OWNERS BUCKET THEIR OWN WINES

Wc26Apr10

david ellis

THE Adelaide Hills’ Longview Vineyard has come a long way since its first vintage when the owner’s realised the only thing they had to store the fruit from that initial crop, was some old red buckets from the property’s earlier dairy farm days.

But it proved a good omen and ever since they’ve named their best premium wines Red Bucket, a label that today has earned itself a reputation for quality, reliability and, at $15.99, certainly value for money.

A just-released Longview Red Bucket Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2009 is a crisp, clean and refreshing wine, and a perfect match with seafoods; and interestingly owners Mark and Peter Saturno have plenty of other makers both in and outside the Adelaide Hills knocking on their door for a share of their premium fruit.

ONE FOR LUNCH:  NSW’s Hilltops Region near Canberra has fast-gained a reputation for really excellent wines, and for Barwang Wines it’s their favoured region for sourcing fruit for their premium reds.

A high-altitude region with a slightly warmer climate than Canberra, it has almost consistently text-book growing conditions and mineral-rich soils. Barwang’s 2008 Hilltops Shiraz ($19.99) reflects all the best of the region with lovely rhubarb and black cherry flavours coupled with varietal Shiraz spice; enjoy with beef medallions and buttery mashed potatoes.

FOOTNOTE: QANTAS has named its latest A330-200 aircraft The Clare Valley after the South Australian region that produces just 1.5% of Australia’s wine, but an amazing 20% of our Rieslings. “Its great recognition for the Valley, and what can justifiably claim to be Australia’s ‘Riesling capital’,” said Chairman of Clare Valley Winemakers Incorporated, Peter Barry.

(NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com )

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

[] BUCKETS of flavour for enjoy with seafoods

[] IDEAL partner with beef medallions and buttery mashed potatoes