Posts Tagged barossa valley

Channel 9’s Sumptuous: 2009 Landmark Australia Tutorial

Posted by Lucy in About on September 17th, 2009

Channel 9’s Sumptuous TV which showcases the best food, wine and travel experiences in Australia, recently featured the 2009 Landmark Australia Tutorial on its program.

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From Independent Weekly: World wine experts visit Barossa Valley

Posted by Lucy in Buzz on June 2nd, 2009

Adelaide’s own Independent Weekly writes about the start of the inaugural Landmark Australia tutorial yesterday.

Twelve of the world’s most influential wine experts have kicked off a week-long tutorial on Australian wines with the first stop in the Barossa Valley.

More than 200 Australian drops will be sampled and debated as part of the inaugural Landmark Australia Tutorial.

Selected from more than 130 applicants, the 12 participants from as far as Finland, the United States, Ireland and China will be given the opportunity to taste several sought after rarities, including the first vintage of Penfolds Grange (1955).

Tutors will guide participants through Australia’s winemaking history and showcase the best of the Barossa’s local produce, partnered with a new range of alternative varietals and sustainably-grown wines.

With tutors including wine producer Michael Hill Smith, wine writer James Halliday and 2008 Australian winemaker of the year Louisa Rose, Wine Australia general manager Paul Henry said the tutorial would be the most authoritative and extensive exploration of Australian wine undertaken.

“The intention of the Landmark Australia Tutorial is to create a forum for people to discover and debate the voice of our top Australian Wines,” Mr Henry said in a statement.

“It should serve as a rallying point for informed wine opinion, and aspires to be the most influential residential wine course in the world.

“The world should be much more familiar with the contribution Australia can make as a producer of fine wine.”

The week-long tutorial, which began today, will travel across NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

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From Jamie Goode’s blog: The Landmark Tutorial, Day 1

Posted by Lucy in Buzz on June 1st, 2009

Jamie Goode, one of the 12 participants, updates his blog about Day 1 of the Landmark Australia Tutorial.

I’m now in the Barossa, staying at The Louise one of the best places I’ve ever stayed), and about two-thirds through day one of the Landmark Tutorial. It is already very exciting, and we’ve only really just got going.

Last night (Sunday) the twelve of us, plus some of the tutors, met for dinner at the Sparrow Kitchen and Bar in Adelaide. It was a relaxed affair, with really nice food and a good selection of wines that Tony Jordan chose off the list. This included the Innocent Bystander Pinot Gris 2008 (fresh, complex, interesting); Crawford River Young Vines Riesling 2006 Victoria (lovely expressive, pure style); Corinna’s Olive’s Taranga Vineyards Shiraz Cabernet 2005 McLaren Vale (dense and spicy with good definition); De Bortoli Pinot Noir 2006 Yarra Valley (quite green and savoury with bright cherry fruit); Spinifex Esprit 2007 Barossa (lovely meaty, pure dark fruits) and the Parker Coonawarra Terra Rossa 2005 (benchmark Coonawarra Cabernet).

awri2-744566It was early to bed, but in my jet-lagged state I slept only fitfully. This morning began with a session at the Australian Wine Research Institute where we were treated to a taste of one of their Advanced Wine Assessment Courses. These normally last four days, and judges’ scores are collected in and analysed. We had just a couple of hours, so did a mini-AWAC, involving two flights of ten wines each: the first all Riesling, the second all Shiraz. Interestingly, several of the wines were replicated in each flight (that is, we were given the same wine more than once), as part of the assessment process.

After we’d tasted, we all had to call out our scores. Some of the replicates were easy to spot – others were much harder. It’s a really useful exercise. Doing this sort of process helps you get to know how your palate performs in this type of setting.

awri1-770921We finished late morning, and headed off to the Barossa, where, after a light lunch, we began session 1 of the Tutorial. Led by Michael Hill Smith, Andrew Caillard and Tony Jordan, it was a look at Australia’s ‘regional classics’. The tasting component consisted of some very smart wines, but even better is yet to come. With dinner - which I have a feeling will be very special - we’ll be looking at ‘Australia’s Fine Wine’.

Enough for now. I’m feeling pretty tired and I need to make use of the wonderful bath I have in my suite of rooms before pre-dinner drinks at 6.30 pm.

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From Food Week: Australia hosts wine-tasting roadshow

Posted by Lucy in Buzz on June 1st, 2009

The following article appeared today on the Food Week website under the title, “Australia hosts wine-tasting roadshow”

Twelve of the world’s most influential wine media and educators arrive in the Barossa Valley this week on the first leg of a national tour of Australia’s wine regions.

Wine Australia is hosting the visit, which they describe as the industry’s “most significant” investment to date in spreading the word about Australian fine wines to an international audience.

The program will also include an insight into the nation’s gourmet foods, hospitality and tourism.

The group are currently in the Barossa Valley for five days before travelling further afield on regional tours across South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

The inaugural Landmark Australia Tutorial will comprise more than 200 of Australia’s finest wines, presented by the country’s leading winemakers and commentators, and accompanied by an original series of seminars devised uniquely for the event.

