic” in nature. “Perhaps these regions are more suited to southern Italian varieties,” he suggests.
According to Cooper, Lagrein may not be “the next big thing”, but he does believe it is “not as confronting” as some of the other new varieties being presented to the market.
Robin Day, from Domain Day Winery in the Barossa Valley, agrees, “Lagrein is ideal for Australian palates,” he says. “It’s not like trying to get people to understand Nebbiolo.”
Day says he chose to plant Lagrein after “the variety stuck out in a tasting of Italian reds.” Like Cooper, he was impressed by the variety’s deep colour and fleshy nature and immediately saw Lagrein as a potential inclusion in his high altitude Mt Crawford vineyard.
Fragrant strawberry and floral aromas punctuate the rich, full-bodied Lagrein wines from Domain Day. While the 2004 shows a nice firm nature with hefty tannins, the 2003 is starting to show the benefits of age, exhibiting enticing liquorice and earthy notes.
While conceding that it is a hard sell, Karl Feddern of Rossiters at Red Cliffs near Mildura, describes Lagrein as “absolutely sensational.”
Working with the variety in a much warmer climate presents Feddern with its own challenges. Feddern attempts to replicate the cool nights of the South Tyrol by utilising a technique of late watering in the evening to help a faster drop in fruit temperature. While in cooler vineyards they work to control the vigour of the vine, Feddern finds this works in his favour helping to shade the fruit from the hotter inland sun.
Feddern’s example of the variety is certainly at the richer end of the spectrum. The 2003 Rossiters flaunts intense oak aged characters of chocolate, sweet spices and cedar over varietal red berry flavours. Although not as complex as the Cobaw Ridge and Domain Day examples, Rossiters’ Lagrein aptly portrays the approachable, friendly nature of the variety.
Fred Pizzini, from Pizzini wines, also sees potential in Australia for Lagrein and considers it an option for his King Valley vineyard. Planted in the right locations, Pizzini believes Lagrein’s potential lies in its ability to produce “comfort wines in a style that consumers can easily compare with varieties like Shiraz.”
Pizzini believes that there would be a number of sites in the alpine influenced King Valley, home of many Italian varieties in Australia, which would be ideally suited to Lagrein.
Perhaps the best example of Lagrein’s potential for acceptance in Australia comes from the inaugural release of Cobaw Ridge’s 1997 Lagrein. “It was a bit of a surprise,” says Nelly Cooper recounting the first day they released their now cult wine, “no one had heard of it, but we still sold out that day.”
Lagrein. Could this obscure Italian native be the variety that quenches Australian winemaker’s insatiable desire to discover the next big thing while still offering a level of comfort and familiarity to consumers? Or is it just another novelty?
“I am a convert to the cause,” wrote James Halliday in the Weekend Australian (March 6-7, 2004) following an extensive Lagrein tasting of Italian and Australian examples. But, will the Australian consumer follow suit?
Lagrein Dunkel - pronounced lah-GRAYN doon-KEL - does promise to offer a palatable answer to both producers and consumers.
Lagrein originates on the banks and slopes surrounding the Adige River. Set in the alpine valleys of South Tyrol in Italy’s far north-east this is an area steeped in history and controversy. Ceded to Italy from Austria following World War I, the semi-autonomous region of South Tyrol is considered the birthplace of the modern vineyard trestle system and is also said to have been where the Romans discovered the use of wooden barrels for storing and transporting wine.
Although the region shows plenty of promise for producing high quality aromatic white wine styles, reds still dominate the South Tyrol landscape. Much of the regions wine is produced in bulk and sent to Italy’s northern neighbours, notably Germany and Austria.
Lagrein’s naturally deep colour, vibrant fruit flavours and rich tannins as well as its ability to fully ripen in cooler climates has made it an important variety for red wine production in the region. Once used as a blending variety and to produce rose wines of much renown, Lagrein is now instead held in esteem by growers for its ability to deliver dark, robust single varietal reds.
Lagrein’s ability to ripen fully in cool climates is what first attracted Dr Peter May, former Head of University of Melbourne’s Burnley Campus to the variety. In 1988 Dr May sourced 18 vines from the CSIRO and planted them in his experimental vineyard at Kyneton in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges. It was one of the early wines made from this vineyard that lead to the first commercial planting of the variety in Australia.
