Comments on: Down Under for Aussie Wine?

By: Steve De Long

Steve De Long — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 21:49:58 +0000

Touché my good man!

By: Bryan B

Bryan B — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 19:30:46 +0000

apology accepted…

By: Steve De Long

Steve De Long — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:04:18 +0000

I find it interesting that you would launch into such a lengthy tirade when it’s obvious that you didn’t read the article. I don’t have a contempt for Australian wine that you certainly harbor for me. The main theme of the article – that the decline of German wines in the 1970’s to the 1990’s could possibly happen to Australia – is a point I don’t see a bunch of “alarmist” journalists making. And for the record, Blue Nun is very much like [yellowtail], an easy drinking entry-level wine. I didn’t compare it to Penfolds, Henschke, d:’Arenberg etc.

Still, I’m very sorry for not writing an article on regional differences in Australian wine like every responsible journalist should. I’ll check with you next time I dare think of writing anything.

By: Bryan B

Bryan B — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 22:30:49 +0000

I find it interesting that in talking about Australia, you talk about Shiraz, when talking about France, you talk about regions - you don’t make the correlation to the fact that Australia has regions and that the styles of Shiraz are different in each - especially cool climate Shiraz from Victoria. No one tells the French to stop using Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir or Merlot, because we think beyond the varietals and focus on the regional styles. the Italians/Tuscans have their Sangiovese, the Spanish, Tempranillo and they do those well without anyone complaining that it’s getting boring seeing Chianti on the shelves. Maybe if you were less fickle, and educated yourself more on Australian regionality, you and other consumers could convers more intelligently on the subject instead of making sweeping generalizations. I would hardly compare Penfolds, d’arenber, Cape Mentelle or Henschke to [yellowtail], let alone consider them “one trick ponies.” Another interesting note - Australia has the oldest Grenache vines on original root stock in the world - even the French are salivating to get their hands on them, as well as old pre-phyloxera Cabernet and Pinot. beautiful wines are made from these vine in Clarendon Hills and McLaren Vale. The country produces beautiful cool climate Sauvignon Blancs, Rieslings and Pinots; they have wonderful Chenin Blanc and the Yarra Valley has fabulous Cabernets. I suppose that because Bordeaux forgot how to make good Semillon, you are not impressed with the fact that Australia does it - and extremely well. I just find it so irresponsible when journalists jump on the alarmist band wagon without checking their facts or looking for an opportunity to actually educate their readers with real information that could get them excited or, at least intelligently informed on wines - from whichever country. Every country has/is going through a hard time, be it a wine glut or global competion. Can you name a wine country that hasn’t gone through growing pains? If old world countries like France and Italy are still grappling to figure it out, and are dealing with their own wine gluts/lakes over the last 4-5 years, what makes Australia so special that it too is not allowed to evolve and grow, without being condemned to the plight of Blue Nun?
Regards,

By: Eric S. Crane

Eric S. Crane — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 14:55:17 +0000

Do you think they will banish the Italian varietals if the Socceroos lose to Italy?

By: Steve De Long

Steve De Long — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:04:41 +0000

Thanks, Jameson — I consciously left out Pinot Noir and Petit Verdot but for different reasons. Pinot Noir plantings have increased substantially and like New Zealand, the Australians can do an excellent job with this grape, but in an overall sense I don’t see a huge Pinot future there overall. In general, the climate is just too warm (aside from Tasmania and scattered areas) and the grape is just too difficult to grow. Even in California, which has a much more favorable climate, it only accounts for 5% of plantings, although that number will increase given the current Sideways momentum. I left out Petit Verdot, simply because it often makes wines similar in style to Shiraz, huge and fruity upfront albeit with a completely different flavor profile.

By: Steve De Long

Steve De Long — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 17:43:06 +0000

Frank, that is IMPOSSIBLE! Thank you for making me spill wine all over the table!

By: Jameson James

Jameson James — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 03:05:51 +0000

Great article. You are missing the very tasty pinots from Tasmania–namely Ninth Island. And what about the Petit Verdots–like Pirramima.

By: frank stone

frank stone — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 00:02:14 +0000

as you are probably aware, one of the more interesting trivia bits, in the southern hemisphere, a flushed toilet will drain out in a counter-clockwise manner, in contrast to the northern hemisphere where the flush is clockwise. it is considered good practice to swirl your wine in the same way….try it!
not the toilet…THE WINE.