Posts Tagged Landmark Australia
Australia’s fine wine must lead on international stage
The future of Australia’s wine industry rests on its ability to promote its fine wine credentials to the world, according to one of the country’s most respected commentators.
Speaking at the conclusion of the 2010 Landmark Australia Tutorial in the Yarra Valley, James Halliday, AM, said the industry to date had not relied on “fine wine” to promote itself internationally and this was crucial to its success going forward.
Wine Australia’s 2010 Landmark Australia Tutorial brought together 14 of the world’s most influential wine experts and educators, who undertook a week of tasting and masterclasses with a view to prompting a new sense of international recognition and acclaim for Australian wine.
The event showcased more than 230 wines from across the country in 16 themed sessions presented by leading figures in the industry, with the aim of changing international perceptions of Australian fine wine.
“The Australian wine industry has worked hard to get where it is today, but we all know it is currently facing a range of issues,” Mr Halliday, AM, said.
“We must not give up on those export markets we have cultivated and it is also of vital importance that events such as the Landmark Australia Tutorial continues. Promoting our fine wine segment is the way to go.”
The participants at this year’s Landmark Australia Tutorial hailed from a range of key markets, including the UK, Canada, United States, Denmark, Germany, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and - for the first time - Australia.
During the event, participants tasted approximately 268 years’ of vintage, more than $40,000* worth of Australian wine and were educated by 22 winemakers and presenters.
UK participant and international wine judge, Sarah Ahmed, said Landmark provided an exciting opportunity to review the varied landscape that is Australian wine “in all its glory”.
“The bold classics upon which Australia forged its reputation and which have been, and remain, very effective ambassadors for Australia, but also an emerging generation of “quiet” wines. We listened, we tasted and we savoured the diversity, the individuality and boldness of vision which mark out the wines of its finest regions and makers,” she concluded.
Thomas Woolrych, from Direct Wines in the United Kingdom, echoed the view that the Landmark Australia Tutorial captured the imagination of 14 individuals from around the world.
“The Australian wine industry is still working its way through its fine wine proposition, and this event is an ideal way to promote the best of the best,” he said.
Wine Australia General Manager Market Development Paul Henry said the objective of the Landmark Australia Tutorial was to create new insights and opportunities for Australia’s fine wine segment, thereby creating positive momentum for the whole of the category’s positioning and reputation.
“The aim of the Landmark Australia Tutorial is to positively engage a new generation of international wine influencers, and provoke new opinions about Australia wine,” he said.
“This event is a substantial and vital investment by Wine Australia and the broader wine industry towards reshaping the way the world views Australia’s fine wines.
“We have had tremendous support from industry representatives who gave their time to attend the event, as well as selecting some of Australia’s most historic and best wines for tasting. For an exercise dedicated to fine wine and excellence, it has still displayed the Australian hallmarks of collegiate endeavour and camaraderie.”
The Landmark Australia Tutorial 2010 has been made possible by the generous support of Wine Australia’s Export Partners – OI, Amcor Australasia, JFHillebrand, Collotype Labels and Qantas, as well as additional support from Riedel, the State Government of Victoria, Yarra Valley Australia and Daylesford and Hepburn Mineral Springs Company.
*retail value of wine as sourced by Langton’s
Please click here to download an overview of the Landmark Australia Tutorial 2010.
Landmark Australia Tutorial 2010: a recap of day 3
Taken from corkd.com, Jon Troutman, one of the 2010 Landmark Australia Tutorial participants writes about the standouts for the Historic masterclass:
In a day that started with breaktaking tastings of Australian Semillon and Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (blind), it was the third and final Master Class tasting truly stole the show. Day 3 of the Landmark Australia Tutorial featured a Master Class session of Australia’s most historically significant wines. The 1955 Penfolds Grange Hermitage kicked off the tasting line up of 20 wines spanning 55 vintages of Australia’s modern day wine industry. Led by esteemed Australian wine authorities James Halliday, Andrew Caillard MW and Dr. Tony Jordan, the session served as a timeline of country’s greatest viticultural achievements.
