Much-loved Australian wine industry veteran dies

Mick Morris, a much-loved veteran winemaker and and one of the Australian wine industry's most respected figures, has died, his family reported today.

Mick (Charles Henry) Morris OAM, was 98.

Over a lifetime dedicated to his craft, he made an enduring contribution to the evolution and success of the Australian wine industry.

Mick Morris started his first official vintage as winemaker in 1953, quickly becoming a pioneer of durif (petite sirah)  as a table wine varietal, and was known for his world-class fortified wines.

His influence extended far beyond Rutherglen, where Morris Wines is based, helping shape Australian wine's reputation both at home and around the world.

"For all his achievements and honours, what those who knew Mick will remember most was the man himself," his son David and grandson Madden said in a media release.

"Mick was a fine, humble, immensely talented and extraordinarily generous person.

"He shared his knowledge freely, encouraged countless people throughout their careers, and remained deeply committed to his family, community and industry. His legacy will live on not only through the wines he helped create and the industry he helped shape, but through the many lives he touched along the way."

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on Tuesday, September 1. 

Black & Ginger pays tribute to Lily with a premium shiraz

Out on one of our motorcycle road trips we always come across interesting winemakers with their own unique stories, reports two-wheeling correspondent Rod Eime. 

Hadyn Black at Black & Ginger in Victoria's Grampians region is just one such character.

Along with wife Lucy and business partner Darcy "Ginger" Naunton, the trio kicked off in 2015 with the purchase of a tonne of shiraz grapes from the Pyrenees, while their own vineyard took shape.

"We started B&G in 2015, with that single tonne of shiraz. At the end of 2016, we bought a rundown vineyard with a rundown house on it," Hadyn tells us as we sit in his rustic wine shed just off the main road and grafted onto Barney’s Bar & Bistro.

But that's just a hint at the real story.

"My mum Lily had recently retired, and so she spent as much time up here as she could, doing everything from helping me clean up the house, strip the horrible wallpaper, repaint, and clean up the garden. Then we’d get stuck into pruning and fixing the vineyard," Hadyn tells us. I can see his throat is getting a bit lumpy. "We managed to only properly prune a couple of rows at the top of the vineyard. We picked our grapes in 2017; most were sold, but we kept all the fruit from the rows Mum helped properly prune for ourselves. 

"Mum and Lucy and a couple of our mates helped pick it, and the fruit was fantastic. It was fermenting away nicely in the winery when I got a call that Mum had very suddenly passed away. So we named the resulting wine 'Lily’s Block' in her honour. We only release the wine under her name when it is good enough, so it is not made every year. The label is pink, an obvious choice given her favourite colour was pink, I also added her signature to the side label."

Lily and Hadyn

As well as Lily's Block, the small-batch wines have been well received, getting some great scores from wine writers and a couple of medals at wine shows.

Find the BLACK & GINGER WINE SHED at:
3447a Ararat-Halls Gap Road, Pomonal, Victoria, 3381

Travel trends for 2025 revealed

Relaxation, travelling with the family and exploring new destinations are three key pillars of travel intent for 2025, travel booking website Agoda says 

Agoda has unveiled its 2025 Travel Trends survey, highlighting the factors set to shape the travel landscape in Asia in the coming year. 

The survey revealed a strong focus on relaxation, family-oriented trips, and the excitement of discovering new destinations as primary motivations for travellers.

Agoda's findings indicate that travellers are prioritizing quality time with loved ones and seeking respite from daily routines.

The survey also underscored the growing interest in exploring uncharted territories. Noteworthy is the popularity of theme parks, with one in eight respondents expecting to go on a trip to visit one.

Seven key insights from Agoda's 2025 Travel Trends survey:

1. The more the merrier: Travelling with family tops the list
For many travellers family time equals quality time. More than a third of travellers questioned (34%) plan to travel with family in 2025. 

2. Easy does it: Relaxation is the top travel motivation, by far
Escaping from the hustle and bustle of daily life is by far the most important reason to travel, according to the survey. 75% of respondents cited relaxation as their most important travel motivation.

3. Computer says 'yes': Tech assisting in travel planning
Technology is playing a pivotal role in shaping travel plans. A substantial majority of travellers (80%) plan to use travel apps, while about one in eight (12%) are interested in virtual reality tours. 

