Shining a light on stellar chardonnay in the Hunter

There are literally dozens of grape varieties grown in the Hunter Valley, but virtually all the region's flagship wines are made from shiraz, or semillon. 

Chardonnay is pretty much an afterthought for many producers, so Meerea Park sprung a surprise when it released a 2024 Stratos Chardonnay with a $120 price tag. 

It is a superbly poised and precise wine made in tiny quantities; from just two barrels, in fact. 

Our Hunter Valley correspondent Rick Allen wrote about the wine for the Newcastle Herald. 

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When you bring out a new flagship wine and immediately make it the most expensive of its variety in the region, you leave yourself nowhere to hide.

And for brothers Garth and Rhys Eather of Meerea Park Wines in the Hunter, so be it.

Their Meerea Park Stratos 2024 Chardonnay has just been released at a hefty $120 a bottle, and they’re more than happy to let the wine do the talking.

Still, there’s no doubt the price point is bold considering there’s a lot of exceptionally good chardonnay made in the Hunter, some with great history and pedigree.

“I don’t look at it on a local level, but national - and in that regard I believe the price is very reasonable for the quality of wine you’re getting,” managing director Garth Eather said.

“I love the Hunter Valley and I’m sick of people getting the perception that our chardonnays aren’t as good as those from other regions like Margaret River or the Yarra because we don’t charge as much.

‘Also, we’re a small producer, don’t have our own vineyard, nor the same economy of scale as larger operations.

“So buying in the best fruit and using the very finest Sirugue oak barrels is expensive.”

The Stratos production equates to about 50 dozen bottles, and the wine will only be produced when vintage quality warrants it.

The idea of a flagship white to sit alongside their flagship BLACK shiraz had been on the agenda for a while.

“I didn’t want to do it with semillon because there’s not much you can do with semillon," Eather said. “But chardonnay is different. There’s a lot of choices you can make and I think it’s a product of how good the winemaker is going. And when they get it right, it’s beautiful. 

“I had the Stratos named trademarked and had been waiting for the right time and right wine to use it.”

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The fruit comes from the top-notch Casuarina vineyard. 

Eather's verdict: “Terrific balance, no arms and legs sticking out, lovely richness of fruit, round and creamy. It has varietal character, length and depth. That’s what great wine is all about.”

See https://www.meereapark.com.au/

Niche spirits producer goes small as it aims to grow

Innovation is one of the keys to success in the rapidly changing drinks space.

A new 200ml  hip flask bottle adopted by peanut butter-flavoured whiskey liqueur Skrewball offers a portable, shareable and potentially recyclable format that is being trialled in Australia and New Zealand.

Skrewball Whiskey says its PET hip flask offers identical flavours to those in a full-sized bottle in packaging suitable for a party, or picnic (or for sneaking into a concert). That's my idea, not theirs.

The launch comes as smaller, portable spirit formats gain momentum with 200ml hip flasks experiencing high growth in the US.

“We’re thrilled to bring this new size and shape to Australia and New Zealand, offering our consumers more flexibility while maintaining the premium quality they expect from Skrewball,” said Steven Yeng, the company co-founder.

“With its deliciously sweet, nutty spirit, now in a compact 200ml hip flask, consumers can enjoy  Skrewball wherever the celebration takes them - from backyard barbecues to picnics and beyond.” 

For retailers, the 200ml  hip flask represents a versatile new option: it encourages trial among new consumers, complements larger bottle offerings and is well-suited for impulse purchases or gifting occasions.  

In Australia:  Skrewball’s 200ml bottle is available at independent retailers and online across Australia at an RRP of $24.99.  In New Zealand it is available at Liquorland and Thirsty Liquor with an RRP of $21.99. 

Capital idea: in high spirits in Canberra

Gin and whisky lovers can head to the national capital for a spirited weekend.

The new Spirits at the Foreshore tasting event will be held at the Old Transport Depot in Canberra on November 28-29..

The will be pourings of more than 200 spirits from 40 Australian and international distillers in a lakeside setting.

Over three tasting sessions across two days, festivalgoers can discover bold Tasmanian whiskies, new styles of gin, authentic Mexican tequila, limoncello, rum, vodka paired with a caviar bump, and more, the organisers promise.

Tickets include unlimited tasting samples (to be sipped sensibly, of course), a branded tasting cup, Long Rays tonic and soda water, and a tote bag to stash your purchases.

Food trucks will be on site to keep guests fuelled between sips, and every bottle on taste will be available for take-home purchase direct.

Tickets are $70 for a three-hour session, with “Any Session” tickets available for $110.

A limited number of masterclass tickets are available for $90, including entry to the festival.

Friday features the Hugo Vodka Masterclass, while on the Saturday, White Light Beverages will host a cocktail session with tips and tricks for tequila, vodka, gin and whisky, an insider’s guide to shaking the perfect margarita, elevating your martini, and making the most of their expanded award-winning range.

Distillers confirmed include Hugo Vodka, Prohibition Liquor Co, Ester Spirits, Volume Australia, White Light Beverages, North of Eden, Renegade Spirits, Gindu Distillery, Brix Distillers, Beachtree Distilling Co, Camden Valley Spirits, Noble Bootleggers, Turner Stillhouse’s Three Cuts Gin and more. 

Renegade Spirits and Gindu Distillery are among those making their Canberra debut.

Tickets are on sale at ginevents.com.au.

I wish I had not opened this bottle of wine

Ever opened a bottle of wine and immediately regretted it? 