While the entire line up of wines proved nothing short of mind-blowing, there were a couple of bottles that really sang to me for a variety of different reasons. The 1986 Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz from Hunter Valley again challenged the notion that even top notch Australian wines don’t age as gracefully as their French counterparts. I wouldn’t hesitate to put this wine up against the top 20+ year old bottlings of Chave or Jaboulet Hermitage. Stewed black cherries, black pepper, leather and top soil aromas give way to a rich palate of black fruits, solid tannin structure and acidity that keeps the wine fresh. At nearly a quarter decade old, this wine still has at least another 25 years ahead of it.The 1996 Three Valleys Shiraz from Barossa Valley is a wine that represents the glory days of Barossa Shiraz during the late 90’s and early 2000’s. This is right up Parker’s alley, with creamy black fruits, big doses of oak, candy-like richness and ripe tannins that carry on for a minute plus. You don’t have to like this wine (I didn’t really), but it represents a certain style of Australian wine that is undeniably appreciable.If you’re thinking that my prior note is representative of all high end Barossa Shiraz, you’ve clearly never tasted the 1998 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz. Pure black fruits, iron and sage leaf jump out of the glass, with a medium-full bodied palate of cassis, sour plums, spice and black pepper covered figs on the finish. Balance is the name of this wines game, and it just was crowned MVP. Eye opening juice for sure, this wine made me rethink the way I view Barossa Valley as a whole.
Masterclass: Australia’s Regional Classics
A Regional Journey
The first masterclass of the 2010 Landmark Australia Tutorial is a context-setting narrative from Michael Hill-Smith MW from Shaw & Smith, taking participants on a regional journey through established and emerging signature varietals and styles. It’s interesting to comapre expressions of the same grape from different wine regions across Australia, and what this tasting aims to do is establish clear benchmark expressions of distinct regional character.
“The emergence of quality Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy is one of the most exciting developments of my wine life. In Australia, as in other countries, it is down to the obsessive study and work of a number of fantatics - Halliday; Farr; Jones; Franklin…”
Today’s tasting was the vinous equivalent of warming-up before the Grand Final!
The Wines - Australia’s Regional Classics
1. 2009 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling, Clare Valley
2. 2002 Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling, Eden Valley
3. 1998 Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon, Hunter Valley
4. 2006 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River
5. 2009 Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills
6. 2007 By Farr Sangreal Pinot Noir, Geelong
7. 2007 Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River
8. 2006 Balnaves of Coonawarra The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
9. 2008 S.C. Pannell Shiraz/Grenache, McLaren Vale
10. 2006 Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz, Hunter Valley
11. 2007 Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz, Grampians
12. 2006 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley
13. 2007 Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz, Barossa Valley
14. 2007 De Bortoli Noble One Semillon, Riverina
Off piste varieties
The Wine Detective’s (aka Sarah Ahmed) Ozzie Odyssey at Cutler & Co: off piste varieties
Matt Skinner, Cutler & Co
I survived the onset of jetlag for long enough to enjoy dinner at Cutler & Co, the hot and happening Melbourne restaurant de jour, whose wine list is overseen by Matt Skinner, for Brits (everyone actually!), Jamie Oliver’s wine man at Fifteen.
As you can see, Skinner (pictured) had to sing for his supper – he’d been charged with choosing our dinner wines. His aim? To showcase some deadly serious but fun winemaking talents as a cheeky overture before this week’s classic kit. Here’s a quick word on my favourites.
De Bortoli Reserve Release Riesling 2010 (Yarra Valley) – as Steve Webber cheerfully admits, Riesling shouldn’t work in the Yarra, but it does. Sarah Fagin did vintage at Leitz in the Rheingau and for Webber, the secret to this off-dry Riesling is getting enough dappled light in the canopy to keep the focus on the fruit and avoid phenolics and second, getting the numbers (sugar/acid) out of your head – just focusing on the balance in the glass, which was exemplary (7g/l residual sugar). Quite Pfalz like with the talc of a warm climate rizza on the nose together with greengage and stone fruits, especially on the palate, which is round and a little earthy. Very good, good balance.
Arrivo Nebbiolo Rose 2009, (Adelaide Hills) – it’s about the clasp of (ripe) tannin, a lovely firmly textured, dry rose with rose petal and dark chocolate hints to its pretty cherry fruit. Tensile, with good freshness – just loved that texture. From an elevated vineyard at 450m, fermented on the skins, 4 months on the lees.
