New owner for historic Katnook Estate

There is no stopping Accolade Wines - already one of the world’s largest producers of new world wines.

Accolade today confirmed the acquisition of Katnook Estate in the heart of the Coonawarra wine region.

Under the terms of the deal with current owner the Wingara Wine Group, Accolade Wines will acquire the historic Katnook Estate brand, winery, cellar door and control of approximately 160 hectares of premium vineyards on the famed terra rossa soils of the Coonawarra.

Katnook’s heritage stretches back to 1896, when the Coonawarra’s second vintage was made in the Katnook woolshed by Scottish immigrant and Australian winemaking pioneer John Riddoch.

Accolade Wines Chief Executive Officer Robert Foye said the acquisition would not only add a much-loved brand to the company’s portfolio but would allow Accolade Wines to secure additional premium wine for the 2021 vintage, underpinning its global expansion and the premiumisation of existing brands including Grant Burge, St Hallett, Hardys and Petaluma.

“As we modernise these brands’ marketing and packaging, innovate into new higher-value product tiers and expand the distribution of these brands globally, we need access to more premium wine,” Foye said.

“In terms of the premium wine-growing areas of Australia where Accolade is investigating opportunities to expand its presence and sourcing, Coonawarra is definitely at the top of the list. Not only is the area a well-known premium wine region inside and outside of Australia, it also produces the kind of rich and balanced red and white varietals that the rest of the world, including China, are thirsting for.”

Coonawarra is Australia’s No.3 region for bottled red wine and Katnook wines have twice won the Jimmy Watson Trophy in Melbourne.

Katnook Estate wines are offered under three ranges: Katnook Founder’s Block; Katnook Estate and the limited-release range of iconic Coonawarra wines from exceptional vintages, including the Odyssey Cabernet Sauvignon and the Prodigy Shiraz.

Foye said that on completion of the acquisition Accolade Wines will review the Katnook brand marketing and packaging, while retaining the brand’s rich heritage and history.

No news yet on who will be the winemaker.

The acquisition is subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval.

Special staycation deals on the Hobart waterfront

With Tasmania still in lockdown and a total absence of interstate tourists, local hotels are offering some very keen deals to entice locals to enjoy a staycation. 

The Salamanca Wharf Hotel, just across the road from the Hobart waterfront, is offering Tasmanians a special Spring Alive offer – book two nights and get three.

Guests are being offered one free night’s accommodation they book three nights in either a Premium Apartment or a Loft Penthouse. 

The hotel is in the historic heart of Hobart, close to several restaurants and cafés, and right on site for the Salamanca Markets held each Saturday. 



Out-of-towners can take the time to enjoy the Royal Botanical Gardens, now in full flower, Mt Wellington/kunanyi as well taking day trip to Port Arthur, Richmond, Bruny Island and the Huon Valley. 

The deal also includes a late check out at 1pm and free car parking. 

Loft penthouses start from $264 per night and premium apartments from $180.

Stay dates for the Spring Alive Special 2020 are from September 4 to November 30 and packages are only available for direct bookings. 

See the special packages entitled Penthouse Special or Premium Apartment Special on the booking page and tell them Winsor said to ask for the "cheapskate" deal. 

A new gin idea has blossomed

Canberra distillery Underground Spirits has unveiled a new limited-edition pink gin in time for Floriade 2020: Reimagined.

The release is part of a collaboration with Floriade: Reimagined.

“Everyone could use a little reimagining in 2020, it’s really been a year like no other," said Underground Spirits’ CEO Claudia Roughley.

"We’ve done a little reimagining of our own to bring you our blossoming pink gin.

“This year has brought with it many challenges to the way we do things, and Floriade has been no exception. Inspired by Canberra’s reimagined celebration of spring we have created a gin that invokes the vibrant colours and floral aromas that will erupt across Canberra during Floriade: Reimagined, when tulips bloom throughout Canberra’s suburbs.

“Our creative process here, reimagined, led to the raspberries’ fresh colour and flavour being divided and then composed back together. Our core gin botanicals anchor the signature quality expected from Underground, and the zing of the finger limes are a pop of citrus for unwinding in the gardens across the capital this spring.

"It’s our gin, reimaGINed.”

Underground Spirits’ reimaGINed limited edition pink gin is available now for pre-order, with shipping and online sales from the first day of the month-long Floriade: Reimagined festival, September 12.

For more information and to order, go to www.undergroundspirits.com.au

Two winemakers; two regions; two decades

Over the past two weeks I have sampled two new-release O'Leary Walker Clare Valley 2020 rieslings.

The Watervale was outstanding; the Polish Hill excellent.

That was no surprise. Over two decades O'Leary Waker have forged twin reputations for both quality and value.

Colleagues told David O’Leary and Nick Walker they were mad when they quit senior winemaking jobs to start their own business in 2000.

Now the O’Leary Walker Wines founders have pivoted to focus on cellar door offerings and exploring new markets in a rapidly changing wine industry environment.

The duo has weathered the ups and downs of the wine business for two decades while forging a reputation for quality from two South Australian regions: the Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills.

