by Halliday Wine Companion

James Halliday is one of Australia’s most respected and prolific wine critics and he has been commentating on the Australian wine industry for almost 50 years. He tastes and rates thousands of wines and wineries for the annual Halliday Wine Companion guide, and from those, he chooses the best winemakers, wines and wineries for an awards ceremony held in August each year. Here are some of those highlights from the past five years in Australian wine.

#1 – Taking white wine seriously: a near-perfect score

It was a surprise to many when a Riesling appeared in James Halliday’s Top 100 Wines of 2017 with a 99-point score, as he had never awarded a white wine so highly before. The unprecedented event should have predicted what came next – the following year, Hilde and Ian ‘Duke’ Ransom of Duke’s Vineyard in Western Australia collected James Halliday’s Wine of the Year for that same Magpie Hill Reserve Riesling (RRP $35). The idea that white wine isn’t as worthy of attention as red is a common misconception the world over. In Australia, Shiraz gets the lion’s share of the spotlight, but did you know that this country’s dry style of Riesling is unrivalled around the globe? Australian Riesling also offers incredible ageing potential and, as seen with the winning Duke’s Riesling, great value to boot. Regions with the conditions to produce the lively acidity and pure fruit of the best Australian Rieslings include Great Southern (the location of Duke’s Vineyard), the Eden and Clare Valleys, and Tasmania.

#2 – Top talent: Australian women in wine

Yarra Yering is one of Australia’s cult favourite labels, founded by Dr Bailey Carrodus in 1969. Based in the Yarra Valley of Victoria – a cooler climate wine region only an hour’s drive from Melbourne (and the place James Halliday calls home) – Yarra Yering makes wines with exceptional intensity and complexity. Before Dr Bailey died in 2009, he expressed his wish that his legacy is carried on by the incoming owners and managers, wanting the vineyard and winery to be run in much the same way. So, when Sarah Crowe stepped into the chief winemaker position in 2013, she was faced with some big expectations – both from the brand’s founder and devotees. She didn’t let that spook her, however, and impressed all right from the start, making her mark while still respecting the range. James Halliday was among those to recognise Sarah’s impressive work with Yarra Yering, leading him to name her his Winemaker of the Year for 2017. The award was a victory not only for Sarah but also for the growing number of women in the Australian wine industry who are making waves.

#3 – Great wines for great prices: the best of the best reds for less than $50

Considering the world’s great red wines will likely conjure names such as Barolo, Burgundy and Bordeaux. And when thinking of those regions and their celebrated producers, another word might come to mind too – expensive. In Australia, the pinnacle red wines are Penfolds Grange (RRP $900) and Henschke Hill of Grace (RRP $825). Compared to the prices you would pay for the rarest Burgundy reds, even those probably seem like bargains, and for the most part, you can get top Australian reds for much less. A beautiful example of the value found among Australian red wines came when Yarra Valley winery Serrat’s Shiraz Viognier was named Wine of the Year back in 2016 – a wine that retailed for just $42. Despite the massive demand for the limited-release wine following its win, including being snapped up from auctions for as much as $2000, owners Tom and Nadege Carson have kept the wine at practically the same price ($44 for the most recent vintage). “We just want people to be able to buy it, drink it and enjoy it,” Tom says.

#4 – More than Shiraz: a gong for Australian Pinot

As with most things we don’t know well, we tend to form broad opinions. It’s one reason people tend to associate Australian wine with big, bold reds – particularly Shiraz from warm regions. In reality, though, the vast landscape and unrestricted winemaking conditions of this country give rise to diverse and vibrant styles, including reds that are bright and food-friendly, medium-bodied and supple, and, of course, those well-known (and well-loved) luscious wines. Pinot noir is a lighter red variety Australian winemakers love working with, and they turn this finicky grape into beautiful wines. Australia’s top Pinot regions reflect the grape’s preference for a cooler climate, and it’s in the southern parts of the country that the wine thrives. In the state of Victoria, there’s what’s referred to as the Melbourne ‘dress circle’ of Pinot regions – the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Gippsland and Geelong among them. Further south still, Tasmania’s proximity to the Antarctic waters of the Bass Strait provides the perfect cool conditions for Pinot, producing consistently excellent wines (albeit in limited supply). The Adelaide Hills in South Australia is another top Pinot region. James Halliday is a huge Pinot fan – it’s a part of the reason he moved to the Yarra Valley and established the Coldstream Hills winery. It makes sense, then, that for the inaugural Halliday Wine Companion Awards, the 2014 Wine of the Year was the Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir from Gippsland. Near to the southernmost point of Australia’s mainland, Bass Phillip remains a cult producer of Pinot Noir, quickly selling out its stock every year.