William Downie Pinot Noir No S02 2010, (Gippsland) – 100% stems provide antioxidant ballasting tannins for this unsulphured Pinot Noir. Though quite stemmy on the nose at first, it soon blows off, revealing a super pretty floral bright nose and palate, bright and savoury actually with a tang of cool clay to its delicate red cherry fruit. Downie uses old oak, native yeasts and niether fines nor filters. In a word, dewy.
Freeman Rondinella Corvina Secco 2005, (Hilltops NSW) - my favourite wine of the night, a beautifully textured, digestible red made from Valpolicella vareties which have been dried in solar powered prune kiln (of course!). Very Italian in its slightly sour dark plum/cherry/berry fruit, liquorice spice, tealeaf and a fresh espresso edge. A well balanced finish is long and lingering, textured with a fine spine of tannin.
By the way, the food was great too - dense, chewy, but not too chewy rye bread, King George whiting, prawn vinaigrette, broccolini and guanciale for starter, followed by pillowy sweet potatoe gnocci with almond crumble. I nosedived by cheese course…matchsticks at the ready now for the first tutorial!”
Australia’s most valuable wines showcased to the world
A selection of some of Australia’s most historic – and valuable – wine will be showcased this week during the Landmark Australia Tutorial.
In one masterclass alone, wines to the value of $40,000* will be presented to 14 of the world’s most influential wine educators and media.
The historic masterclass will draw together an extraordinary and historical line-up of Australia’s best, across a range of vintages and releases, with the wines being unveiled on the day.
The Landmark Australia Tutorial, managed by Wine Australia, consists of a series of tastings and masterclasses charting the development of Australia’s fine wine story.
The five-day event will showcase more than 230 wines from across the country in 16 themed sessions presented by leading figures in the Australian wine industry, including Michael Hill-Smith AM MW, Tim Kirk, Jeffrey Grosset, James Halliday AM, and Andrew Caillard MW to name a few.
Wine Australia General Manager Market Development Paul Henry said the objective of the Landmark Australia Tutorial was to create new insights and opportunities for Australia’s fine wine segment.
“The Landmark Australia Tutorial was held for the first time last year and it served to positively engage a new generation of international wine influencers, and certainly provoked new opinions about Australia wine,” he said.
“This year we have an expanded group of participants from our key markets of the UK, Europe and US, as well as several guests from key emerging markets such as China, and two home-grown talents from Australia.
“This event is a substantial and vital investment in reshaping the way the world views Australia’s fine wines.”
During the week, participants will be taken on a journey of Australia’s fine wines, with masterclasses covering topics such as regional classics, sparkling, Semillon, Shiraz, blends, Riesling and Chardonnay.
“We have had tremendous support from industry representatives who have given their time to attend the event, as well as selecting some of Australia’s most historic and best wines for tasting,” Mr Henry said.
“Not only does the Landmark Australia Tutorial showcase some of our best wines, it also highlights local stories, winemakers and produce, and this year a selection of Yarra Valley restaurants and wineries will be involved in the event.
“Landmark also puts the spotlight on key tourism regions, with the participants travelling to other wine regions around Australia before and after Landmark, making it a genuine celebration of the best Australia has to offer.”
The Landmark Australia Tutorial takes place from the 20th – 24th September in the Yarra Valley. Visit www.wineaustralia.com/landmark for more details and remember to use ##LAT10 and #apluswine when tweeting during the event.
AUSTRALIA: Whats the story?
Australia’s new promotional campaign focuses on the backgrounds to the country’s brands. It’s a smart and apt approach, reckons Penny Boothman.
When it comes to marketing premium wine, we’re used to hearing about terroir, the age of the vines, the history of the winery and the winemaking know-how – not so much about the winemakers themselves. But a couple of new initiatives from Australian producers are changing all that.
Australia made its name on the international wine scene as a fun place full of wine-loving eccentrics who didn’t take themselves, or their wines, too seriously. Different, irreverent, taking wine to the masses. As brilliantly as this worked for the popular premium sector, it didn’t fit comfortably with the push to high-end premium that inevitably followed.
Unfortunately, once Australia started trying to sell sensible, premium wines, it quickly began to look a bit boring. The challenge now is to get Australia’s image back, without losing the premium positioning.
A “regionality” initiative was a logical next step – an attempt to remove Australia’s image as a source of homogeneous, high-volume, multi-regional blends and drive home the genuinely unique characters of the country’s many, and varied, wine regions. The snag is that some of Australia’s best wines are multi-regional blends – Penfolds Grange, for example – which blurs the focus a bit.