4. Travel For Less: Journey more, spend smart
Budget considerations remain a key factor, with a significant portion of travellers (65%) planning to spend less than $250 per night on accommodation. But price is not a barrier to international travel - 87% of travellers expect to take the same number of trips or more compared to 2024. 

5. In and Out of Office: Travelling on and off the clock
In addition to traditional business trips, which 28% of respondents expect to embark on, the survey also picked up on the emergence of digital nomads, borderless workers who work remotely. 1 in 25 expects to work remotely in 2025, with a focus on combining work and leisure, as more companies adopt flexible work arrangements. 

6. Inspiration: Many ways to discover new destinations
A whopping 84% of travellers expect to visit new destinations in 2025. 

7. Life is a rollercoaster: Theme Parks are a reason to travel
Asia's many theme parks: Disney in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, Lotte World in Seoul, Universal in Osaka and Singapore, Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi will attract 20% of those surveyed.

Image: Hesham Osama, Scop.io

The Little Wine Company goes for Broke

On the verge of celebrating a quarter of a century in the winemaking business, The Little Wine Company has announced the opening of its new cellar door in the Hunter Valley hamlet of Broke.

Founded by Suzanne and Ian Little in 2000, The Little Wine Company has been a regional leader in the production of alternative grape varieties, and the Broke Fordwich region has been the family home for three decades.

The new facility, open from March 8, will operate in addition to the Wine House collective cellar door in Pokolbin, which offers wines from several producers.

“The Broke Fordwich region has been our home for nearly 30 years; it’s where our kids were born and raised, it’s where we built our winery and it’s where the majority of our grapes are grown, so it just feels right.” says Suzanne Little.

Ian Little says their brand - which is distributed by Single Vineyard Sellers - has struck a chord with adventurous consumers.

“The increasing curiosity of wine consumers prompted Suzanne and I to explore and cultivate alternative grape varieties, which are flourishing," he says.

"This strategic shift towards diverse and resilient varietals is also contributing to the sustainability of The Little Wine Company as a brand.”

To mark the opening of their new Broke cellar door rhe Littles are extending a special offer.

Throughout April 2024, patrons spending $100 or more at the new cellar door will receive a complimentary bottle from the White Label range as a gesture of gratitude for continued support.

Wine lovers can also join a Little Masterclass on March 16-17 - part of the Little Bit of Broke festival - where Suzanne will share six wines with six food pairings.

The new tasting facility is located next to Magoony’s Coffee House.

Among my recommendations: the excellent, shiny 2023 Vermentino (great with kedgeree) and the crisp and vibrant 2023 Pecorino, one of the first releases of this Italian varietal in Australia. Both offer excellent drinking for $26 a bottle. 

For more info see https://www.thelittlewinecompany.com.au/  

A slice of Abruzzo in Byron Bay

A little slice of Abruzzo in Byron Bay now has even more of an Italian accent.

Executive chef Daniela Maiorano (centre) has been joined by her brother Attilio (right) at Barrio Eatery & Bar - just in time for the summer season. 

Known as everyone’s ‘nonna’ in Byron Bay, Maiorano is known for Mediterranean shared plates with freshly baked focaccia, cured meats, and pumpkin hummus. 

Attilio is a renowned chef in Abruzzo.

Long, lazy lunches at Barrio are followed by a "Feed Me" dinner menu featuring hand-made pasta, charred veggies, wood-roasted meats, and zesty salads.

Chef David Moyle, who has been consulting on the project, says: “Daniela is a fourth-generation Italian chef with a passion for transforming local produce. We love her energy and what she is bringing into the kitchen.”

There is also a new head baker on deck: Diego Pinero (left, formerly of Harvest in Newrybar) is crafting sourdough loaves and a range of pastries.

"In my family, all they could do was cook and feed us with this love," says fourth-generation cook Daniela. "I love working with producers, farmers... I love watching people eat my food and smile."

Barrio is open Mon-Wed 7am-3pm and Thurs-Sat 7am-10pm. 

This is one I hope to try very soon.  

https://barriobyronbay.com.au/

Septuagenarians began a Tasmanian family wine dynasty

John and Libby Pooley; Shelley and Matt Pooley

English migrants Denis and Margaret Pooley were in their 70s when they decided they would like to plant a vineyard and make some wines in their adopted homeland in Tasmania. 

Many of their friends told the septuagenarians that were crazy, but with the help of Tasmanian wine industry pioneers Fred Peacock and Andrew Hood, they set off on their wine journey in 1985. 