“I was impressed by the variety’s depth of colour and intriguing flavours,” says Alan Cooper of Cobaw Ridge in the Macedon Ranges. Cooper believes that site selection is vital for achieving the best from this variety. Low fertility, sandy granite soils help control the vigorous tendencies of the vine. Cool to temperate climates allow a full flavour spectrum to be achieved. It is this depth of flavour that acts as a beautiful balance to the variety’s naturally juicy acidity and plush tannins.
“Plush” is a great word for describing Cooper’s Lagrein. Both the 2003 and 2004 demonstrate Lagrein’s trademark dense colour, tannins - which Cooper describes as “firm without being heavy” - and refreshing acidity. The 2004 displays a more floral nature with aromatic violet and sweet berry fruit characters, while the 2003 shows greater depth in berry characters and a finer chalky nature on the palate. The inky black-magenta hues of the 2006 tank samples demonstrate just how intense the variety’s colour can be.
Cooper firmly believes that “a cool climate is essential for delivering a true expression of the variety.” He feels that the warmer regions’ wines are a “little jammy and somewhat rustic” in nature. “Perhaps these regions are more suited to southern Italian varieties,” he suggests.
According to Cooper, Lagrein may not be “the next big thing”, but he does believe it is “not as confronting” as some of the other new varieties being presented to the market.
Robin Day, from Domain Day Winery in the Barossa Valley, agrees, “Lagrein is ideal for Australian palates,” he says. “It’s not like trying to get people to understand Nebbiolo.”
Day says he chose to plant Lagrein after “the variety stuck out in a tasting of Italian reds.” Like Cooper, he was impressed by the variety’s deep colour and fleshy nature and immediately saw Lagrein as a potential inclusion in his high altitude Mt Crawford vineyard.
Fragrant strawberry and floral aromas punctuate the rich, full-bodied Lagrein wines from Domain Day. While the 2004 shows a nice firm nature with hefty tannins, the 2003 is starting to show the benefits of age, exhibiting enticing liquorice and earthy notes.
While conceding that it is a hard sell, Karl Feddern of Rossiters at Red Cliffs near Mildura, describes Lagrein as “absolutely sensational.”
Working with the variety in a much warmer climate presents Feddern with its own challenges. Feddern attempts to replicate the cool nights of the South Tyrol by utilising a technique of late watering in the evening to help a faster drop in fruit temperature. While in cooler vineyards they work to control the vigour of the vine, Feddern finds this works in his favour helping to shade the fruit from the hotter inland sun.
Feddern’s example of the variety is certainly at the richer end of the spectrum. The 2003 Rossiters flaunts intense oak aged characters of chocolate, sweet spices and cedar over varietal red berry flavours. Although not as complex as the Cobaw Ridge and Domain Day examples, Rossiters’ Lagrein aptly portrays the approachable, friendly nature of the variety.
Fred Pizzini, from Pizzini wines, also sees potential in Australia for Lagrein and considers it an option for his King Valley vineyard. Planted in the right locations, Pizzini believes Lagrein’s potential lies in its ability to produce “comfort wines in a style that consumers can easily compare with varieties like Shiraz.”
Pizzini believes that there would be a number of sites in the alpine influenced King Valley, home of many Italian varieties in Australia, which would be ideally suited to Lagrein.
Perhaps the best example of Lagrein’s potential for acceptance in Australia comes from the inaugural release of Cobaw Ridge’s 1997 Lagrein. “It was a bit of a surprise,” says Nelly Cooper recounting the first day they released their now cult wine, “no one had heard of it, but we still sold out that day.”