This post is written by Orange 360, host of one of the Post-Conference Excursions at WMC19.

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Over the Blue Mountains and just a little further west lies Orange: New South Wales’ unofficial wine and food capital, where altitude is the difference! Australia’s only wine region defined by altitude, Orange wines are recognized as those produced from vineyards at 600 meters or above, with our highest vineyard sitting at 1050m above sea level.

The 3.5-hour drive from Sydney is leisurely, beautiful and part of the romance of escaping to the Central West. Alternatively, hop on a quick flight from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane and extend your weekend in Orange, NSW.

Savour the difference: Orange’s unique altitude, cool climate and varied elevations enables a wide range of grape varieties to be grown to perfection! Enjoy a vertical tasting of some of our better known varieties such as bright and aromatic Chardonnays or elegant, medium-bodied Shiraz’, or discover something different in our Arneis or Nebbiolo. All grown in the last 23 years since Orange was recognized as Australia’s highest wine region, and celebrated annually in October during the Orange Wine Festival.

Meet Your Maker: Visit any of Orange’s Cellar Doors and there’s a strong chance that you’ll meet the winemakers themselves! Orange is home to NSW Wine President Tom Ward’s Swinging Bridge vineyard and cellar door, as well as the eponymous Philip Shaw Wines, a stalwart of the Australian wine scene and twice named International Winemaker of the Year. Pull up a stump, grab a glass and learn how our grapes go from vine to wine direct from the vignerons themselves.

Wines with a Conscience: Home to Australia’s first NCOS Certified Carbon Neutral winery, Ross Hill Wines, Orange holds deep care and respect for the land on which we live and work. Moderately sized vineyards, hand-picked grapes and single-vineyard wines are our regional speciality, with wineries like De Salis following a minimalist winemaking philosophy that challenges industrial winemaking culture. With vegan, organic and preservative free wines aplenty, Orange is your destination for wine with a conscience.

Food, Glorious Food: With orchards, farms and vineyards as far as the eye can see, the Orange region is home to Australia’s longest running regional food festival, Orange F.O.O.D Week, held annually in April and ranked the 4th best in Australia! Enjoy fresh, seasonal produce all year round from Australia’s food bowl, with Orange apples and cherries our biggest and tastiest food export. Pick-your-own or enjoy produce that goes from paddock to plate at any of our local restaurants, cafes and eateries – paired with a glass or two of Orange region wine, of course!

A City and its Villages: Hatted restaurants, thriving coffee culture and trendy boutique retailers converge in Orange and provide a cosmopolitan lifestyle that still maintains the pace and authenticity of a country town. Our regional villages dot the countryside and fill the region with colour, character (and characters!), giving you every reason to hit the road and explore the Orange region.

The Orange Wine Festival will be held October 18th-27th 2019 with tickets on sale now for some of the festival’s signature events. Don’t miss one of Australia’s prettiest destinations and see for yourself why everyone is falling in love with Orange, NSW.

by Mudgee Region Tourism

Where in the world? Located less than 270 kilometres north-west of Sydney, Australia, the fuss-free journey to the Mudgee Region is all part of the adventure, and what awaits is a stunning, sensate mix of charm and sophistication.

You’ll feel your senses tingle as the cityscape blurs out of view and the vast country landscape opens in front of you. It’s difficult, at this point, to come up with a reason not to take time out from your everyday busyness to skip town for Mudgee and find out what all the fuss is about. After all, you can swirl and sip your way across more than 40 family-owned cellar doors, plus a well-known micro-distillery and a craft brewery. Then you can eat and treat yourself to the region’s famed local produce, and potter around boutique shopping precincts to find hidden gems, all the while exploring the region’s heritage.

