TRAMILLON? IT’S IDEAL WITH ASIAN DISHES

SLIGHTLY sweet Tramillon marvellous match with spicy Asian dishes

Wc16Apr12

David Ellis

WE don’t know if many others make it, and would be interested to hear of any who do, but Lillypilly Estate’s Robert Fiumara has an interesting blend that he’s trademarked as Tramillon – a medium dry white created from Gewurztraminer and Semillon.

He’s been making it since 1982 at his winery at Leeton in the Riverina, and is seeing it enjoy healthy sales both here and overseas, especially he says in the UK. By bringing together the spicy and fragrant Gewurztraminer and the crisp, dry freshness of Semillon he’s crafted a wine from the 2010 vintage that’s got a slightly sweet edge to it, rockmelon flavours with subtle lime and a hint of sherbert, and is a marvellous match for spicy Asian dishes.

You can order it direct from the winery at $13.50 (plus freight) on www.lillypilly.com. And ask also about their 2012 Sauvignon Blanc that at $14.50 is one of those easy-drinking, zippy dry whites that goes ideally with all kinds of casual dining from crab cakes to Mexican-style chicken and grilled seafoods.

ENJOY this one with pork cutlets and an apple and date relish

ONE FOR LUNCH: THE Margaret River’s Voyager Estate had one of their best-ever growing seasons in 2010, followed by an outstanding vintage for their red wines, especially their interesting Girt by Sea Cabernet Merlot blend.

Manager of Winemaking and Viticulture, Steve James says Margaret River has been “incredibly lucky” in recent years with a string of great vintages, the 2010 giving exceptional fruit purity, elegance and fine silky tannins for reds that have been some of the region’s best to date.

The 2010 Girt by Sea Cabernet Merlot is only Voyager’s second such blend, and actually includes a 1% touch of Petit Verdot and 1% Shiraz to the 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot. It’s resulted in a medium-bodied wine with delightful summer berry, cherry and plum fruit flavours, together with softer hints of vanilla, spice and nougat. Pay $24 and enjoy with pork cutlets and apple and date relish.

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