Adelaide Hills, A Bird in Hand Winery

Resisting all the obvious potential puns that go with the name, a quick visit to the Bird in Hand Winery cellar door was in order whilst hooning around the beautiful Adelaide Hills last November. Having called ahead (on the way), I was to meet Demitri who would be pouring the wines that day. Just a little off the main road but very easy to find even if the entry is a bit underwhelming. Once on to the grounds the vista opens up and on that spring morning it was breathtaking how beautiful it was. The sun was shining and the temperature mild to warm and the grounds of Bird in Hand Winery looked fantastic. I can see why they have so many important (weddings and the like) events here.

Once inside the cool cellar door at the tasting bar, Demitri offered a starter of bubbles, the BIRD in HAND Sparkling Pinot Noir. While not a big bubbles drinker I was tempted to pass but Demitri assured me it was a great place to start particularly given the beautiful day, so start there I did (thankfully as this knowledge would come in handy). A lovely red fruit flavor (think strawberry and a hint of cherry) with some nice floral on the nose makes this a great afternoon sipper or pre-dinner drink. The Whites tasted were all very nice and depending on one's taste preferences there is probably a few you would like and a couple you will love. The white wine that caught me off guard was the 'NEST EGG ADELAIDE HILLS CHARDONNAY 2010'  This is not because I expected mediocre but I had not expected to be so wowed. A bloody good drop that hangs in there with you and demands you take another sip. Could give you tons of descriptions about fruit and the like but go and taste it for yourself. 

As we worked our way through to the reds Dimetri had to take off to take care of a special private group event (actually scheduled)  but left me in good hands. 

The reds are equally engaging and I think maybe even more so than the Whites. With offerings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Tempranillo and even a not so common Nero d'Avola there was some hard yakka ahead. Of these offerings the one that was taken to be shared with friends (trying to impress) was the BIRD IN HAND SHIRAZ 2010.

The choice was hard but I was won over not just by a great drinking wine but one with a reasonable price point giving it that balance that we feel is important. 

Given that I gave them all of twenty minutes heads up on the show up they were very accommodating and gracious. Next time around a little planning will be put into play and perhaps a chat with the wine maker, a tour of the property and facilities to get a bigger picture of this place that makes many good wines.

Look, head on over and have a taste. Koala 'recommends' you do.

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Koala Just ordered some Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir 2012 last week for his Dad's 90th Birthday extravaganza and the personal service was beyond expectations. Thanks Gabby! Brilliant!

So you think you can drive?

We were once untrained drivers. Of course it was when we were young, so we have an excuse. Do you know a young driver? Automobile accidents are the leading killer of teens. These days we are safer drivers. We don’t speed much, we don’t tailgate much, we mostly use our turn signals and we always wear seat belts. But we are surrounded by idiots untrained drivers.

When merging, get on the gas and merge into the flow of traffic like a zipper (or one, one, one, one for those who don't know how a zipper works). If someone has to slow down or move over to avoid hitting you, you have failed! For 99.9% of you on the road, don’t drive faster than posted speeds, 90mph in the rain on I-5 is stupid! You are not Sebastian Vettel! It doesn't matter if you are wearing a seat belt or not--you aren't likely to survive. One of our personal pet peeves is the complete and total ignoring of the highway sign that reads; SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT. It’s a simple concept, if a vehicle is gaining on you that ‘is’ an indication they are going faster, which by definition means you are going slower. MOVE OVER! Wow heading down a rabbit hole. 

So what can be done about bad driving? Probably not a whole lot, but one thing that would definitely help is for everyone to take an advanced driver course. Get your young driver into a class before they develop those bad habits and ingrained misconceptions about driving. 

We are not referring to a driver safety course, although those are good to, but an actual get up to speed, drifting, sliding, threshold breaking, pitching it sideways kind of experience. An experience for people to understand the dynamics of what happens under duress, for both the driver and the vehicle and how to deal with it. Have some safe time at the limit and beyond to develop some actual experience at over the edge to understand what is expected and how to deal with it. To get an appreciation of driving, and not as time to make mobile phone calls without blue tooth or put on makeup! Trust us when we say after one of these courses it will dramatically change your perception of your companions on the road (and their potential incompetence).
We can hear the question now; ‘how would one find out where to do one of these things.’

As it so happens, we know exactly where this can be experienced, the Skip Barber Racing School! Don’t get stuck on the racing part, this is not about racing; it’s about limits, both yours and the cars. The classes are held at racetracks all over the USA and are not that expensive when you consider what you or your beloved teen or loved one will get from the experience. 

