Category Archives: AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA

Tahbilk

The estate at Tahbilk is pretty big and they have a large range of wines. We spent time with Alister Purbrick who chatted to us about the history of the estate and how the harvest has been going for 2016.

The unusual thing about Tahbilk is they run old traditional winemaking techniques and practices for the red wines but have a new world approach for the white wines. The feel of history is everywhere around Tahbilk from the vines to the cellar and it makes a great visit to absorb this history as you roam around.

The favourite wine on this tasting was the Tahbilk Marsanne 2015. Tahbilk holds the largest and oldest single holding of the Marsanne variety in the world.

Tahbilk Winery Australia. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Tahbilk Estate sign. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Party at Tahbilk. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Eye in the cellar at Tahbilk. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Old vines Shiraz at Tahbilk.
Vines planted in 1860. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Barrels in the cellar at Tahbilk. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Old machinery on display at Tahbilk. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Lunch on the bridge at Tahbilk. © Montager Productions Ltd.

More info about the project or copyright of images is on the about page.

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You can also visit our alphabetical favourite wines page.

AUSTRALIA, Pyrenees

Summerfield

We received a recommendation to drop into the Summerfield winery when in the Pyrenees region. Summerfield are located in the small town of Moonambel and we were glad we dropped in even though it was a brief stop.

We had a very warm welcome from Mark Summerfield who on the last day of their 2016 harvest showed us around the winery and let us taste his wines. We saw the last bin of Shiraz come into the winery for processing. Even in the short time we spent with Mark and his team it was obvious there is a real passion and love for making wines. This is demonstrated by the family series Mark created and which is only available to his wine club members.

Our favourite wine here was the Family Series Sahsah Shiraz 2014.

Summerfield Merlot. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Falling grapes at Summerfield. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Owl at Summerfield Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Summerfield Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Summerfield Winery Australia. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Last delivery of the harvest for Summerfield. © Montager Productions Ltd.

More info about the project or copyright of images is on the about page.

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You can also visit our alphabetical favourite wines page.

AUSTRALIA, Pyrenees

Dalwhinnie

Before arriving we read about Dalwhinnie and its amphitheatre setting and it didn’t disappoint. The spectacular rolling hills and views make it a pretty stunning place to park yourself at the cellar door for a tasting on the terrace.

David Jones, the owner, spent time with us and walked around the undulating vineyards where we sampled some of the individual wines nestled within the actual vines that created the wine. David kindly talked us through the differences of each block and answered our questions.

Our favourite wine here was The Eagle Shiraz 2012. Tasting it next to the vines with David was such a great experience. David also let us try his son’s first barrel of wine in the cellar. It was a Sangiovese and was also fantastic. Great winemaking is obviously in the blood.

View across the vines at Dalwhinnie Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
David Jones in a vineyard at Dalwhinnie Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Old Eagle Shiraz vines at Dalwhinnie Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Dalwhinnie grapes. © Montager Productions Ltd.
A Shiraz vine post at Dalwhinnie. © Montager Productions Ltd.
David Jones in the Dalwhinnie cellar. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Colours from a Dalwhinnie wine label. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Dalwhinnie wine bottles. © Montager Productions Ltd.
The Eagle Shiraz at Dalwhinnie Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
View from Dalwhinnie Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.

More info about the project or copyright of images is on the about page.

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You can also visit our alphabetical favourite wines page.

AUSTRALIA, Coonawarra

Bellwether

We had a tip off from a winemaker in Margaret River to go and see Sue Bell at Bellwether Wines when we got to Coonawarra so we did. It was well worth it. The onsite campsite enabled us to get stuck into helping as well.

There is a really good vibe about her arty cellar door and winery. As well as making a Coonawarra Cabernet she is producing some rare Australian variety wines such as Bianco d’Alessano which she said will only make 100 cases.

The cellar door is all open plan with a tasting area as well as a dining area that opens up into the cellar where barrels are aging and wine is fermenting. She occasionally hosts artist exhibitions which gives this unique cellar door a very warm and creative touch. Her hard work has paid off she was the ASVO Wine Maker of the Year 2014. We are talking true boutique wine making here which we were fortunate to see at full speed when Sue, Steve Brown (winemaker) and Graham (volunteer) were pressing her 2016 grapes with a manual pressing machine .

Sue not only makes wines she runs a campsite, art and cookery events and is mum to a 6 year old. She likes a good laugh and we had a great evening with her, Steve and Graham. Sue’s great character, big smile and superb wines will mean her wines will be harder to get hold of as time goes by.

Juice from the press at Bellwether Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Squished in the press. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Lighthouse tea cosy. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Bellwether banner. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Art all around Bellwether Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Sculpture at Bellwether Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Corn in the sun. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Nice light at Bellwether Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Windmill at Bellwether Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Inside the winery at Bellwether Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.