One thing Grange does have, in common with all other great wines of Australia, is a personality behind it. There can be few better-known figures in the wine world than Peter Gago. From Chester Osborne to Charlie Melton, Peter Lehmann to Bruce Tyrrell, pretty much any winery you think of has an entertaining and articulate winemaker somewhere behind the scenes. These are just a few of the names that are already well known in the UK market; you’ll be meeting many more if the latest Australian campaign delivers half of what it is promising.
There’s been a shift in thinking when it comes to marketing premium Australian wine. The marketing brains have realised that quality should be a given and is no longer enough to sell wine – not for Australia, and not for anyone – so they now have to redefine what makes their wines worth buying. And this is where “A+” comes in.
The “A+ Australian wine – every one has a story” campaign was launched in June this year. The promotion uses short, catchy tales of good times, high achievement, and humour about Australian winemakers to remind consumers of Australia’s fun side, and tempt them back to the wines. Participation in the web-based initiative was free for wineries, just as long as they had an engaging enough story to tell.
People power
Lucy Anderson, marketing and communications manager at Wine Australia, explains: “Over the last five years I’ve had the opportunity to meet wine professionals and consumers from around the world, and what they love most about Australian wine is the people and their stories. In marketing terms this is our ‘key attribute’ and something that can be communicated in a number of ways, but A+ has been developed to take this message to consumers in an aspirational and engaging manner.
“Fine wines are made and enjoyed by people around the world. Where Australian fine wine is different is that you can meet the winemaker, they are happy to share their story and will always enjoy a glass with you.”
By making the campaign about the people themselves, A+ avoids the problem that most winery stories are crushingly boring – old vines, unique dirt, non-interventionist, yawn. Generation X and Y consumers are much more likely to check out a bite-sized feed about a winemaker who surfs 20-foot waves and wrestles crocs in his spare time, it’s just so much more… Australian.
“The heartbeat comes from the people – winemakers, grape growers and historical mentors – of the industry,” says P-J Charteris, winemaker at Hunter Valley winery Brokenwood.
“If someone researches a site, plants a vineyard, suffers the pain of seasonal variation for 10 years establishing the vines, watches them mature for 10 years then spends another 20 years defining the wine style, they are doing it for good reason. And it just so happens that Australians like to talk about what they have been up to.
“In the last 20 years Australian wine has grown so fast that many people involved have forgotten about that pulse and some don’t even know it existed. Fortunately, some good people have got the defibrillator out.”
The taglines “Every one tells a story” and “Join the conversation about Australian wine” certainly encourage a bit of consumer interaction. The australiaplus.com website is very good: lively imagery, fun to read, not too much info – and of course they’re backing it all up with plenty of Tweeting. “Phase two” of the project hopes to create an online community, encouraging consumers to interact and share experiences.
The power and premium credibility of this campaign is in the calibre of names it has behind it. Tom Carson, of Yering Station fame and now winemaker and general manager of his new Yabby Lake project, was one of the winemakers touring for the initial launch of this global campaign, in China.
“I think it is a bold, but well overdue initiative, that we present and discuss the great wines of Australia as our front line,” says Carson.
“On the basis that A+ is a selection of the best wines from Australia, then to personalise the wines and provide the depth to how, why and by whom they have been made completes the story. It’s about providing authenticity and integrity so that if you scratch the surface of what’s being presented then there is real heart and soul to the wines.”
That other exercise in premiumisation, the Landmark Tutorial, is on again this year. The tutorial sees 14 lucky participants flown in from around the world to taste and be schooled in the very best Australia has to offer, and – you guessed it – meet many of the winemakers. Then they are sent home again to spread the good word, which last year they certainly did.
Another interesting move to bring Australia’s premium wines into the spotlight is the Australian First Families of Wine initiative (AFFW), which was launched by a group of longstanding, family-owned wineries a year ago and premiered in the UK this May. This is an example of a collection of well-respected, mostly medium-sized producers differentiating themselves from the masses by lining up their multi-generational involvement in the wine industry and quality-producing credentials.
Extract from The Drinks Business, September 2010, for the full article please click here.
Meet the 14 Participants!