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Yalumba 2009 'Y Series' Riesling
South Australia
Hayshed Hill 2008 'Pitchfork' Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Margaret River, Western Australia
Tahbilk 2008 Marsanne
Nagambie Lakes, Victoria
Peter Lehmann 2008 Chardonnay
Barossa Valley, South Australia
Stephendale 2008 Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, New Zealand
Westend Estate 2009 'Richland' Sauvignon Blanc
Riverina, New South Wales
R Wines 2008 'Bitch' Grenache
Barossa Valley, South Australia
Chapman Grove 2007 'Dreaming Dog' Shiraz
Margaret River, Western Australia
St Hallett 2008 'Gamekeeper's Reserve' Shiraz Grenache
Barossa Valley, South Australia
Cheviot Bridge 2008 'Kissing Bridge' Cabernet Merlot
Yea Valley, Victoria
De Bortoli 2008 'Vat 8 Deen' Durif
New South Wales
Munamuna 2008 Pinot Noir
Marlborough, New Zealand
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When Jennie Gardner, Nic Bourke and Col McBryde got in with the wrong wine " We blame the booze. The whiff and the swill did us in and all that was left to do was make more. In may ways the wines that weren't worth the pull of the cork caused this as much as the wines that we will never have the pleasure of decorking again. This is Passion, a monster bigger than the three of us that leads us to soapbox, grandstand,and sometime pass out on the couch."
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These limited edition wines taste as good on the inside as the look on the outside, watch out these guys are seriously cool. There website is definitely worth checking out.
someyoungpunks.com.au
Hundres of Beers
Some of our Hundreds of Beers
Here's a quick list of some of the beers we stock...
Asahi Super Dry
Baltika No. 3 Premium Lager
Barefoot Radler Beer
Barons Black Wattle Original Ale
Barons Lager
Barons Lemon Myrtle Witbier
Barossa Valley Brewing Organic Ale
Bavaria Premium (500mL/Can)
Beard & Brau 'Red Tail' Amber Ale
Beck's Lager
Birra Moretti Pilsner
Birra Moretti Zero
Birra Peroni Gran Riserva
Bishops Finger Kentish Strong Ale
Black Sheep Ale
Black Sheep Riggwelter
Blue Tongue Premium Light
Boag's Classic Blond
Boag's Draught
Boag's St George
Boddingtons Pub Ale (440ml can)
Brew Boys 'Ace of Spades' Stout
Brew Boys 'Charger' Lager
Brew Boys 'GT 351' Lager
Brew Boys 'Maiden Ale' Amber Ale
Brew Boys 'Schweinhund' Hefeweizen
Brew Boys 'Seeing Double' Scot Wee Heavy
Bridge Road 'Australian' Ale
Bridge Road 'Chevalier' Saison Coing
Broo Premium Lager
Burleigh Brewing 'Big Head' No Carb
Burleigh Brewing 'My Wife's Bitter' 650m
Carlsberg Elephant
Carlsberg Export 500ml Can
Carlsberg Premium
Carlton Cold
Carlton Draught (cans)
Carlton Draught (Stubby)
Carlton Dry
Carlton Dry Fusion Lemon
Carlton Dry Fusion Lime
Carlton Mid
Carlton Natural Blonde
Cascade First Harvest 2010
Cascade Pale Ale
Cascade Pale Ale (Can/375mL)
Cascade Premium Lager
Cascade Premium Light
Cascade Stout
Castello Birra Friulana
Chimay Blue (330mL)
Chimay Red
Cobra Premium
Coldstream Naked Ale
Coldstream Pilsner
Coldstream 'Seasonal' Dark Lager (750mL)
Coldstream 'Seasonal' Porter (750mL)
Coldstream 'Seasonal' Summer Ale (750mL)
Coopers '62' Pilsner
Coopers Best Extra Stout
Coopers Dark Ale
Coopers Mild Ale
Coopers Pale Ale
Coopers Premium Light
Coopers Sparkling Ale
