Such a short time in the region makes life hard for everybody, so we settled for showing our acknowledged strengths – Riesling and Shiraz – in masterclasses at West Cape Howe and Willoughby Park.

I also managed to squeeze in some time at the beach. I actually left it off the initial  itinerary because time was short, but was firmly reminded that in previous years ‘ you have always taken us to the seaside’! So, Middleton Beach and the scenic drive around the harbour were promptly re-included.

Thanks to all for staying awake during what must have been an exhausting couple of days straight after the overnight flight out of Hong Kong, and thanks to Echo from Wine Australia’s Shanghai office for doing a great organisation and translation job.

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Well, we showed them some great wine! They all really appreciated the visit and were blown away with the quality from a region most of them had very little, if any, previous exposure to.

I was able to show them wines from all sub-regions, and covered a few kilometres so they got a feel for the conditions down here. It was certainly pretty cool and damp, so they know we are a genuine premium, cool climate region.

Vintage was basically done just before they visited, but due to a mecanical problem in the winery, we got out to Willoughby Park just as Andries Mostert was processing his last load of Cabernet Sauvignon, so they got an added extra there.

We usually hang our hat on Riesling and Shiraz here, but the group were also very impressed with out Chardonnay and Bordeaux blends. Just shows the incredible range what a versatile region we are.

A couple of the visitors were trying to find time to blog along the way, here’s some discussion of the Great Southern:

http://www.scarlet-wines.co.uk/2013/04/

http://www.thesolentcellar.co.uk/travel/another-cool-climate-region-to-watch/

Thanks Emma, Heather, Jon, Paul and Roger – it was great to see you.

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Joe at The Rocks in Albany

Joe Czerwinski, Managing Editor of Digital and Print for Wine Enthusiast Media, visited the Great Southern recently.

The Great Southern Wine Producers’ Association entertained Joe at The Rocks in Albany and took the opportunity to run a few current and aged wines past him.

Joe tasted and enjoyed a range of Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz from Galafrey, Harewood Estate, Plantagenet, Frankland Estate, Trevelen Farm and Wignalls.

The aged wines stood up well and included a 2001 Harewood Estate and 2005 Wignalls Chardonnay – not your everyday drinking!

The Rieslings, as always from the Great Southern, were excellent, and Joe left mightily impressed with the quality of the wine and the great hospitality and ‘wine talk’.

In his role, Joe manages all aspects of digital and print production for Wine Enthusiast Magazine as well as helping drive the creative direction of the dynamic online and print publications. He has been a wine journalist, editor and taster for over a decade and is a regular wine panelist, speaker and educator for events and organizations worldwide. Czerwinski was previously Senior Editor and Tasting Director for Wine Enthusiast Media.

Joe’s visit was organised by Tourism Australia and Wine Australia. thanks to them and thanks for coming Joe!

The post A Major US Wine Enthusiast in the Great Southern appeared first on Great Southern Wine.

Poh Tiong has accepted an invitation extended by the Great Southern Wine Producers’ Association (GSWPA) on behalf of Taste Great Southern.

Poh Tiong is a lawyer by training. He is the publisher of The Wine Review (South-East Asia’s oldest wine magazine, since 1991), and the world’s first annual Guide to Bordeaux in Chinese. Poh Tiong’s articles have also appeared in magazines, including Harper’s and Decanter of the UK; and Silver Kris, the magazine of Singapore Airlines. Poh Tiong also writes a quarterly column for Decanter magazine.

Poh Tiong is a great friend of the Western Australian wine industry and is looking forward to visiting the Great Southern, learning about its wines, and meeting the people that make them.

The post CH’NG Poh Tiong in the Great Southern appeared first on Great Southern Wine.

The events are centered around the long weekend in March (2-4 March) and flow through until the Festival of the Sea, held in and around the Albany Boatshed on Easter Saturday, 30 March.

Events that involve GSWPA members range through long table lunches, regional grazing plates, the Porongurup Wine festival, wine-focused dinners, a fun-filled wine vs beer tasting, and a film night.

The GSWPA are also extremely pleased to be hosting well-known Singaporean wine writer Ch’Ng Poh Tiong in the region during the festival. Poh Tiong is a great friend of Western Australian wine production and is very keen to learn more about the Great Southern, its wines and the people who produce them.

You can find all Taste Great Southern events involving GSWPA members listed on our events calendar

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Perth turned on a glorious afternoon and the guests enjoyed their Rieslings along with Albany oysters shucked on the spot by shucker extraordinaire Andy Warner and canapes provided by the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in-house caterers for the yacht club.

A wide range of Rieslings, young and old, were available for tasting with aged wines – including a 1999 Castle Rock – showing the immense capacity that Riesling has for developing and changing in the bottle.

Other producers showed vintages ranging from 2002 up to the current release 2012 Rieslings, including the 2012 Plantagenet Riesling that won Best Wine of Show at the 2012 Qantas Wine Show.