Posted by Ben in Participants on September 14th, 2010
The 14 participants who will be attending the Landmark Australia Tutorial in the Yarra Valley next week are:
Ms Sarah Ahmed, freelance wine writer and educator, United Kingdom
Sarah runs her own website The Wine Detective as well as contributing to a number of publications including The World of Fine Wine, Decanter, Wine & Spirit, The Drinks Business, Harpers Wine & Spirit Weekly, Imbibe/Square Meal, Off Licence News, and The Wine Society Newsletter. Sarah has extensive experience in wine tastings, courses and presentations as well as international wine judging experience.
Ms Kim Bickley, sommelier, Hilton Hotel, Australia
Kim Bickley is a Certified Sommelier with over 15 years’ experience in fine dining and the hospitality industry. She is currently Head Sommelier of Hilton Sydney and Luke Mangan’s Glass Brasserie and has judged at several wine shows in Australia.
Mr Tony Love, wine writer, News Ltd. metropolitan newspapers, Australia
Tony writes for News Ltd’s metropolitan newspapers’ weekly food and wine publication, Taste, which appears in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide and associated websites. He also edits and writes an annual Top 100 Australian Wine Guide and has broad wine judging experience.
Ms Karen MacNeil, chairman, Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America, United States
Karen is the author of the US best-selling wine book, The Wine Bible, which is used in the US by the Guild of Master Sommeliers as their primary teaching text. Karen hosted and wrote for the Emmy-award winning Wine, Food & Friends with Karen MacNeil, a 13-part series which ran on US national television from 2005 to 2008. She has been published in more than 50 US magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, Food & Wine, Saveur, and Town & Country. Karen has received many prestigious industry awards, the most recent being the IWSC’s 2008 Trophy for Communicator of the Year.
Mr Kenichi Ohashi, president, Yamajin Co. Ltd., Utsunomiya, Japan
Kenichi is a director and chief consultant about wine and sake education in premium product development consulting company, SomerSault Co. Ltd. He is also a wine columnist for Yomiuri Online, a certified sommelier with the Japan Sommelier Association and has published a book called “Natural Wine” featuring sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines. He is a Senior Judge at the IWC and is an experienced lecturer on wine, providing education and commercial advice to wine buyers at other wine wholesale firms across Japan.
Ms Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Asian wine correspondent and reviewer, eRobertParker.com and The Wine Advocate, Singapore
Singapore’s only MW, Lisa has been working in the wine trade for more than 17 years. She currently writes for Robert Parker’s website, as the Asian wine correspondent and reviewer for The Wine Advocate covering the wines of Australia. She is also the Contributing Wine editor for Cuisine & Wine Asia Magazine. Lisa’s extensive career in the wine trade has spanned three countries (UK, Japan, and Singapore) in sales, marketing, purchasing and wine education. As one of the world’s leading experts on Fine Wines and Asian Wine Markets, she frequently lectures upon these topics at conferences around the world.
Ms Diwen Qiu, managing editor, “Wine in China” magazine, Singapore
Diwen is a Singapore-based wine writer with extensive work ties to mainland China. She is currently the Managing Editor for “Wine in China” magazine, and a wine columnist and wine consultant with Xibao Trading Company. Diwen is also the guest host and editor of “Enjoying wine” series on the Shanghai educational television station. She has published more than 100 articles over the last four years in wine and food related magazines in China, such as Vino Vogue, Wine in China and Food Report. Diwen’s “Handbook of Wine”, written in Chinese, will be published this year and she has judged at the Hong Kong Wine and Spirits Competition and Tower Club American Express wine competition in Singapore.
Dr Edward Ragg, wine writer, educator and consultant, Dragon Phoenix Fine Wine Consulting, China
Edward is a wine writer, educator and columnist for The World of Fine Wine Magazine and recently Decanter magazine, as well as, within China, for The Financial Times’ Rui, Drink Magazine (Shanghai), The Robb Report China and Caijing Ribao, among others. He has also served as the ‘China Correspondent’ for wine sites Catavino and Enobytes and has international wine judging experience.
Mr Thomas Rydberg, wine writer, Ekstra Bladet, Denmark
Thomas is a wine educator and wine writer for Ekstra Bladet which is among the largest print newspapers and the largest online news site in Denmark. Thomas is also editor and CEO of AltomSpanskVin Aps. He teaches at a private wine school in Copenhagen, has international and domestic wine judging experience, and plans to begin his MW this year.