Anticipated highlights include an ‘historic’ masterclass featuring sought-after wines such as the 1954 Seppelt Great Western Hermitage K72 Shiraz, the first vintage of Penfolds Grange (1955) and an extremely rare 1955 Wynns Coonawarra Estate ‘Michael’ Hermitage.

Paul Henry, Wine Australia’s general manager of market development, said: “The intention of the Landmark Australia Tutorial is to create a forum for people to discover and debate the voice of our top Australian wines. It should serve as a rallying point for informed wine opinion, and aspires to be the most influential residential wine
course in the world. It certainly promises to be the most authoritative and extensive exploration of Australian fine wine yet undertaken.”

The 248 wines chosen to articulate the Australian fine wine story were nominated in collaboration with the guest tutors for each masterclass, and are intended to capture a sense of Australia’s winemaking history, as well as to give an indication of Australia’s intended future direction in terms of style, varietal expression, technical development and regional signature.

“The world should be much more familiar with the contribution Australia can make as a producer of fine wine, and also as a leading exponent of exceptional cuisine, cutting edge hospitality and inspiring regional tourism,” Henry concluded.

Anyone around the world can watch and respond with their thoughts throughout the week, by contributing to Wine Australia’s blog or via Twitter.

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A Bold Case for Australian Excellence

Posted by Lucy in About on May 31st, 2009

Media Release

Sunday May 31, 2009

Monday 1st June marks the wine industry’s most significant investment to date in telling Australia’s fine wine story to an international audience.  Aimed at celebrating Australian excellence not just in wine, but also in terms of food, hospitality and tourism, 12 of the world’s most influential wine media and educators will be hosted by Wine Australia in the Barossa Valley for five days, before travelling further afield on regional tours across South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

The inaugural Landmark Australia Tutorial will comprise more than 200 of Australia’s finest wines, presented by the country’s leading winemakers and commentators, and accompanied by an original series of seminars devised uniquely for the event.  Anticipated highlights include an ‘Historic’ masterclass featuring sought-after wines such as the 1954 Seppelt Great Western Hermitage K72 Shiraz, the first vintage of Penfolds Grange (1955) and an extremely rare 1955 Wynns Coonawarra Estate ‘Michael’ Hermitage.  A Slow Food/Slow Wine evening also promises to be an inspiring experience, showcasing the best of the Barossa’s local produce partnered with Australia’s new wave of alternative varietals and sustainably-grown wines.

Paul Henry, Wine Australia’s General Manager Market Development, commented: “The intention of the Landmark Australia Tutorial is to create a forum for people to discover and debate the voice of our top Australian wines.  It should serve as a rallying point for informed wine opinion, and aspires to be the most influential residential wine course in the world. It certainly promises to be the most authoritative and extensive exploration of Australian fine wine yet undertaken.”

The 248 wines chosen to articulate the Australian fine wine story were nominated in collaboration with the guest tutors for each masterclass, and are intended to capture a sense of Australia’s winemaking history, as well as to give an indication of Australia’s intended future direction in terms of style, varietal expression, technical development and regional signature.

“The world should be much more familiar with the contribution Australia can make as a producer of fine wine, and also as a leading exponent of exceptional cuisine, cutting edge hospitality and inspiring regional tourism,” Henry concluded.

Anyone around the world can watch and respond with their thoughts throughout the week, by contributing to Wine Australia’s blog or via Twitter (@winehero)

NOTES:
The Landmark Australia Tutorial will take place at The Louise in the Barossa, between June 1 and June 5 2009.

A complete schedule of the week’s masterclasses can be found online along with regularly updated postings of the wines tasted, dinner menus and interviews with the participants.

The inaugural Landmark Australia Tutorial participants are: Ms Essi Avellan MW (Finland), Mr Tyler Colman (United States), Mr Jamie Goode (United Kingdom), Julia Harding MW (United Kingdom), Ms Yukari Iwashiro (Japan), Mr Frank Kämmer MS (Germany), Ms Rebecca Leung (Hong Kong), Mr Dermot Nolan MW (Ireland), Mr Hwee Peng Lim CSW (Singapore), Ms Barbara Philip MW (Canada), Mr Sean Razee MS (United States), Ms Bell - Pei Tang (China)

The participants were required to apply to the Tutorial Executive Committee in writing last year, and were selected from over 130 formal applications.

Tutors Dr Tony Jordan, Mr Andrew Caillard MW and Mr Michael Hill Smith AM MW, will direct the course and represent an authoritative and yet highly contemporary Australian viewpoint. In addition, winemakers and industry commentators will be on-hand as guest tutors to discuss highlighted varietal styles, the origins of classic expressions, and new areas of winemaking interest that will undoubtedly define Australia’s future landscape.  A full list of tutors is available online.

Wine Australia is the brand under which the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation, a Government organisation established to provide strategic support to the Australian wine sector, delivers its international marketing programme.

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