More info about the project or copyright of images is on the about page.

You can also visit our alphabetical favourite wines page.

AUSTRALIA, Coonawarra

Wynns

After a stay in the quiet town of Coonawarra we headed along the A66 Riddoch Highway and visited winemakers Sue Hodder and Sarah Pidgeon at the well known Wynns Coonawarra Estate.

We did an interview with Sue and then Sarah spent time with us out in the vineyards and specifically looking at the terra rossa soils. John Riddoch planted the first vineyards here in 1891 and the Wynns brothers, Samuel and David, purchased the original vineyards and winery in 1951.

The cellar door here is set up well for visitors and you can even put on a white lab jacket and make your own blend.

Our favourite wine at the tasting here was the John Riddoch Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon 2012.

The Gables. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Sarah Pidgeon. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Cabernet Sauvignon. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Soils and stone. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Soil types. © Montager Productions Ltd.

You can buy our images here on the Alamy stock photo agency page.

More info on the film is at www.vintagesixteen.com 

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You can also visit our favourite wines page.

AUSTRALIA, Barossa Valley

Two Hands

Another good tasting session was had at the Two Hands cellar door before meeting the General Manager, Phil Kightley, who showed us around the winery and some of the vineyards. We did a quick interview with owner, Michael Twelftree.

Our favourite wine of the visit was the Two Hands Secret Block Shiraz 2014 Single Vineyard.

Two Hands glass. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Two Hands Winery. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Pickers at Two Hands. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Vines at Two Hands. © Montager Productions Ltd.
New vineyards coming. © Montager Productions Ltd.

More info about the project or copyright of images is on the about page.

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You can also visit our alphabetical favourite wines page.

AUSTRALIA, Clare Valley

Grosset

We did a film shoot at the Grosset Wines Gaia vineyard which turned out to be a pretty incredible experience. A few days earlier we did a terrific interview with Jeffrey Grosset at his winery in Auburn. After hearing about the Gaia vineyard we knew we had to film it and get some aerial footage which was swiftly arranged.

We only tasted two of the Grosset range but loved the Polish Hill Riesling 2015.

Sunrise at Grosset Gaia vineyard in Clare Valley. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Arriving to harvest at Grosset Gaia vineyard. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Grosset Gaia vineyard in Clare Valley. © Montager Productions Ltd.
The Gaia Vines Short Film
Building ruins at Grosset Gaia vineyard. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Workers harvesting at Grosset Gaia vineyard. © Montager Productions Ltd.

More info about the project or copyright of images is on the about page.

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You can also visit our alphabetical favourite wines page.

AUSTRALIA, Eden Valley

Pewsey Vale

We spent some great time with Louisa Rose of Pewsey Vale and Yalumba Wines. The moment you meet Louisa and start talking about wines you just know you are talking to a talented individual. Her knowledge and focus accompanied with her passion for winemaking is outstanding and comes through in the wines she makes.

The most amazing rainbow appeared across the Eden Valley for a short while when we were interviewing Louisa in the vineyard. It was so large and clear. We tried to capture it quickly as it didn’t hang around for long.

There was a tranquil serenity about the Pewsey Vale vineyards here which was evidenced in the songs of the birds as the sun came up. You can see why the very old Riesling vines here are so happy in such a spot.

Our favourite wine was the Pewsey Vale Museum Reserve The Contours Riesling 2010. The Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling was also pretty special even if it was 8am and raining slightly. A special place indeed.

Rainbow at Pewsey Vale vineyard. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Sunrise at Pewsey Vale vineyard. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Louisa Rose. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Pewsey Vale Riesling. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Red wine in the Yalumba laboratory. © Montager Productions Ltd.
The Yalumba winery tasting laboratory. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Yalumba barrels. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Yalumba Winery Barossa Valley. © Montager Productions Ltd.
View of tank at Yalumba winery. © Montager Productions Ltd.

More info about the project or copyright of images is on the about page.

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You can also visit our alphabetical favourite wines page.

AUSTRALIA, Clare Valley

Taylors

While in the Clare Valley for filming we dropped in to Taylors Wines for a tasting. It is still a family firm but quite a large producer. When heading up to our film shoot in the dark at 05.30am the lights from Taylors illuminated it like a mini city in all the darkness as we drove up to one of the higher point in the Clare Valley. The castle style winery and cellar door was quite unique.

Our favourite wine was the Taylors Tempranillo 2015.

Australian flag flying at Taylors Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Taylors wine bottle. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Taylors wine box. © Montager Productions Ltd.
Reed sculpture at Taylors Wines. © Montager Productions Ltd.

More info about the project or copyright of images is on the about page.

You can follow us on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or Pinterest.

You can also visit our alphabetical favourite wines page.