Mr Joerg Sievers, editor, Weinwirtschaft, Meininger Publications, Germany
Joerg is a wine editor at Meininger Publications and has written articles for Weinwelt, Sommelier Magazine and Weinwirtschaft. In 2008 Joerg published a 64 page buyer’s guide for Shiraz Wines from Australia, the first of its kind in Germany, which was circulated into Meininger’s wine publications.
Mr Jon Troutman, senior editor, Cork’d, USA
Jon Troutman is the senior editor for Cork’d. Born and raised on Cape Cod, MA, he was introduced to food and wine from a young age while working in his family’s restaurant. Prior to joining Cork’d, Jon attended the University of Vermont where he received his B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. After graduating, he returned home to his family’s restaurant, Scargo Café, as the general manager. In less than a year he took the wine program from a modest 40 bottle selection to a multiple award winning program. In the summer of 2009 he became certified with the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Mr Simon Tam, wine journalist, educator and consultant, Independent Wine Centre, Hong Kong
Simon is the founding director of Independent Wine Centre in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Macao as well as Hong Kong IWSC, the Hong Kong partner of the prestigious UK-based IWSC. Simon has more than 20 years’ experience in the wine industry, has judged at more than 70 international wine competitions around the world, and in 2007 was voted “The Best Wine Consultant” in the UK’s Wine Business International magazine. He is a contributing editor to 23 publications and websites including The South China Morning Post, Prestige, Macau Closer and Wine in China, among many more. Simon is the chairman elect of Greater China Wine Critics Association, whose role is to promote and nurture knowledge exchange between wine producers and association members in Hong Kong, Macao, Shanghai, Beijing and Taipei.
Ms Fongyee Walker, wine writer, educator and consultant, Dragon Phoenix Fine Wine Consulting, China
Fongyee is a WSET recommended tutor and assesor and is a second year candidate of the MW Program. Fongyee is also wine writer for Hong Kong Tatler, Financial Times Rui Magazine, Caijing Ribao (China’s top financial newspaper), Fine Wine & Liquor (China), Wine in China, and co-writer of Dragon Phoenix Wine blog. Her extensive judging experience includes regular participation on tasting panels of Wine in China, Savour, and Food and Wine China, the Hong Kong IWC and team captain, member and coach of the Cambridge University Varsity Wine-Tasting Team.
Mr Thomas Woolrych, buying manager, Direct Wines, United Kingdom
Thomas is the buying manager for Direct Wines – the world’s largest direct to customer independent and family-owned wine business with approximately one million regular customers. They operate in the UK, US, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and Hong Kong and trading names include Laithwaites and The Sunday Times Wine Club in the UK. Thomas has worked for Direct Wines since 1997 and is responsible for purchasing from Australia. He is a Senior Judge at the IWC.
A Landmark Return!
The 2010 Landmark Australia Tutorial will be held in the Yarra Valley from Monday September 20 – Friday September 24, 2010, and will build on the success of last year’s inaugural event, with an expanded group of participants invited to experience our finest regional wines. The 14 participants are renowned wine educators and media from the UK, Canada, the United States, Denmark, Germany, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan and Australia.
The tutorial will run over five days and will provide participants with the opportunity to taste more than 200 wines from across the county in 16 themed sessions, presented by leading winemakers from regions as diverse as Tasmania, Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley, Margaret River, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley, Clare Valley, Canberra, Mornington Peninsula and Rutherglen.
Wine Australia’s General Manager Market Development, Paul Henry, said the focus of the Landmark Australia Tutorial was to capture the interest and support of the next wave of international wine opinion leaders, and to become the most extensive exploration of Australia’s fine wine story yet undertaken.
“The importance of addressing the image of Australian wine as a whole is well served by this program, and it is a critical part of Australia determining its own voice in the world of fine wine endeavour,” he said.
One of the selected 2010 Landmark Scholars, Lisa Perrotti-Brown said the Landmark Australia Tutorial was one of the best educational tools ever to be developed by any wine organisation in the world and she was very excited to be accepted to participate.
“Ever a wine student as much as a wine educator and commentator myself, I’m looking forward to this valuable opportunity to better understand the development of traditional versus new wine styles from Australia’s wide range of regions, and the levels of quality and ageability that have been and are now being achieved,” she said.