We took their experience at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway. We took to the classroom, skidpan, thresh hold breaking areas, autocross track, lane changes and the racetrack, in a day of lessons and learning in a variety of different high performance cars, with the enthusiasm of two teenage boys on 5 cups of espresso. 

The instructors are patient, and communicate non intuitive concepts clearly and concisely. Helping students overcome some of the natural tendencies that nearly everyone drives with, and showing you how to drive better with more control, and how to avoid your less competent road users.

The cars we drove were a Lotus, Porsche Boxer, Mazda 3, Mazda RX-8, BMW M3 and a Lexus I-SF. We learned how to toss these cars across two lanes and stop using maximum breaking. We also learned about being in a slide and taking control using a skill call ‘Jackie Chan hands”. There were many other activities during the day that gave us an appreciation for the capability of the cars and the significant difference between an untrained driver and a trained driver. We know what some of you are thinking, but if you have not been trained by a professional, you are not trained!

There may be a tendency to want to jump into a multiple day class but a one day class for those not used to tossing cars around is enough to wear you out. We slept very well that night and were a little stiff the next day! A multiple day class is next on the agenda though. We learned a lot and would love to do another class in the near future. We had a ton of fun and a few embarrassing (untrained) moments but without reservation, highly ‘recommend’ the Skip Barber Racing School.


Give this class as a gift to someone you love, even if that’s you!

 Happy Adventures,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Take advantage of some INFO here. Tell em we sent you!

Kiwi and Koalas WW

In Monterey County there is a wine maker who must know a thing or two about Zinfandel. Why? Well because it taste's so good! Well that and he has grown up in the industry. This winemaker is Justin Murphy of Irie Wines. Using selected Paso Robles (the best Zinfandel fruit) fruit he has put together a very nice wine. The 2009 Irie Zinfandel is a great WW. Easy drinking with nice medium to full mouth feel and the just right amount of dark berry and jam flavor with a nice balanced spice finish. A Zinfandel that is balanced with all good things Zin without being overbearing at all. While slipping just outside the desired **** for a WW at a solid 6+ and *** it was more than good enough to be this week’s WW.

Happy Tasting Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Pebble Beach Food and Wine 2013

By the time you read this, the Pebble Beach Food and Wine will be over. This annual event is arguably the premier food and wine event full stop. Sure the food and wine are top shelf and the list of 'A' class celebrities of the industry is very long, but the world class setting it is held in adds a measure of magic that is hard to overlook. With event sponsor Lexus providing privileges to Lexus owners and transportation and shuttle services to others in and out of the spectacular Spanish Bay Resort, the event has an air of expectation before you even see a glass of wine or fancy food. Make no mistake, that wine and food are the focus even with all the celebs and Chefs and Sommeliers, it is mostly about the food and wine. At least during the day. At night the parties are more about hanging with the who's who of your passion whether it be food or wine or both.



Having just hit the tarmac a couple days ago after an amazing Italy Adventure we were not really prepared for this years event. That being said with a little scrambling, tickets to a couple events were purchased. Selecting events to attend is usually quite a decision making process as there are a so many great possibilities and some conflict is inevitable, you cant do them all. This year because of the late nature it was fairly easy. What was left that one could get tickets to. Now while the events to choose from were limited they still required some thinking as there are no events not worthy of attending. After a stressful few minutes on the computer the two events chosen were, Areitta: Wines In Harmony and Malbec Rising: A Star is Reborn.

Friday morning at 10am at the Spanish Bay Resort a fortunate group listened to a man (Fritz Hatton) with an obvious passion to blend the emotions of music and wine. The Hattons founded Arietta in 1996 in partnership with winemaker John Kongsgaard and his wife Maggy. The partnership was born of a shared passion for fine wine and classical music. While known mostly for their red wines, the event shared some wonderful wines and included a couple of white wines as well. Their 2007 and 2011 On The White Keys. A beautiful blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon were both immediately engaging with mouth watering finishes. Pure delight to drink. The reds were just as described "a New World spin on classic Right Bank blends". All were worthy and the 2000 H Block was outstanding. If you come across their wines in a restaurant, give them a try.

