Prowein 2015 – People and Wines

Australia

My Prowein’s focus 2015 was Australia. I have not been able to taste all wines from all wineries, but I took the time to taste as many as I could.
Most Europeans, Germans are no exception, think Shiraz if you mention Australian wines. But Australia is a vast continent with crisp Riesling [1] from cool Tasmania island, with noble sweet Semillon from hot Riverina region, and nearly any other grape variety you can think of.
Since more than 200 years people from Europe migrate to Australia, coming not only from Great Britain and Irland, but also from Italy, Germany, Greece, Croatia, you name it. And they brought their grapes, from Sangiovese to Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), from Traminer to Sauvignon Blanc.
Today it’s still the same passion for wine which enlightens the faces of Australian vintners and winemakers with smiles, the same passion which caused their ancestors to plant vines. Just have a look!

: Sidewood Estate, Cassandra Inglis, heavy but very good Shiraz

: Wakefield, Neil Hadley (MW), world-class 2010 The Visionary Cab

: Sirromet, Jennifer McDonald and Adam Chapman with two of their top wines

: Tidswell Wines, Ben Tidswell, collection from easy drinking to high-end wines

: Henry’s Drive Vignerons, Andrew Moore and Kim Longbottom, their Shiraz wines are excellent

: Windorie (biodynamic), Jason O’Dea, not only produces The Mill top series but also the very good Pig In The House wines

: Firstdrop Wines, Matt Gant with a large collection of wines in many styles from a lot of varieties

: Tyrrell’s Wines, Grant Bellvé, from a very good collection the 2010 Semillion Winemaker’s Selection Vat 1 is outstanding

: Treasury Wine Estates owns three of Australia’s top wineries, Penfolds, Wynns and Wolf Blass

: Pizzini Wines, Fred and Carlo Pizzini are definitely into Italian varieties, their sweet 2007 Per Gli Angeli is as close to perfection as you can get, breathtaking

: Gatt Wines, Ray Gatt, from fun to outstandig Shiraz, everything is there

: Jacob’s Creek, Nick James-Martin and Angus Barnes having fun presenting excellent Shiraz and Cab finished in Scottish and Irish whisky/ey barrels

: Angove, Mark Ramm, showed James Halliday Wine Companion 2015, no rating below 90, made me suspicious, well, essentially I had to agree

: De Bortoli Wines, large, still family owned company is best known for its award winning Sauternes sytle sweet wine

: Fox Creek Wines, James Carman, one of my favorite Australian wineries since years

: Heartland, Nick Keukenmeester, very good to excellent collection

: Battle of Bosworth, Louise Hemsley-Smith and her excellent Amarone style White Boar

: Gletzer Wines, Peter Lokan presents Amon-Ra, one of my favorite Shiraz wines

[1] There is also a chapter about Australian wines, especially about Riesling, in my 2012 Prowein article (in German). And there is another about an Australian Shiraz (in German).