The coronavirus pandemic and changing wine tastes have the winery and its two cellar doors evolving fast to keep up.

O’Leary Walker has increased its food focus at its Clare Valley cellar door and last week launched a new website to help it cater to a growing online customer base.

It is also ramping up export efforts and is launching a seasonal release range of progressive varieties to appeal to younger palates.

The winery produces about 14,000 cases a year in the Clare Valley from grapes grown in the region as well as at a 16-hectare Adelaide Hills vineyard owned by O’Leary’s sister, Sue Cherry, in Oakbank

O’Leary said about 80% of the winery’s sales were traditionally to restaurants, placing pressure on its bottom line through coronavirus shutdowns and restrictions in recent months.

“Our sales domestically were down 75%, which was pretty tough,” he said. “It is starting to pick up a little bit again but very slowly.

“One of the unintended consequences was it forced everyone to have a look at their businesses and how they can improve and that has been a terrific benefit to us.”

O’Leary Walker opened its Clare Valley cellar door in 2010 and a second one near its Adelaide Hills vineyard in Oakbank in 2015.

The winery has increased its attention on its cellar doors this year, O’Leary said, following the appointment of a full-tine resident chef and a greater focus on events.

“There’s been a big shift in people’s habits and we still want to get our wines on-premise but cellar door one-on-one is becoming a very powerful tool to show people our wines and sell them direct.

“We also put a lot of effort into our new website, and we’ve been working hard on the food offerings in Clare as well because you need a few strings to your bow in cellar doors these days – people want food and they’re pretty discerning when it comes to the quality.”

O’Leary Walker has had a long-standing national distribution partnership through Negociants Australia that began soon after the business began in 2000.

The winery grows about two-thirds of its own grapes and has enduring relationships with four Clare Valley growers to help protect it against the potential swings of annual grape shortages and gluts.

Walker and O’Leary already had about 40 years of wine-making experience between them when they started their partnership in 2000, making them one of the most experienced duos in the industry.

Now the next generation of winemakers is stepping up to complement the traditional ways of the winery’s founders, which has focused on staple Australian varieties including riesling, shiraz, chardonnay, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon.

Emerging winemakers Jack Walker - Nick’s son - and Luke Broadbent have worked in the business for over five years and are now stepping up to expand the range and create some fresh flavours to appeal to younger wine drinkers.

The next generation winemakers have been put in charge of a seasonal release project of emerging wine varieties, which kicks off this week with the launch of a pinotage, a popular style in South Africa.

O’Leary Walker had initially planned 20th anniversary celebrations for this month but were stymied by Covid-19, Now the duo winery is working towards a 21st birthday party in 2021.

See www.olearywalkerwines.com/

Fancy a hotel room for the day? That's $75 please.

Need a home office away from home?

Or just want to meet up with someone on the quiet?

TFE Hotels has made getting down to business easy with rooms from 9am to 5pm starting from $75 per day including full use of hotel facilities including lobbies, restaurants, bars, pools and gyms.

You can also stay connected with complimentary wifi for up to four devices per room. Day-use rooms also have fully equipped kitchenettes - and you can sleep over for an additional $50 per night.

Options include the Adina Apartment Hotel and Vibe Hotel in Sydney and the Kurrajong Hotel in Canberra.

Here is the link you need: www.tfehotels.com/en/deals/686/day-use-room?utm_source=cendyn&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1-9-2020_tfe-edm_dayuserooms-office

Connected. How Launceston is beating many much bigger Australian cities

Free wifi is now available across the entire Launceston city centre in Tasmania, with locals making good use of high-speed internet.

Delivered under the Launceston City Deal, the project has significantly expanded public access to the city’s free wifi network.

Popular recreation spots like Riverbend Park, the Cataract Gorge and Waverley Lake were among the last areas connected to what is now Tasmania’s largest local government-managed public wifi network.

Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the City Deal project put Launceston ahead of many major cities across Australia.

“Fifty new wireless access points have been rolled out across Launceston under the City Deal to see all public spaces in the CBD covered by the network,” Tudge said.

“It’s great to see it up and running for the public and visitors, providing a free and fast network without time restrictions.”

Tasmanian Minister for State Growth and Science and Technology Michael Ferguson said the wifi expansion formed part of the jointly funded $19.4 million City Heart Project, a centrepiece of the City Deal.

“The City Heart Project is all about redefining central Launceston as a modern regional retail, cultural and business hub by redeveloping critical local infrastructure and supporting events that together are re-energising the city’s centre,” Ferguson said.

The Mayor of the City of Launceston, Albert van Zetten, said public wifi networks were highly utilised by tourists, students and disadvantaged communities.

“This is a fantastic project, made possible by the Launceston City Deal, which will help make our city more accessible to visitors," he said. 

“While the Covid-19 pandemic has effectively put our tourism industry on hold, we want to ensure that we are ready to bounce back as a prime tourism destination when the time is right."

To access the new network on smartphone, tablet, laptop or other wireless connected device, visitors can join the wifi network called “Launceston WiFi”.

A portal page will appear and once the terms and conditions have been accepted, users can click “Get online”.