Winestate Magazine

Launched in 1978, Winestate is one of the world’s longest running wine magazines, featuring over 140 pages on all things vinous from around the globe. Winestate tastes and rates over 10,000 wines a year, making Winestate the leading authority on Australian and New Zealand wines.

Winestate Magazine

editorial

briefs

nzbriefs • what’s happening in the NZ wine scene

FIZZ DOMINATES AS PRODUCTION BUBBLES ALONG

FORCES OF NATURE

GREAT DANES TAP INTO BREWING HISTORY

THOSE IN THE KNOWE CHOOSE CRAIGIE

Finders Keepers • A chance discovery lead a sydney-based family to take over and redevelop Adelaide hills winery Mt Bera.

NURTURING SPIRITS OF THE PAST

hong kong grapevine

DRAGON GOWN RESTAURANT

DRAGON SEAL RESTAURANT & BAR

brisbane grapevine

sydney grapevine

melbourne grapevine

adelaide grapevine

WHAT’S IT WORTH? WINESTATE’S AUCTION PRICE GUIDE • Prices listed are exceptional auction highs and do not include buyer’s premium.

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ADELAIDE HILLS

ADELAIDE HILLS • What’s up in them there hills? Well you may ask, and looking at the great consistency of results in this wine judging, a lot to like! As vineyards mature here and winemakers come to grips with the ups and downs of the terroir and cool climate conditions the quality has risen dramatically. See here for yourself.

YARRA VALLEY

YARRA VALLEY, TASMANIA & SOUTHERN VICTORIA • A nice selection of wines from these cool climate regions. What do these offer? For a start elegance, often lower alcohol and usually great drinkability, especially with food. Whilst the big blockbusters often win the show, these wines often win the drinkers!

RIVER REGIONS - SA, VIC & NSW

RIVER REGIONS • This region is where you can get great quality for your money, but increasingly there are some gems that would do well in any tasting regardless of price. Overall these should be checked out as your “house wines.” Enjoy!

SWEET WHITE & FORTIFIED • Honestly, why wouldn’t you have a sip of a lovely sweet wine with your dessert, or as your dessert? And our makers do it so well. For the fortifieds if you don’t have a bottle of Aussie fortified in your pool room (or other room) shame on you. These are world class and should be revered!

SOUTH ISLAND (NELSON & CANTERBURY)

SOUTH ISLAND (NELSON & CANTERBURY) • A small but extremely high-quality tasting, in which the South Island’s two smaller wine regions proved their ability to produce classy whites from riesling, pinot gris, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, together with complex, savoury pinot noirs. The tasting also uncovered auspicious examples of albarino and syrah, and some top-flight rosés.

MICHAEL COOPER RECENT RELEASES • North Island wines shone in the latest batch of recent releases, accounting for eight out of the top 10 wines. Chardonnays, syrahs and blends of red Bordeaux varieties were predictable, but the standouts included a memorable marriage of two Italian grapes, sangiovese and montepulciano, suggesting that New Zealand’s potential for classic Italian (and Spanish) varieties is yet to be fully explored.

ORGANIC WINES • Another year of lovely wines to taste. The quality overall seems to be getting better and better, with more consistency and more highlights. In the early days it was more about the procedure, now it is thankfully as much about the winemaking. Congratulations to our worthy overall winners from Australia & New Zealand, 919 Wines and Villa Maria.

NEW RELEASES • A very nice strike rate here with consistency the key. Whilst there are some "out there" wines at the moment they are not in this tasting. Winemakers are again emphasising that "balance" is what it is all...