Coopers Vintage Ale (2008)
Corona Extra
Cricketer's Arms Lager
Crown Ambassador 2008 (750mL)
Crown Ambassador 2009 (750mL)
Crown Lager
Cuvee des Trolls
Dieu du Ciel Aphrodisiaque
Dieu du Ciel Corne du Diable
Dieu du Ciel Derniere Volonte
Dieu du Ciel Peche Mortel
Dieu du Ciel Rose d Hibiscus
Dieu du Ciel Route des Epices
Duvel
Effen Triple Malt Lager
Eggenberg Hopfenkoing Pilsner
Eggenberg Samichlaus Classic
Erdinger Weizen Dunkel
Estrella Damm Barcelona Lager
Fair Dinkum Aussie Draught
Farm World Beer Pack
Feral White Beer
Foster's Lager (Stubby)
Gage Road 'Wahoo' Premium Ale
Goodieson Brewery Pale Ale
Grand Ridge Black & Tan
Grand Ridge Brewer's Almighty light
Grand Ridge Brewer's Pilsner
Grand Ridge Draught Bitter
Grand Ridge Gippsland Gold
Grand Ridge Moonlight
Grand Ridge Moonshine
Grand Ridge Supershine
Grand Ridge Yarra Valley Gold
Greene King Export Strength IPA (500mL)
Grolsch - Swingtop
Grolsch 330mL
Grozet Celtic Premium Beer
Guinness Draught (440mL/Can)
Hahn Premium Lager
Hahn Premium Light
Hahn Premium Light can
Hargreaves Hill Hefeweizen
Hargreaves Hill Pale Ale
Hawthorn Brewing Co Amber Ale
Hawthorn Brewing Co Pale Ale
Heineken Mini Draught (5L/Keg)
Hoegaarden White
Holgate Extra Special Bitter
James Boag's Premium Lager
James Boag's Premium Light
James Squire Golden Ale
James Squire Indian Pale Ale
James Squire Original Amber Ale
James Squire Pilsner
James Squire Porter
James Squire Sundown Lager
Jamieson Brewery 'Beast' IPA
Jamieson Brewery Raspberry Ale
John Smith Extra Smooth (440mL)
Kaiser Lager 500ml can
Kilkenny Draught Can 440mL
Knappstein Reserve Lager
Kosciuszko Pale Ale
Kozel Velkopopovicky Dark
Kozel Velkopopovicky Premium Lager
Kronenbourg 1664 (500mL)
Krusovice Imperial Lager
Leffe Blonde
Leffe Radiense
Lindemans Framboise
Lindemans Kriek Lambic (750mL)
Lindemans Tea Beer
Little Creatures Bright Ale
Little Creatures Bright Ale (Pint Size)
Little Creatures Indian Pale Ale (Pint)
Little Creatures Pale Ale
Little Creatures Pale Ale (Pint Size)
Little Creatures Pilsner
Little Creatures Rogers' Beer
Lobethal Bierhaus Indian Pale Ale
Lord Nelson Brewery 'Old Admiral' Dark
Lord Nelson Brewery 'Three Sheets' Pale
Lucky Beer
Mac's Brewery 'Gold' All Malt Lager
Mac's Brewery 'Hop Rocker' Pilsner
Mac's Brewery 'Mac Black' Stout
Mac's Brewery 'Spring Tide' Low Carb Lgr
Mad Abbot Dubbel
Mad Abbot Strong Abbey Ale
Mad Abbot Tripel
Marzen Smoke Beer
Matilda Bay Beez Neez
Matilda Bay 'Big Helga' German Lager
Matilda Bay Bohemian Pilzner
Matilda Bay Fat Yak Pale Ale
Matilda Bay Redback Wheat Beer
Matilda Bay 'Sabastian Reserve' Dark Wht
Max Beer
Melbourne Bitter (can)
Melbourne Bitter (stubbie)
Mildura Brewery Desert Premium Lager
Miller Chill Chelada Style Lager
Monteith's Celtic Red Beer
Monteith's Hearty Black Beer
Monteith's Smooth Original Ale
Monteith's Summer Ale
Monteith's Winter Ale Doppelbock
Monteith's Zesty Radler Bier
Moo Brew Pale Ale
Moosehead Lager
Mountain Goat Hightail Ale
Mountain Goat Organic Steam Ale
Mountain Goat Surefoot Stout
Murphy's Irish Stout (500mL)
Murray's 'Best Extra' Porter
Murray's 'Nivana' Pale Ale
Murray's Pilsner
Murray's 'Sassy' Blond
New Norica Abbey Ale
Newcastle Brown Ale
O'Brien Gluten Free Pale Ale
O'Brien Gluten Free Premium Lager
Orval
Paulaner Munich Hefe-Weisbier
Paulaner Munich Lager
Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier (500mL)
Pepperjack Hand Crafted Ale
Peroni Leggera Low Carb
Peroni Nastro Azzuro Beer
Phoenix Beer
Pilsner Urquell 330ml
Prickly Moses Summer Ale
Pure Blonde
Quilmes Argentino Lager
Radeberger Pilsner
Red Duck Pale Ale
Sagres Portugues Beer
Saigon Export
Salitos Tequila Beer
Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Sapporo Draft Beer
Schneider Aventinus Eisbock
Schofferhofer Hefeweizen
Schofferhofer Kristallweizen
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Skinny Blonde Beer
Snowy Mountain 'Charlotte's' Hefeweizen
Snowy Mountain 'Crackenback' Pale Ale
Snowy Mountain 'Razorback' Red Ale
St Peters India Pale Ale
St. Arnou Premium Blonde
St-Ambroise Blonde Pale Ale 341mL
St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout 341mL
Steinlager Premium
Stella Artois
Stone & Wood Pale Lager
Stone's Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Sunner Kolsch German Beer
Tatra Pils (500mL)
Tennents Beer
Tetley's Ale (440ml/Can)
Tiger Lager
Tooheys Extra Dry
Tooheys Old Black Ale
Tuatara Porter
Two Metres Tall Cleansing Ale
Two Metres Tall Derwent Clear Ale 500mL
Two Metres Tall Forester Pale Ale 500mL
Unibroue Apple Ephemere 355mL
Unibroue Don de Dieu 355mL
Unibroue La Fin de Monde 355mL
Unibroue La Fin Du Monde
Unibroue Maudite (750mL)
Unibroue Maudite 355mL
Unibroue Raftman Malt Whisky Ale 341mL
Unibroue Terrible (750mL)
Unibroue Trois Pistoles (750mL)
Unibroue Trois Pistoles 355mL
Unicorn Brewery Classic Pale Ale
Unicorn Brewery Horny Blonde
VB Raw Stubby
Victoria Bitter (Can)
Victoria Bitter (Stub)
Warsteiner Premium
Weihenstephaner Heffe Alkoholfrei
Weihenstephaner 'Korbinian' Dark
Welde No1 Pilsener
Wells Bombardier Satanic Mills
Weltenburger Asam Bock
Weltenburger Pils
Westmalle Tripel
White Rabbit Dark Ale
Wicked Elf Pale Ale
Wicked Elf Pilsner
Wicked Elf Witbier
Yebisu
Young's Double Chocolate Stout (500mL)
Zatec Lager
Zipfer Pils (330ml)
Zywiec Lager (5pk + Glass)
Zywiec Original 650mL
Zywiec Porter 330mL
Please be aware our stocks are always changing and some beers may not be currently available.
If you have a enquiry regarding a particular beer please contact us and we'll do our best to help.
Asahi Super Dry
Baltika No. 3 Premium Lager
Barefoot Radler Beer
Barons Black Wattle Original Ale
Barons Lager
Barons Lemon Myrtle Witbier
Barossa Valley Brewing Organic Ale
Bavaria Premium (500mL/Can)
Beard & Brau 'Red Tail' Amber Ale
Beck's Lager
Birra Moretti Pilsner
Birra Moretti Zero
Birra Peroni Gran Riserva
Bishops Finger Kentish Strong Ale
Black Sheep Ale
Black Sheep Riggwelter
Blue Tongue Premium Light
Boag's Classic Blond
Boag's Draught
Boag's St George
Boddingtons Pub Ale (440ml can)
Brew Boys 'Ace of Spades' Stout
Brew Boys 'Charger' Lager
Brew Boys 'GT 351' Lager
Brew Boys 'Maiden Ale' Amber Ale
Brew Boys 'Schweinhund' Hefeweizen
Brew Boys 'Seeing Double' Scot Wee Heavy
Bridge Road 'Australian' Ale
Bridge Road 'Chevalier' Saison Coing
Broo Premium Lager
Burleigh Brewing 'Big Head' No Carb
Burleigh Brewing 'My Wife's Bitter' 650m
Carlsberg Elephant
Carlsberg Export 500ml Can
Carlsberg Premium
Carlton Cold
Carlton Draught (cans)
Carlton Draught (Stubby)
Carlton Dry
Carlton Dry Fusion Lemon
Carlton Dry Fusion Lime
Carlton Mid
Carlton Natural Blonde
Cascade First Harvest 2010
Cascade Pale Ale