Aged or recent vintage, you can rely on quality Riesling from the Great Southern. Producers taking part were 3drops, Abbey Creek, Alkoomi, Arcadia, Castle Rock, Chatsfield, Estate 807, Express Winemakers, Ferngrove, Galafrey, Gilbert’s, Howard Park, Plantagenet, Trevelen Farm, West Cape Howe, and Willoughby Park.

The post Riesling Rocks Perth! appeared first on Great Southern Wine.

The Five Virtues Shiraz was bottled at Harewood Estate in Denmark and is a blend of premium wine from each of the Great Southern’s recognised sub-regions: Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup.

GSWPA Chairman Jan Skrapac said the Five Virtues was a promotional tool for the Great Southern wine industry and celebrated the depth of the region’s cool climate Shiraz producing capacity. “Shiraz is our flagship red wine and Riesling is our flagship white wine”, said Mr Skrapac, ” and they are two reasons why we stand out from other wine producing regions in the State”.

“The wine is a magnificent premium blend that is a tribute to the skills of the winemakers in the region” he said.

The 2011 Five Virtues Shiraz will be available from selected liquor stores soon. it is currently availalbe in minimum quantities of 12 bottles from the GSWPA. The cost is $388 per 12 bottle case, including 10% discount and shipping anywhere in Australia.

For more information and to purchase 2011 five Virtues Shiraz see http://greatsouthernwine.asn.au/cellar-door/five-virtues-project/

The post Five Virtues Regional Shiraz Available appeared first on Great Southern Wine.

Mr Halliday engaged the audience of wine producers and Shire of Plantagenet councillors with a wide ranging address covering the rising wine market in China, a developing market desire for regionality in wine, the many attractions of Riesling and the challenges of marketing it.

The audience tasted a huge range of Great Southern Rieslings provided by the attending wine producers and celebrated the region’s position as a major Australian Riesling producer.

“It was a wonderful gathering, and a great experience to have Mr Halliday in the region”, said John Gates, Executive Officer of the GSWPA, “James is one of the leading wine writers in Australia, obviously a Riesling lover, and very knowledgeable about Great Southern wine production. It was a pleasure to entertain him and a valuable opportunity to share his insights”.

The GSWPA continues to show its vanguard Rieslings at the Riesling Rocks! tasting in Perth on Sunday, 2 December.

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Fresh from release, the 2012 Plantagenet Riesling has won three Trophies at this year’s prestigious Qantas Wine Show Of Western Australia, including Best Wine Of Show.

Judged from a field of over 1100 wines, the 2012 Plantagenet Riesling was awarded trophies for Best 2012 Riesling, Best White Wine, and Best Wine of Show.

“This remarkable accolade should be seen as confirmation of the Great Southern region’s ability to produce world class Riesling and is recognition of the wonderful work done by our Plantagenet vineyard and winemaking teams.” commented Plantagenet Wines General Manager, Jan Skrapac.

Created in Mount Barker 35 years ago, the Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia has earned a reputation as one of Australia’s most respected wine shows – reflecting the growth of the state’s wine industry and providing wine enthusiasts with insights into the best of Western Australia’s wines. It is the state’s premier Wine Show, exclusively judging Western Australian wines.

To complement these awards, the 2012 Plantagenet Riesling also received a Gold Medal at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show and a Silver Medal at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show

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The Western Australian Industry and Export Awards, hosted by the Department of Industry and Resources, is now in its 24th year and is recognised as Western Australia’s most prestigious business awards. They acknowledge the innovation, hard work and success of businesses in reaching new markets.

Ferngrove Wines, one of Western Australia’s most dynamic wine companies, produces premium quality wines for domestic and international markets including Australasia, the United Kingdom, Europe and Canada. Over the past 10 years, Ferngrove have successfully developed a globally recognised brand including the launch of sixty branded retail wine shops in China.

Based on submission criteria, the Agribusiness Export Award category is open to all Western Australian companies exporting into one or more overseas markets. Entrants are ranked on their exporting achievements, export marketing strategy, brand management in the export markets, and communications.

In the past twelve months Ferngrove have shipped over 100,000 cases to China, representing the largest export shipment of bottled, branded wines for any Western Australian wine company into the Chinese market. This, along with the significant penetration into the growing Asian market, has seen the company continue to grow in 2012.

“The Western Australian wine industry is experiencing a difficult period with the high Australian dollar and oversupply when compared to other Western Australian industries. Ferngrove’s achievements and success in international markets is due to passion and skill of its people the high quality and consistency of its wines, and the ability to satisfy the international palate.

“Ferngrove Wines are also proud that for the ninth year in a row it has received the highly respected 5 star red rating in the 2013 James Halliday’s Annual Wine Companion, putting it amongst the very highest echelon of the nation’s premium wine producers.” Ferngrove Managing Director Anthony Wilkes said.

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