Champagne sales in Australia continue to soar

The Covid-10 pandemic, lockdowns, restaurant closures, financial difficulties. 

None of them made the slightest difference to Champagne lovers in Australia as sales figures continued to soar in 2021.  

The volume of exports of Champagne to Australia grew by 16.8% from 8.25 million 750ml bottles in 2020 to over 9.9 million bottles in 2021. 

This is a difference of over 1. 3 million more bottles of Champagne and means that more Champagne came to Australia last year than ever before in our history.

 

Australia is the sixth-largest export market for Champagne in the world by volume – which is remarkable considering a population of only 25 million people.

 

In 2020, the value of the Australian market was around €116 million (which was up by 11% compared to 2019). In 2021, the market was worth €160 million, which is an increase of just over 26% compared to 2020. 

This potentially shows that Australians are following the trend of ‘trading-up’ in their choices of Champagne, the Champagne Bureau reports.

 

The market has pretty consistently grown by around 8-10% each year for the past 20 years, including 2021 where Australia was the only market in the world to show any significant growth (11.2%).

 

Champagne houses make up the largest sector in the Australian market at around 95% (9.5 million bottles) but other categories of Champagne producers such as growers and co-ops are receiving more and more interest from educated Australian consumers. 

The number of different companies has increased dramatically too – in 2020 there were 261 brands of Champagne coming to Australia, but in 2021 a total of 304 brands were imported – an increase of 43. 

 

Photo by Andrii Omelnytskyi on Scopio

A taste of France to arrive in Sydney CBD

The hospitality industry revival continues with the opening of Manon, a European brasserie from Sydney hospitality veterans Marco Ambrosino and Manny Spinola, in Sydney's Queen Victoria Building on June 10.

Occupying the former Jet Cafe site, Manon's menus will echo classic French brasseries and be overseen by French-born head chef Thomas Boisselier. 

The opening of Manon follows the team's successful launch of Lola’s in Bondi in 2021.

 

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, Manon will also offer a late-night supper service on Fridays and Saturdays, with coffee and takeaway viennoiseries (pastries) and pain baguette (paninis) available from 6am. 

The venue will accommodate 60 inside and 80 outside.

 

Co-owner Spinola said: “I have walked past the site for 24 years, dreaming of opening a grand cafe, which is why I am so thrilled to be in partnership with Marco to bring a French brasserie to the QVB.

"Manon will be a place to sit and people watch while enjoying French cuisine, giving customers a taste of the European lifestyle, whether it’s at breakfast before work, a long lunch or an ambient dinner.”

No idea what an ambient dinner is, but I'm just reporting the quote. 

 

Head chef Boisselier brings over a decade of experience, having spent the last two years working in Lyon, most recently as deputy head chef at three-Michelin starred restaurant at the Hotel & Spa du Castellet.

 

The breakfast menu includes: egg meurette; crab on toast; pain perdu; and croque madame.

Lunch and dinner choices includes raw bar with oysters shucked to order and a caviar offering, along with saucisson brioche; bone marrow tartine; and steak frites. 

The dinner menu further builds on the lunch menu with evening-only dishes such as crab bisque souffle, beef Wellington, canard a l’orange and a whole sole meunière.

The dessert menu features French classics including vanilla souffle and ile flottante.

The Manon wine list - initially crafted by now-departed sommelier Harry Hunter - spans 400 bottles, predominantly from France, with Gosset Champagne by the glass.

 

Manon Brasserie, Queen Victoria Building, 55/455 George St, Sydney CBD. 

Phone: (02) 9051 2008

https://www.manonbrasserie.com.au/

Images: Nikki To 

Vinexpo says farewell to Hong Kong, hello to Singapore

In a move that had long been expected, Vinexposium is changing the location of its flagship wine trade exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region and has chosen Singapore to host Vinexpo Asia in May 2023.