Cascade Pale Ale (Can/375mL)
Cascade Premium Lager
Cascade Premium Light
Cascade Stout
Castello Birra Friulana
Chimay Blue (330mL)
Chimay Red
Cobra Premium
Coldstream Naked Ale
Coldstream Pilsner
Coldstream 'Seasonal' Dark Lager (750mL)
Coldstream 'Seasonal' Porter (750mL)
Coldstream 'Seasonal' Summer Ale (750mL)
Coopers '62' Pilsner
Coopers Best Extra Stout
Coopers Dark Ale
Coopers Mild Ale
Coopers Pale Ale
Coopers Premium Light
Coopers Sparkling Ale
Coopers Vintage Ale (2008)
Corona Extra
Cricketer's Arms Lager
Crown Ambassador 2008 (750mL)
Crown Ambassador 2009 (750mL)
Crown Lager
Cuvee des Trolls
Dieu du Ciel Aphrodisiaque
Dieu du Ciel Corne du Diable
Dieu du Ciel Derniere Volonte
Dieu du Ciel Peche Mortel
Dieu du Ciel Rose d Hibiscus
Dieu du Ciel Route des Epices
Duvel
Effen Triple Malt Lager
Eggenberg Hopfenkoing Pilsner
Eggenberg Samichlaus Classic
Erdinger Weizen Dunkel
Estrella Damm Barcelona Lager
Fair Dinkum Aussie Draught
Farm World Beer Pack
Feral White Beer
Foster's Lager (Stubby)
Gage Road 'Wahoo' Premium Ale
Goodieson Brewery Pale Ale
Grand Ridge Black & Tan
Grand Ridge Brewer's Almighty light
Grand Ridge Brewer's Pilsner
Grand Ridge Draught Bitter
Grand Ridge Gippsland Gold
Grand Ridge Moonlight
Grand Ridge Moonshine
Grand Ridge Supershine
Grand Ridge Yarra Valley Gold
Greene King Export Strength IPA (500mL)
Grolsch - Swingtop
Grolsch 330mL
Grozet Celtic Premium Beer
Guinness Draught (440mL/Can)
Hahn Premium Lager
Hahn Premium Light
Hahn Premium Light can
Hargreaves Hill Hefeweizen
Hargreaves Hill Pale Ale
Hawthorn Brewing Co Amber Ale
Hawthorn Brewing Co Pale Ale
Heineken Mini Draught (5L/Keg)
Hoegaarden White
Holgate Extra Special Bitter
James Boag's Premium Lager
James Boag's Premium Light
James Squire Golden Ale
James Squire Indian Pale Ale
James Squire Original Amber Ale
James Squire Pilsner
James Squire Porter
James Squire Sundown Lager
Jamieson Brewery 'Beast' IPA
Jamieson Brewery Raspberry Ale
John Smith Extra Smooth (440mL)
Kaiser Lager 500ml can
Kilkenny Draught Can 440mL
Knappstein Reserve Lager
Kosciuszko Pale Ale
Kozel Velkopopovicky Dark
Kozel Velkopopovicky Premium Lager
Kronenbourg 1664 (500mL)
Krusovice Imperial Lager
Leffe Blonde
Leffe Radiense
Lindemans Framboise
Lindemans Kriek Lambic (750mL)
Lindemans Tea Beer
Little Creatures Bright Ale
Little Creatures Bright Ale (Pint Size)
Little Creatures Indian Pale Ale (Pint)
Little Creatures Pale Ale
Little Creatures Pale Ale (Pint Size)
Little Creatures Pilsner
Little Creatures Rogers' Beer
Lobethal Bierhaus Indian Pale Ale
Lord Nelson Brewery 'Old Admiral' Dark
Lord Nelson Brewery 'Three Sheets' Pale
Lucky Beer
Mac's Brewery 'Gold' All Malt Lager
Mac's Brewery 'Hop Rocker' Pilsner
Mac's Brewery 'Mac Black' Stout
Mac's Brewery 'Spring Tide' Low Carb Lgr
Mad Abbot Dubbel
Mad Abbot Strong Abbey Ale
Mad Abbot Tripel
Marzen Smoke Beer
Matilda Bay Beez Neez
Matilda Bay 'Big Helga' German Lager
Matilda Bay Bohemian Pilzner
Matilda Bay Fat Yak Pale Ale
Matilda Bay Redback Wheat Beer
Matilda Bay 'Sabastian Reserve' Dark Wht
Max Beer
Melbourne Bitter (can)
Melbourne Bitter (stubbie)
Mildura Brewery Desert Premium Lager
Miller Chill Chelada Style Lager
Monteith's Celtic Red Beer
Monteith's Hearty Black Beer
Monteith's Smooth Original Ale
Monteith's Summer Ale
Monteith's Winter Ale Doppelbock