That was the case at the weekend when I tasted the 2022 vintage release of Vasse Felix's benchmark Tom Cullity cabernet blend. 

It was dark and inky, complex and full, a quality statement; but also taut and very young. 

The 2022 Tom Cullity will, in my opinion, be a much better drink in five years or more. 

Unfortunately when you write about wine and are sent a sample the expectation is that you will taste and review right away - not five years down the track. 

"We recently tasted through 10 years of this wine and the Tom Cullitty remains the same in its stature, meaning and beauty from the old vines, and tells the story of only the minor nuances of 10 beautiful seasons," says winemaker Virginia Willcock. 

"The 2022 simply looks vibrant, energetic, powerful and delicious. It is our timeless tribute from the original vines that shaped Margaret River cabernet."

Made from cabernet sauvignon (87%) with a small amount of malbec (14%) this vintage, Tom Cullitty has become an icon over the past decade. 

Willcock says the Vasse Felix team has "consistently found the wine is ready to drink after two years in the bottle, or three-and-a-half years of age". 

It is a good wine now, but I suspect it will be great, so I'm taking a chance on disagreeing with a leading winemaker and show judge. 

The 2022 Vasse Felix Tom Cullitty is made from fruit grown on 55-year-old vines, honours a regional pioneer who planted the Vasse Felix vineyards and will set you back $200 a bottle. It would make a terrific Christmas present. 

See https://www.vassefelix.com.au/

New adventures way out west

Looking for a new travel experience? Western Australia has plenty to share, both in Perth and the regions, Tourism Western Australia reports.

Helispirit and Box Hill Esperance partner on scenic experience

New premium accommodation offering Box Hill Esperance​​​​​​​ has partnered with award-winning aviation operator Helispirit to offer luxury experiences in the Esperance/Kepa Kurl region. Guests can now join a Helispirit tour direct from their doorstep at Box Hill and be whisked away on scenic flight before landing for a secluded beach swim or private picnic.

Lighting the Sound tour to pop up in Albany

Albany Tours has launched a twilight hike experience to coincide with the 'Lighting the Sound' event by Kari Kola, occurring over three weekends in Albany in March 2026. Beginning in the late afternoon, the hike will depart from Whalers Cove and conclude at Uredale Point (above) for a spectacular vantage point view of the installation.

Pemberton Discovery Tour launches new agritourism experience

Visitors to the Southern Forests region can discover more about the region's local incredible produce on a new tour by Pemberton Discovery Tours. 'Beyond the Farm Gate' takes food-loving visitors behind the scenes, with three exclusive stops to showcase the best produce of the season. Growers may include avocado orchards, apple or potato farms, strawberry fields or beef of poultry farms depending on the season.

Sunsets, sips and dips: new experience by Quokka

Quokka Adventure Tours has launched its 'Beaches of Perth Sunset Picnic and City Lights Tour' just in time for summer. Starting in the Perth CBD, the tour takes a scenic drive through several riverside suburbs, stopping briefly for a riverside stroll, before arriving at the iconic Cottesloe Beach. Here guests can opt for an afternoon dip, before heading north along the coastline to City Beach and Scarborough. Guest will enjoy a light supper accompanied by a glass of Margaret River wine (surely the local Swan Valley would be more appropriate). The return journey to Perth includes a dessert stop at Kings Park and Botanic Garden.

Wildlife tour experience launches in Perth

Off the Beaten Track's new Kaarakin Wildlife Experience invites visitors to experience the beauty of Banyowla Regional Park, located on the outskirts of Perth, while learning about the state's red-tailed and white-tailed black cockatoos. The full-day tour starts with a guided behind-the-scenes experience at the Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre, where guests meet cockatoos, kangaroos, emus and dingoes.

Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trail network complete

Dwellingup's growing reputation as a Trail Town has received a boost with the opening of Stage 2 of the Dwellingup Mountain Bike Trail network. Visitors to the region can now explore a 68km trail. Just over an hour from Perth, Dwellingup is known for its forests, rivers and array of wildlife.

Meet a sparkling new venue in Champagne

Anyone planning a trip to Champagne might want to make note of a recently opened wine destination.

Champagne Thiénot has marked marked its 40th anniversary this year with a move into wine tourism as it opens a boutique hotel, bar and spa, and tasting experience in the heart of Reims.

Called Le 3, after its address in pedestrian alley 3 Rue du Marc in the city, the new offering occupies a historic building not far Veuve Clicquot’s Hôtel du Marc.

Maison Thiénot - well known to Australians for its collaborations with Penfolds - was founded by Alain Thiénot in 1985, and is now run by by his children, Garance and Stanislas.

Thiénot describes Le 3 as “an immersive journey through Champagne tradition and innovation, with restored cellars, interactive exhibits, and an open-air garden”.

The venue also includes a vinothèque with Champagnes going back to the first vintage expression made by the house from the 1985 harvest.

Le 3 - a 10m-minute walk from Reims Station - also has a Champagne rooftop bar and spa, and an upcoming  boutique hotel with 12 rooms, news hub drinks business reports.

Maison Thienot says its purpose is to "provide an immersive and educational wine tourism experience centred on Champagne Thiénot".

The target audience is anyone interested in Champagne, from novices to aficionados, with options for both guided and self-guided exploration.

Check out this link: https://www.champagne-thienot.com/en/wine-tourism-experience/cellar-tours-at-champagne-thienot/