The group intends to capitalise on the history of Vinexpo Hong Kong (above), which was held in Hong Kong for 20 years until 2018. With a new name echoing its broader scope, Vinexpo Asia is returning to the region with the aim of maximising its influence.

Vinexpo Asia will take place in Singapore from May 23-25, 2023 in the heart of the Marina Bay Sands complex.

The new venue has been chosen thanks to the appeal of Singapore as a growing business hub.

Vinexpo Asia will focus entirely on wines and spirits and will become an annual event in the group’s portfolio.

Vinexpo Asia expects betweeny 1,000 to 1,200 exhibitors from across the globe.

The latest research by the IWSR for Vinexposium forecasts an annual rate of overall growth of 1.5% by 2025 in Asia-Pacific, which is higher than the forecast for Europe, estimated at 1.4%.

“There is currently strong demand among our exhibitors to return to Asia in the best possible conditions," says Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium.

"Singapore stands out as an obvious choice for serving the interests of the entire Asia-Pacific region and act as a magnet, not only for Chinese clients, but also Australians, South Koreans, Thais, Japanese and Vietnamese, to name a few.” 

Vinexposium is the world's leading organiser of wine and spirits trade events. 

Halliday wine awards finalists unveiled

The release of the annual Halliday Wine Companion is among the key dates on the Australian wine calendar and this year’s shortlisted wineries, winemakers and viticulturists were unveiled today. 

For the first time this year, judging for the Halliday Wine Companion Awards was conducted as a blind tasting by the full Halliday Tasting Team, which was once again led by wine critic founder James Halliday AM and wine communicator Tyson Stelzer, the chief editor. 

The panel has chosen the top-rated Australian wines, winemakers, wineries and viticulturists from more than 8000 wines tasted for this edition and over 50 new wineries.

The shortlist represents just about every corner of Australia’s wine map, with wineries from Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, and New South Wales included in the nominees. 

The People’s Choice Award, it returns for a second year to recognise Australia’s best winery experience as judged by those who have visited. 

Voting will take place online at winecompanion.com.au. 

The awards ceremony will be held at the Stokehouse in St Kilda on Wednesday, August 3. 

Seven major trophies will be announced on the night: Wine of the Year, Winemaker of the Year, Winery of the Year, Viticulturist of the Year, Best Value Winery, Best New Winery, and Dark Horse Winery, with the year’s top varietal winners also awarded across nineteen categories, including Red Wine of the Year and White Wine of the Year, as well as varietal categories. 

Finalists are: 

WINERY OF THE YEAR: Bannockburn Vineyards, Giant Steps, Grosset, McHenry Hohnen Vintners, Pooley Wines, Serrat, Stargazer Wine, Yangarra Estate Vineyard. 

WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR: Adam Wadewitz, Shaw + Smith, Bryan Martin, Ravensworth, Glenn Goodall, Xanadu, Greg Follett, Lake Breeze Wines, Ian Hongell, Torbreck, Natalie Fryar, Bellebonne, Rob Mack, Aphelion Wine, Tom Carson, Serrat.

VITICULTURIST OF THE YEAR: Adrian Hoffmann, Dimchurch Vineyards, Bruce Chalmers, Chalmers, Chris David, Windows Estate, Hannah McKay, Pooley Wines, Michael Lane, Yangarra Estate Vineyard, Tom Carson, Serrat.

BEST VALUE WINERY: Bondar Wines, Bleasdale Vineyards, Deep Woods Estate, Duke’s Vineyard, Garagiste, Hoddles Creek Estate, Nick O’Leary Wines, Riposte, Xanadu Wines.

BEST NEW WINERY: Arila Gardens, Chance Encounter, Clarnette, Living Roots, Mabenki, Montague Estate, Ossa Wines, Solum Wines, Trait Wines, Usher Tinkler Wines.

DARK HORSE WINERY: Aylesbury Estate, Kimbolton Wines, L.A.S. Vino, Pt. Leo Estate, Yarradindi, Zilzie Wines

Whisky from India? The next big thing in spirits?