Authenticity at its (country) finest.  If you’ve ever visited Mudgee before, you’ll know the culinary passion runs deep, with the region now a household name among foodies across Australia. For those yet to visit, allow us to set the scene. Mudgee has a deep-rooted pastoral tradition, with its history reflected in the town’s heritage streetscapes – wide and tree lined, just as you would imagine from a refined country township.

A rich source, makes for rich sauce.  From the area’s fertile farmland comes premium local produce, and it’s readily available via cafes and restaurants, farmgate tours, cellar doors and epicurean outlets. With a winemaking history dating back to the 1850s, Mudgee is the third largest grape-producing region in New South Wales. It is from this rich source that local chefs and winemakers draw inspiration, the results of which are certain to delight your palate.

Takes your breath away. Many ‘tree changers’ now call Mudgee home, and plenty have brought with them a slice of city life, gently connecting it with the authenticity of the country. This, in turn, means an abundance of sophisticated yet earthy experiences for visitors to indulge in.

With breathtaking natural attractions, delectable wine and scrumptious local produce, events to excite, an impressive shopping precinct, a lush golf course, and picturesque streetscapes, it’s time you visited Mudgee.

Planes, trains and you guessed it.  Whether by car, train or plane, you certainly won’t be disappointed when you arrive. And, upon your return, while impressing friends with your expertly paired Mudgee produce and wine, you’ll be reminded of that treasured break – and you may just find yourself returning to restock sooner than you think.

For more information, visit visitmudgeeregion.com.au

 

We have a post-conference excursion going to Mudgee, which is a great way to explore the region – check it out on our Excursions page!  

The Wine Media Conference has partnered with four amazing wine regions in New South Wales, Australia to create once-in-a lifetime post-conference excursion experiences.  These excursions allow the participants to go beyond the conference and immerse themselves in local wine regions, learning about culture, terroir, local viticulture, and the history of the area.

All four of these excursion options will run October 13 – 15, following the conference. All four are in wine regions of New South Wales, allowing you to visit a second region in addition to the Hunter Valley without taking a long flight. We are working now on adding an excursion in a different state within Australia that will take place October 7 – 9, prior to the conference, with details coming soon.

Due to limited space, pre-conference and post-conference excursions are only open to registered conference attendees.  To learn more about this year’s excursions or to register, please see our Post-Conference Excursions page. Each excursion is limited in numbers and registration is first come, first served.

Excursion Option One: Mudgee Wine Region

Home to over 35 cellar doors, the Mudgee Region is located about three hours west of the Hunter Valley and across the Great Dividing Range, Australia’s major mountain range. This gives the Mudgee region a distinctly different look and climate from the Hunter Valley. Mudgee is nestled in within surrounding hills and is primarily a producer of robust and deeply coloured red wines.

Excursion Option Two: Southern Highlands

Explore the closest wine region to Sydney, the beautiful Southern Highlands, known for its cultural heritage, small towns, and beautiful landscapes. The picturesque Highlands sits approximately 850 meters above sea level and within two hours of Sydney, Canberra and the Illawarra Coast. Specializing in sparkling wines, pinot gris and pinot noir, this region consists of 17 family owned and run boutique wineries and over 60 vineyards. This is a true cool-climate region with one of the latest harvest dates in Australia.

Excursion Option Three: Riverina

The Riverina wine region in New South Wales, Australia is centered on the town of Griffith and surrounding villages of Yenda, Hanwood, Bilbul and Tharbogang as well as encompassing the small township of Leeton.

Its flat plains, bordered by the Cocoparra ranges, along with the rich soil, irrigation scheme, and a Mediterranean climate were the key factors in developing this wine region back in 1913. Over a hundred years later, many of Australia’s well-known family wineries still headquarter their operations here in the Riverina, making award winning wines and more alternative varieties.

Excursion Option Four: Orange

Orange is fast becoming known as one of Australia’s best wine districts, with local wines regularly winning national and international awards. This wine industry growth, in tandem with the continuing development of Orange’s already highly regarded gourmet restaurant and cafe culture, has bolstered the city’s reputation and the region’s growing status as a ‘food capital’.

Orange is about food and wine, but the “Orange 360” degree viewpoint shows you it’s also about the open countryside, country villages in Blayney and Cabonne shires, and sports tourism including bike travellers and bushwalking. On this excursion you’ll get to experience the Orange wine region in depth.