Monteith's Zesty Radler Bier
Moo Brew Pale Ale
Moosehead Lager
Mountain Goat Hightail Ale
Mountain Goat Organic Steam Ale
Mountain Goat Surefoot Stout
Murphy's Irish Stout (500mL)
Murray's 'Best Extra' Porter
Murray's 'Nivana' Pale Ale
Murray's Pilsner
Murray's 'Sassy' Blond
New Norica Abbey Ale
Newcastle Brown Ale
O'Brien Gluten Free Pale Ale
O'Brien Gluten Free Premium Lager
Orval
Paulaner Munich Hefe-Weisbier
Paulaner Munich Lager
Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier (500mL)
Pepperjack Hand Crafted Ale
Peroni Leggera Low Carb
Peroni Nastro Azzuro Beer
Phoenix Beer
Pilsner Urquell 330ml
Prickly Moses Summer Ale
Pure Blonde
Quilmes Argentino Lager
Radeberger Pilsner
Red Duck Pale Ale
Sagres Portugues Beer
Saigon Export
Salitos Tequila Beer
Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Sapporo Draft Beer
Schneider Aventinus Eisbock
Schofferhofer Hefeweizen
Schofferhofer Kristallweizen
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Skinny Blonde Beer
Snowy Mountain 'Charlotte's' Hefeweizen
Snowy Mountain 'Crackenback' Pale Ale
Snowy Mountain 'Razorback' Red Ale
St Peters India Pale Ale
St. Arnou Premium Blonde
St-Ambroise Blonde Pale Ale 341mL
St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout 341mL
Steinlager Premium
Stella Artois
Stone & Wood Pale Lager
Stone's Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Sunner Kolsch German Beer
Tatra Pils (500mL)
Tennents Beer
Tetley's Ale (440ml/Can)
Tiger Lager
Tooheys Extra Dry
Tooheys Old Black Ale
Tuatara Porter
Two Metres Tall Cleansing Ale
Two Metres Tall Derwent Clear Ale 500mL
Two Metres Tall Forester Pale Ale 500mL
Unibroue Apple Ephemere 355mL
Unibroue Don de Dieu 355mL
Unibroue La Fin de Monde 355mL
Unibroue La Fin Du Monde
Unibroue Maudite (750mL)
Unibroue Maudite 355mL
Unibroue Raftman Malt Whisky Ale 341mL
Unibroue Terrible (750mL)
Unibroue Trois Pistoles (750mL)
Unibroue Trois Pistoles 355mL
Unicorn Brewery Classic Pale Ale
Unicorn Brewery Horny Blonde
VB Raw Stubby
Victoria Bitter (Can)
Victoria Bitter (Stub)
Warsteiner Premium
Weihenstephaner Heffe Alkoholfrei
Weihenstephaner 'Korbinian' Dark
Welde No1 Pilsener
Wells Bombardier Satanic Mills
Weltenburger Asam Bock
Weltenburger Pils
Westmalle Tripel
White Rabbit Dark Ale
Wicked Elf Pale Ale
Wicked Elf Pilsner
Wicked Elf Witbier
Yebisu
Young's Double Chocolate Stout (500mL)
Zatec Lager
Zipfer Pils (330ml)
Zywiec Lager (5pk + Glass)
Zywiec Original 650mL
Zywiec Porter 330mL
Please be aware our stocks are always changing and some beers may not be currently available.
If you have a enquiry regarding a particular beer please contact us and we'll do our best to help.
Grape Variety Profiles
Merlot
Bonjour, My Name is... Merlot
My friends often call me... Merlau, Vitraille, Crabutet, Bigney, Sémillon Rouge or Médoc Noir
I have...dark red (or noir) skin and white flesh
I grew up in...Bordeaux in the south-west of France, mainly on the Right Bank.
My parents told me never to mix with...Syrah, Grenache or any of the spicy gang
They did let me hang out with...Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and even some times Malbec and Petit Verdot
People most like me for...my sweet dark fruits flavours and softness. But I can also so them plenty of complex and interesting characters like herbs, black olives and sweet spice notes.
