Words from a Wine Glass

Chinese businessman and philanthropist Jack Ma is quoted as saying, “Trust the young people; trust this generation’s innovation. They’re making things, changing innovation every day. And all the consumers are the same: they want new things, they want cheap things, they want good things, they want unique things. If we can create these kind of things for consumers, they will come.”

What I have discovered over the past year or two is a number of young, and not so young, winemakers are doing pretty amazing stuff when it comes to putting that red and white fermented grape juice into bottles for our enjoyment.  Some methods being used are ‘innovative’, some are ‘back to basics’, some are ‘hands off’ and some are ‘minimal intervention.  Which ever way they are made, the wines that end up on our dining table alongside a terrific meal, or being drunk out on your patio on a relaxing afternoon, are unique to that winemaker.  She/he has put their stamp on it and owns what you smell and taste.

Joe Warren was a chef for 12 years before deciding to move from the kitchen to the winery in 2010 eventually starting up Serere Wines in 2018.  He sounds like he’s a ‘hands off’ sort of winemaker.  He says, “just let the sites speak for themselves”.

The fruit for this Rousanne came from the Indigo Vineyard in Beechworth, which is quite a stunning place.  All hand picked then basket pressed before being placed in old French oak where it went through wild fermentation.  The resultant wine is simply beautiful and delicious and textural and lush!  One of my mates used the word “Gorgeous”!  There’s lovely fruit flavours dominated by juicy pears, with hints of peaches, apples and apricots, along with a herbal note in there too.  There’s some terrific texture and a deft touch of acid on the fruitful  palate providing lovely width and weight on a very good long finish.

Joe certainly has a ripper wine on his hands with this one and, as Jack Ma said, “…consumers, they will come.” Get some while you can.

Serere Wines Website

Region: Beechworth, Victoria     Price: $32     Source: Wine Swap

I’m a creature of habit.  A bit of routine man.  I can’t help it, especially of a morning when I do certain things in a particular order.  One of those ‘things’ is to check the news headlines.  As we all know, lately it has been about that dreaded, life changing, virus and how many have died in this country and that country.  It’s pretty constant and I understand why we need to hear about it.  I just think we need to have the same amount of good news stories to balance out the bad news especially considering where I work, where there is rarely good news to share with my ‘audience’.

Recently I came home from work late…again, and found this wine in the fridge.  I’d had one of ‘those’ days and I have to say, I was so glad this was ready to be explored, examined and enjoyed!  It seemed to have such a revitalising and relaxing effect at the same time.  Not that wine is the answer to these sorts of situations all the time, but on this occasion, it was very welcome.

It starts off so so well.  Loved the citrus fruit aromas then everything seemed to ramp up on the palate.  So clean and fresh with ever-present juicy lemons and limes with a nice touch of fleshy tropical fruit-like characters adding texture and (just enough) palate weight.  Terrific yet soft and balanced acidity partner the fruit characters perfectly as it seemingly takes ages to fade from the palate.

My wife and I loved this wine.  It is a simply delicious, beautiful example of the variety.

Hastwell and Lightfoot Website

Region: Mclaren Vale, SA     Price: $25     Source: Sample thanks to Hastwell & Lightfoot and Define Wine

Unfortunately, these days there is no overseas travel occurring anywhere, or interstate for that matter.  You don’t even see any advertisements on television spruiking cheap flights or fancy holiday destinations, and definitely not cruise ship holidays!

Getting to taste a wine of this variety took me back to a trip we made to Campania, the primary region of Italy where Fiano is grown.  The Romans knew it as Campania Felix, meaning ‘fertile countryside’ or ‘happy countryside’.  I think the region fits both of these meanings.

It is a very pretty area taking in the Amalfi Coast (pictured above), including Sorrento and the island of Capri, very attractive places to international visitors.  Mount Vesuvius also looming large over the archaeological attraction of Pompeii. I distinctly remember when we stopped for lunch in Sorrento, the beautiful facades of the buildings, some of which had been around for hundreds of years, had been so meticulously maintained.  It was quite surreal making me realise, even now, how young our Country is.

This is a lovely, lovely wine from start to finish.  A beautiful, intense fruit driven nose, almost fruit salad like with just a hint of sweetness.  When I tasted it, that intensity was ever-present.  It’s lively and fresh on the palate where there’s stone fruits (think peaches and apricots) with excellent citrus fruit acidity together with a perfectly complementary, very slight, honey like sweetness.  The mouth filling flavours plus some good texture linger long on a very nice finish indeed.  I very much enjoyed this wine.

Hastwell & Lightfoot Website

Region: McLaren Vale, SA     Price: $25     Source: Sample thanks to Hastwell & Lightfoot and Define Wine