Almost 40 years on, the third generation of Pooley vignerons includes Matt Pooley and wife Shelley; and Anna Pooley and husband Justin Bubb. 

Under the keen eye of parents John and Libby Pooley, the latest generation is making the world of wine sit up and take notice with world-class pinots noir and remarkable, long-lived rieslings.

The first Pooley vineyard was a few rows of vines planted on the banks of the Coal River, north of Campania, but still just a short drive from Hobart in southern Tasmania. 

The 16-hectare farm that began as a retirement project is still part of the family vineyard portfolio, along with the Butcher's Hill vines next to the family cellar door just outside the hamlet of Richmond.

Cooinda Vale yielded its first vintage in 1989 and Denis continued working in the vineyard until he died in 1994. Margaret Pooley lived on until 2010. 

In 2003, their son John Pooley - a well-known Hobart prestige car dealer - and his wife Libby bought Belmont, a heritage-listed Georgian home on the outskirts of Richmond. 

Pooley Wines expanded and established a second vineyard, the adjacent Butcher’s Hill, with its first vintage produced in 2007.

Until the passing of Margaret Pooley, three generations of the Pooley family were working in the vineyards with John’s son, Matthew Pooley, taking on the responsibility as viticulturist and with Margaret’s granddaughter, Anna Pooley, returning to the family business in 2013. 

Pooley wines have been made entirely by family hands from that point onward.

Former viticulturist Matt Pooley is today the brand representative and sister Anna Pooley is the award-winning winemaker. 

The 2020 Margaret Pooley Tribute Riesling ($75) - named in honour of the family matriarch - was named the best riesling in Australia in the 2022 James Halliday Wine Companion. 

It has, predictably, already sold out, but a few of the remaining bottles were the stars of the show at a small celebration at the Pooley cellar door on Friday night - along with back vintages including stellar wines from 2018 and 2015 - both ageing gracefully and drinking beautifully. 

Both Hood and Peacock were in attendance at this week's celebration. 

Also being enjoyed were the two recent release single-vineyard 2020 pinots noir; the Butcher's Hill and the Cooinda Vale (both $70 and worth every cent). 

The Butcher's Hill is a stunning wine, full of delicate deliciousness and sweet and savoury notes, while the tighter Cooinda Vale is one destined for a long happy life in a dark cellar.

Further evidence of the talent of Anna Pooley, formerly of Treasury Wine Estate's and a stint as a winemaker in Italy, is the lip-smackingly vibrant Pooley 2021 Pinot Grigio ($36), a superb summer wine with great vivacity that has concentrated flavours and a persistent acid line along with a subtle Italian accent.

Any wine lovers visiting Tasmania should make sure to check out the delightful old Georgian home that houses the Pooley cellar door. 

Belmont is a grand heritage-listed, convict-built home circa 1832, purchased by the Pooley family in 2003. 

The original coach house and barn is now home to Pooley's cellar door and tasting room,  open seven days a week and known for excellent pizzas at weekends. The staff, like everyone employed by the family, are consummate professionals. 

The Pooley family also operates Prospect House, a country manor-style hotel just across the road from the cellar door. 

For more info visit www.pooleywines.com.au/

 

    

 

A new Hunter Valley wine range makes its debut

Meet John Wallace Wines - the newest wine brand to emerge from the Hunter Valley. 

John Wallace does not actually exist, but the man behind the brand is one of the Hunter's leading winemakers; Richard Done, who has worked at Scarborough Wines, Thomas Wines, Hunter’s Dream Estate and Bimbadgen Estate, where he is currently chief winemaker. 

Done has a Master’s degree in Wine Science and Viticulture but having spent a lifetime of correcting others mispronouncing his surname (think Ken Done, not Dunn), he decided to honour his grandfathers, John and Wallace, when it came to naming his winemaking business.

The first two wines released under the John Wallace Wines label are a tribute to the winemaker's grandmothers, Margaret and Judith. 

The 2021 Maggie white and the 2021 Juju red (both $25) will soon be followed by a chardonnay and reserve shiraz. 

The white is an energetic, high-spirited and fun blend of semillon, vermentino, chardonnay and pinot gris that I can highly recommend, while the red is !00% shiraz made in "nouveau" style, not your usual Hunter style. 

"My wines offer a relaxed yet upbeat flow of freshness," Done says. "They are wines for enjoying and having fun with." 

See www.johnwallacewines.com.au. 

