Are you ready for semersion therapy?

They do things a little bit differently at Thomas Wines in the Hunter Valley.

Father and son team Andrew and Dan Thomas make a wide range of wines but focus on only two varieties: Hunter favourites shiraz and semillon.

The Thomas team will be hitting the eastern seaboard soon to show off their fresh 2024 vintage semillons - and reports suggest the year has been a cracker.  

“At Thomas Wines, every winter we spend our days counting down to spring, which in Thomas wines speak means semillon season,” says Andrew Thomas.

“Each year on the first day of spring Thomas Wines release our highly anticipated line up of new vintage semillons, and being a shiraz and semillon only specialist means this is big news.

“This year we’re celebrating our annual release with a series of semillon-inspired lunches at top-notch waterside venues around the east coast, culminating in a wine lover’s festival-style event at Thomas Wines Cellar Door.

“From beachside foodie haunts in Newcastle to super new Brisbane River vantages, to two almost sold-out Sydney fine-diners there’s a Semersion coming to a place near you.”

Here are the dates:

Semersion Peregrin Newcastle

Friday August 23

Semersion Supernormal Brisbane

Sunday August 25

Semersion Thomas Wines Hunter Valley

Saturday August 31 12-4pm

Semersion Saint Peter Sydney

Saturday September 7  (SOLD OUT)

Sunday September 8

 

Lobster roll and a glass of semillon anyone?

It sounds like the perfect gourmet treat for spring: a lobster roll with a glass of chilled Hunter Valley semillon.

The October long weekend (Oct 1-3) will see Mount Pleasant launch a lobster roll and semillon pop-up on its cellar door grounds.

Available each Saturday and Sunday throughout spring in the laneway, the pop-up will see guests enjoying a lobster roll and a glass (or bottle) of Mount Pleasant semillon.

The semillons on offer will include new releases in the 2017 Cellar-Release Elizabeth Semillon, 2022 Lovedale Semillon, and 2022 Estate Semillon.



Chief winemaker Adrian Sparks said: “Because of its acidity, our semillon is the perfect match for the sweet flesh of shellfish and seafood, especially lobster. We wanted to introduce it as a special offering to really showcase the versatility of our wine and the broad range of foods they can be paired with.”

Curated by Justin North in collaboration with head chef Kyle Whitbourne, the kitchen team have sourced local Eastern Rock Lobsters and chosen an artisan milk bun to create the ultimate lobster roll for $19.

“We wanted to create the perfect spring pairing for this limited time offer," North said. "Taking into account the balance of flavours required between food and wine, we chose to use creamy yuzu mayonnaise and semi-sweet bun to help to offset the dry semillon.”

See www.mountpleasantwines.com.au/

To celebrate the launch of the activation, artist Libby Haines will be painting a one-off oil on canvas piece with the lobster roll and semillon as her subject on Saturday, September 24. 

Limited edition prints will be available and will be available for purchase via her website libbyhaines.com.

A semillon for every palate

It has been "all change" recently at Hunter Valley icon Mount Pleasant with new owners and a new cellar door.

Now Mount Pleasant is set to unveil its new-release semillons on September 13, including the 2017 cellar-aged Lovedale Semillon, a regional icon and a wine that can cellar for 20-25 years.  

“The wine is a beautiful example of Hunter Valley semillon," says chief winemaker Adrian Sparks. "Containing a complex nose highlighting perfectly balanced bottle aged and fruit characters, a lively fresh palate with ripe citrus notes, fine acidity and a long lingering finish. This wine will cellar to be a definitive example of the classic Hunter semillon style.”

The 2022 whites release features four semillons produced from the Lovedale Vineyard, which was first planted by pioneering Maurice O’Shea in 1946. It just depends whether your preference is for youthful, or mature semillon.  

I loved the value offered by the 2022 Mount Pleasant 2022 Estate Semillon, which I reviewed in Ciao Magazine: 

There is something very special about Hunter Valley semillon, which is expressive and deliciously lively while young, and then develops toasty characters when aged. Mount Pleasant, one of the leading producers of the style and with a history that dates back over 100 years, has new owners and new labels but winemaker Adrian Sparks remains on board, and this is a delightful new release with youthful vibrancy and a lemony tang on the palate. Brilliant when paired with freshly shucked oysters. $25.

The other wines I have sampled are all excellent: the 2022 Lovedale Semillon (members only) $55; 2017 Lovedale Semillon $90 and 2017 Elizabeth Semillon $30. The release also includes a 2022 rosé and a 2021 chardonnay and fiano.

The wines will all be available for tasting and sales in the newly refurbished cellar door from their release, with Mount Pleasant hosting a dedicated lunch on September 17 to celebrate the 2022 released whites.

The event will offer the opportunity for guests to experience the newly refurbished cellar door along with a four-course lunch with canapes on arrival, designed by head chef Kyle Whitbourne in collaboration with celebrated Australian chef, Justin North. The lunch will feature wine pairing chosen by Sparks.

Tickets will be available for $250 per person, including live entertainment and a winery tour. See www.mountpleasantwines.com.au