I most annoy others by...growing like a weed and rarely fulfilling my potential.
I’d most like to live...in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California, Hawkes Bay on the east coast of NZ, Margaret River in Western Australia or even the Coonawarra.
I do my best work with...Château Petrus! I am happy to work with Château Cheval and will work with any mug winemaker who is looking to flesh out their weedy Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
I bet you didn’t know...I am the third most planted red variety in the world and the fifth most planted in total.
The celbrity most Like Me is... Tom Hanks because, we are both smooth, lovebale and dependable but not very trendy.
My friends often call me... Merlau, Vitraille, Crabutet, Bigney, Sémillon Rouge or Médoc Noir
I have...dark red (or noir) skin and white flesh
I grew up in...Bordeaux in the south-west of France, mainly on the Right Bank.
My parents told me never to mix with...Syrah, Grenache or any of the spicy gang
They did let me hang out with...Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and even some times Malbec and Petit Verdot
People most like me for...my sweet dark fruits flavours and softness. But I can also so them plenty of complex and interesting characters like herbs, black olives and sweet spice notes.
I most annoy others by...growing like a weed and rarely fulfilling my potential.
I’d most like to live...in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California, Hawkes Bay on the east coast of NZ, Margaret River in Western Australia or even the Coonawarra.
I do my best work with...Château Petrus! I am happy to work with Château Cheval and will work with any mug winemaker who is looking to flesh out their weedy Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
I bet you didn’t know...I am the third most planted red variety in the world and the fifth most planted in total.
The celbrity most Like Me is... Tom Hanks because, we are both smooth, lovebale and dependable but not very trendy.
Wine Talk
Water Wheel Celebrates 30 Years
Water Wheel Vineyards of Bendigo recently celebrated 30 years of winemaking with a special retrospective tasting at Pure South Melbourne.
I was lucky enough to attend this special event on invitation from the Cumming Family.
We tasted wines dating back to 1974: the winery's first ever vintage . Both the 1974 Hermitage (Shiraz) and Cabernet Sauvignon have held up amazingly well.
The 1984, 1990 and 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon were standouts and the 1990, 1994 and 1996 Shiraz vintages were drinking exceptionally well.
The 1993 Chardonnay was a surprise: it is a luscious, rich and golden wine that is still refreshing at 13 years of age.
Both the current vintage Cab Sauv and Shiraz are terrific rich flavoursome wines. In my opinion the Cabernet outshines the Shiraz this vintage but both are definitely wines to look out for.
I was lucky enough to attend this special event on invitation from the Cumming Family.
We tasted wines dating back to 1974: the winery's first ever vintage . Both the 1974 Hermitage (Shiraz) and Cabernet Sauvignon have held up amazingly well.
The 1984, 1990 and 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon were standouts and the 1990, 1994 and 1996 Shiraz vintages were drinking exceptionally well.
The 1993 Chardonnay was a surprise: it is a luscious, rich and golden wine that is still refreshing at 13 years of age.
Both the current vintage Cab Sauv and Shiraz are terrific rich flavoursome wines. In my opinion the Cabernet outshines the Shiraz this vintage but both are definitely wines to look out for.
Gallery Images
Perusing the range at The Cellars
Links
Links to Gippsland Wineries
Wines of Gippsland
Caledonia Australis, Leongatha - South Gippsland
Cannibal Creek Vineyard, Tynong North - Cardinia Ranges
Djinta Djinta Winery, Kardella South - South Gippsland
Lyre Bird Hill Winery, Koonwarra - South Gippsland
Narkoojee Winery, Glengarry - Central Gippsland
Jinks Creek Winery, Tonimbuk - Cardinia Ranges
Wild Dog Winery, Warragul
Clair de Lune Winery, Kardella South
Paradise Enough Winery, Kongwak
Caledonia Australis, Leongatha - South Gippsland
Cannibal Creek Vineyard, Tynong North - Cardinia Ranges
Djinta Djinta Winery, Kardella South - South Gippsland
Lyre Bird Hill Winery, Koonwarra - South Gippsland
Narkoojee Winery, Glengarry - Central Gippsland
Jinks Creek Winery, Tonimbuk - Cardinia Ranges
Wild Dog Winery, Warragul
Clair de Lune Winery, Kardella South
Paradise Enough Winery, Kongwak
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