Three generations make Scarborough Wines a family affair

For a real family wine tasting experience, head for Scarborough Wines in the Hunter Valley. 

Not only are three generations of the Scarborough family actively involved, but the tasting room is in the old family homestead on Gillards Road in Pokolbin. 

The recently renovated facility is set up for groups large and small and you'll almost certainly meet a Scarborough, whether that be founders Ian and Merralea Scarborough, winemaker son Jerome or his sister, marketing manager Sally Scarborough. 

There is also a point of difference here. While most Hunter producers are best known for their semillons and shirazes, the Scarborough family is probably most famous for its range of stellar chardonnays. 

Visitors to the cellar door also get the chance to try "The Obsessive" range, named after Ian Scarborough, who is known for his attention to detail in both the vineyards and the winery. This range comprises a semillon, a chardonnay, and a shiraz ($30-$60).

The family are prime movers in the Hunter Valley Wine & Food Festival to be held throughout June and share their recipe cards with cellar door visitors, from Ian Scarborough's favourite pasta dish to cellar door manager Merralea's pate. 

Ian and Merrelea Scarborough are long-time Hunter residents, having moved from South Australia in the 1970s, where Ian (below) worked with the legendary Peter Lehmann at Saltrams. He then worked at Tyrrell's before he purchased the Gillards Road property at the end of the decade.

Their decision to make chardonnay their flagship coincided with the variety's boom - and the first vintage was made in 1987  in the garage of the house where the cellar door stands today.

Jerome (below) worked in various roles and from 1996-2000, he was Lindemans Hunter vineyard manager, before joining Scarborough Wine as general manager. In 2005, Jerome assumed the winemaking role under Ian’s guidance.

Keeping matters in the family, Jerome is married to viticulturist Liz Riley, who consults to several producers across the region.

Liz and Jeremy have two children, Callum and Hannah, both of whom are learning the family business.

In addition to the family's home vineyard, they are also own the 100-acre Sunshine vineyard, part of the Lindemans property with fine, deep sandy soils that suit semillon vines. 

There are a range of paid tasting experiences available at cellar door (Thursdays to Mondays), very helpful staff and some great views. It pays to book for curated tastings, which can be matched with a cheese platter. Phone 1300 888 545. Nice people. Excellent experience.

# Matriarch Merralea Scarborough was inducted into the Hall of Fame with the Hunter Valley Tourism Industry 2021 Living Legend Award this week and Scarborough Wine Co. was also named Wine Selectors Cellar Door of the Year along with receiving the Hunter Valley Innovation of the Year award for a unique approach to tastings introduced during Covid-19. Liz Riley, Scarborough’s viticulturalist, was also awarded the Hunter Valley Award for Excellence. 

Scarborough Wine Company, 179 Gillards Road, Pokolbin, NSW. 

www.scarboroughwine.com.au   

 

Aussies want to spend more holiday time with their kids

What Australians want most from their holidays is time to spend playing with their children. 

New research has revealed Aussies feel guilty for not having enough play time and psychologist and parenting expert Michael Carr-Gregg says finding time and places to engage in play on holidays helps create positive memories, early brain development and bonds families together. 

Holiday house booking site Stayz has curated a list of top holiday playhouses available for vacations across Australia. 

The national research, commissioned by Stayz, found seven in 10 Aussies believe that playing with kids helps to create stronger bonds and memories while six in 10 Aussies agree that parents feel guilty if they don’t have enough time to play with their kids thanks to work and household chores. 

Psychologist Carr-Gregg, a specialist in parenting, children and adolescents, says play is not trivial. 

“Nothing lights up the human brain like three-dimensional play with loved ones," he says. 

"Not only does play relieve stress, improve brain function, enhance creativity but it also improves our relationships and our connections to other people. Play is what helps us feel young and energetic throughout our entire lifespan.” 

With holidays being a great time to engage in the magic of play, the research also found that playing board games, swimming in the pool and making sandcastles are among the greatest holiday memories for Australians.

“We’ve all had a very serious 12 months and it’s left us craving some good times with loved ones," says Stayz travel expert Simone Scoppa. 

"Time for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, nieces and nephews to escape into a game of cards, hide and seek, dress ups or Marco Polo in the swimming pool.  Time not to worry about work, homework or mowing the grass.” 

Stayz is Australia’s original holiday rental website and is part of Expedia Group. 

Stayz lists more than 50,000 properties across Australia, and now over two million properties internationally available for rent. See www.stayz.com.au.