The Landmark Australia Tutorial 2010 has been made possible by the generous support of Wine Australia’s Export Partners – OI, Amcor Australasia, JFHillebrand, Collotype Labels and Qantas, as well as additional support from Riedel, the State Government of Victoria and Yarra Valley Australia.
For details, including the full-program of tastings and presenters, please visit www.wineaustralia.com/landmark, and please use #LAT10 when tweeting.
Final Masterclasses of the Landmark Australia Tutorial
The final masterclasses presented at the Landmark Australia Tutorial next week include:
Day Four: Pinot Noir presented by Tom Carson, Winemaker, Yabby Lake
A compelling masterclass demonstrating that Australian Pinot Noir can rival the very best in the world. Tasted blind, this is your chance to discover
the new benchmarks from regions such as Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley and Tasmania.
Day Four: Single Vineyards and Sacred Sites vs Blending presented by Brian Walsh, Director of Winemaking, Yalumba
The search for consistency or the pursuit of excellence? Single vineyard, regional and multiregional as winemaking choices in Australia. A
discussion about Australia’s finest wines and the philosophy that surrounds its production.
Day Five: Chardonnay presented by Steve Webber, Winemaker, De Bortoli
A tasting and discussion about how the influence of new clones, improved understanding of sites and winemaking
practices are now producing Australian Chardonnay’s that are among the best in the world.
Day Five: Fortified presented by Colin Campbell, Winemaker, Campbell Wines & Stephen Chambers, Winemaker, Chambers Rosewood Wines
From Rutherglen’s unique Muscat and Tokay,through to aged Tawnies and other classic styles from historic cellars. This inspiring tasting
will conclude the week in an authentic Australian fashion.
Masterclasses from day three and four of the Landmark Australia Tutorial
Each week we are unveiling a selection of the masterclasses presented at the Landmark Australia Tutorial. Day Three and Day Four highlights:
Day Three: Semillon presented by Andrew Thomas, Winemaker, Thomas Wines
Hunter Valley Semillon is often cited as Australia’s endearing contribution to the world of white wine styles. A vertical of Semillon spanning a decade will uncover the idiosyncrasies of this unique expression joined by other regions in an exploration of complementary Australian styles.
Day Three: Cabernet Sauvignon and blends presented by Brian Croser, AO, Winemaker, Tapanappa Wines
A great wine is not just made; first it is conceived. An introduction to a range of outstanding estate and regional expressions of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (and blends), inviting contrasts and comparison with the great Cabernet terroirs of the world.
Day Three: An Historic Perspective presented by James Halliday and Andrew Caillard, MW, Fine Wine Principal Langton’s
Australia has been making fine wine for almost a century. This masterclass will showcase the great wines of Australia, drawing together an extraordinary and historical line-up of Australia’s best, across a range of vintages and releases.
Day Four: Riesling presented by Jeffrey Grosset, Winemaker, Grosset Wines
A peerless Australian classic that is also finding some stylistic dimension with a new generation of winemakers and drinkers. This masterclass will showcase a myriad of styles, from dry through to off-dry, and all with a unique Australian signature.
Landmark Australia TutorialLatest News
- Taylors Wines: #vintage 2012 has officially begun! We started picking the luscious #gewurztraminer early this morning in the #ClareVally #apluswine ^CS
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- 02/02/12 7:13am - Chapel Hill Winery: Top video clip about Protecting McLaren Vale by @stockwine http://t.co/jmZpK8co Check it out and RT. #wine #adelaide #apluswine
- 02/02/12 7:06am - Thobiasinkblot: RT @corkscrewnation: Check out Chester! An Australian wine story from McLaren Vale http://t.co/glYgGpV5 #apluswine #darenberg
- 30/01/12 10:24pm - The Corkscrew Dublin: Check out Chester! An Australian wine story from McLaren Vale http://t.co/glYgGpV5 #apluswine #darenberg
- 30/01/12 10:22pm - Clover Hill: Clover Hill will soon be available in Indonesia! Now to organize the work trip... #apluswine #taswine
- 30/01/12 9:49am
- Taylors Wines: #vintage 2012 has officially begun! We started picking the luscious #gewurztraminer early this morning in the #ClareVally #apluswine ^CS