When you think of India, you automatically think of single malt whisky. 

I'm joking, of course, but global drinks giant Diageo apparently has high hopes for its Godawan whisky, which was showcased at the recent Cannes Film Festival. 

Godawan was launched in Jaipur and is now set to be sold across international markets. 

And that is where it becomes a little bit silly. A press release issued today says: "Diageo India is set to introduce Rajasthani tradition and culture to the world". 

Yep, whisky is being promoted as a Rajasthani cultural icon. 

"Godawan is crafted in, its provenance inspired by, and dedicated wholeheartedly to the Rajasthani ethos of 'beauty in scarcity, and sustainability," the press release raves on relentlessly. 

"It pays homage to the spirit of its people who are known for their preservation and conservation skills, and for crafting exceptional things of brilliance from whatever little nature provides."

To be honest, the whisky is finishing "in special casks selectively curated with Indian botanicals".

But then it gets silly again. 

"Godawan positions India as the haven of quality single malts on a global map and sets a new benchmark for sustainable and conscious Indian luxury." Righto. 

Nurse. The pills.

"We, at Diageo India, believe consumers, culture and community lie at the heart of our innovation. Godawan will help the world and our consumers discover an aspect of Indian culture hitherto unknown - rich and meaningful," says Hina Nagarajan, CEO, Diageo India.. 

Godawan is about to be launched in Dubai - a strange choice - with other markets to follow. 

No. I have not tried it. 

By the way, the Godawan is the Great Crested Bustard, a symbol of Rajasthan. 

Sydney to welcome a chic new heritage hotel

The heritage façade of one of Sydney’s most recognisable buildings, Porter House, will become the gateway to a chic new boutique hotel when The Porter House Hotel - MGallery opens in July.

Located on Castlereagh Street, the $94 million luxury hotel occupies the first 10 floors of a 36-storey mixed-use tower within the re-imagined $184 million Porter House precinct. 

Some 131 residential apartments sit above the new MGallery hotel, while a multi-level food and bar precinct has been created within the restored 1870s heritage-listed building itself.

Originally commissioned in 1876 by Australia’s leading tobacco manufacturer Hugh Dixson (also a notable philanthropist and horticulturist), The Porter House started life as Dixson & Sons tobacco factory and warehouse. 

Hotel general manager Joleen Hurst says: “The redeveloped Porter House precinct plays with the concept of intriguing contrasts. By placing two extraordinary buildings together, we have created something remarkably original that we hope local, interstate and international guests will be fascinated by.”

The Porter House Hotel - MGallery has been designed by architect Angelo Candelapas of Candelapas Associates.

An ultra-modern tower has been built around the heritage-listed Porter House on two sides. 

A new walkway has been constructed between the two buildings linking The Porter House with the hotel next door. 

An abstract mural by renowned artist Maria Fernanda Cardosa was commissioned for the exterior wall of the new tower and is believed to be the largest public artwork by an Australian artist in Sydney’s CBD. 

The Porter House Hotel - MGallery will offer 122 guest rooms and suites. 

All suites face Castlereagh Street, some with green glimpses across to Hyde Park, which is an easy walk from the hotel.

All hotel guests will have access to a well-appointed fitness centre and  heated pool located on level 11 of the hotel. The hotel will also debut Digit Valet: an iPad concierge to effectively walk guests through the hotel and Porter House venues.

Three different food and beverage venues now sit across four redeveloped levels within the original building.

Henry’s Bread and Wine will welcome guests on the ground level seven days a week. 

Dixson & Sons, named after The Porter House’s founding merchant family, occupies the first floor of the building. The Porter House’s executive chef Emrys Jones will create a menu that champions local produce. 

On the top level of The Porter House is the Spice Trader cocktail bar. 

MGallery is a collection of design-led boutique hotels. Porter House Hotel - MGallery will become the 11th MGallery in Australia and New Zealand and join a network of 112 MGallery hotels in 36 different countries globally.

Image: Steve Woodburn