Saturday morning again at 10am the Malbec Rising: A Star is Reborn is about to start. While waiting to enter and thinking of all the Malbec wine we have tasted, drank, liked and loved started to realize just how diverse  this tasting may be. Sure enough the tastings were from Argentina, a couple of different regions, California and France. Malbec is not, as a lot of people think, an easy grape to grow and make wine out of. It is also not just for blending as the wines presented here were to show. This is a wine of significant stature and is not to be taken lightly. 
Malbec was shipped to Argentina in 1852 after some serious frosts in France. The long and seemingly secret history is now seeing the light of day. It seems a bit strange to think of this wine as a new star given the history, but perhaps it is just a renewed focus and a big effort by some to champion this amazing grape and the wines that come from it that is bringing it to the forefront as a wine of significance.

With a very entertaining and well educated panel the tasting was as much fun as it was educational and a great tasting of some amazing Malbec's. The one thing they all had in common was an amazing deep (really deep) purple color that has this iridescent purple rim.
The first wine tasted was from Bodega Catena Zapata. The 'Nicasia Vineyard'; first thought, how is anyone going to follow this! Some how they did  and we were led around the world of Malbec by the panel.

One other notable mention, as much for how good is was is that there are now only 7 bottles left. That's right we were drinking all but the last 7 bottles of Blue Rock Vineyards Alexander Valley  2003. Thanks for sharing!

Wines served were in order from; Bodega Catena Zapata, Recuerdo Wines, Cielo y Tierra, Chateau Lagrezette, Blue Rock Vineyard and Trefethen Family Vineyards.

Enjoyed some wine and burgers on the patio while enjoying spectacular views after the tastings and soaked up the atmosphere, as that is it for this year.

The 2013 Pebble Beach Food and Wine looks to be another successful event and although a bit at the pricey end it is still a 'Recommend'.

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

How would you get from Rome to Venice?

While planning a trip there are a lot of variables, options and choices to deal with. Even more so if you are going to a foreign country that you have never visited. Plus there are plenty of people giving advice because they did this and that and of course that's the best. We spent a fair amount of time on line researching and comparing the options.  With a number of choices and a limited time window, and costs being a serious influence of the final decision, we decided that to get from Rome to Venice nothing worked as well or as cost effectively as flying with easyJet. With prices averaging about €50 (more or less depending on day and time and baggage allowance) per person and given the time savings over most of the options it was our first choice. 
The train would be more scenic perhaps, but hours longer and depending on which speed of train we chose, several times the price. 

We had a comfortable plane, quick and easy check-in and boarding with pleasant staff both at the airport and in the cabin.  All in all we felt it was a great value. Depending on your travel needs don't overlook the cost effectiveness and convenience of easyJet. We give them a  'Recommend'.

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

The Vatican with Dark Rome Tours

What's a trip to Rome without a visit to the Vatican?  Everyone we talked to told us that when in Rome you must go to the Vatican.  It doesn't matter if you are not Catholic, or even religious.  It's just a must do. 

The next thing they tell you about is the crowds.  And there they were! We observed the crowds as we walked to our tour meeting point. The line was at least a kilometer long wrapped arround the imposing outer walls of the Vatican for about a kilometer. Crazy long! 

Most of those in line would not make into the Vatican that day. Tens of thousands of people visit every day ( we heard 30,000!) and from what we saw we have no reason to doubt those amazing numbers. Oh, and for those unfortunate ones who visit in the summer on a hot day, may you rest in peace. The Vatican has no ventilation let alone air conditioning. That being said we still recommend a visit, just know that going in and adjust your tour times accordingly (early as possible in summer). We were at the other end of the weather spectrum with cold wind and rain. Because of this we decided not to walk the hour to the Vatican and opted for the Subway from Termini Station which was just a couple blocks from our base at the Alpi Hotel. Termini is quite the experience. Bus tickets and train (high speed and regular) tickets are sold at electronic kiosks but not the subway. They are sold at the newsstands downstairs. Easy to find once you know, but a bit confusing at first.

With a little help from a local we were all set, and with tickets in hand for just a few euros each we were on our way. Even when the power went out the Romans kept on moving and we just followed. They just bypassed the ticket gates and went down to the subway under emergency lights an packed into the subway train like sardines in a can.  Off we went trying to make sure we got off at the right stop. It was fairly easy actually. Once we arrived at the station we had about a five to ten minute walk to the Vatican Tour meeting point.


Did we mention that you really need to take a tour as the amount of stuff to take in at times is overwhelming even with a well educated tourguide. We chose Dark Rome and our guide Tiffany was brilliant.

The area surrounding the Vatican is one of the least attractive that we saw in Rome and on the morning we were there it was quite stormy which did not help. Tiffany expertly guided us through the skip the 2-3 hour line and into the Vatican (winter line).

Now if you were paying attention as you read that last sentence you noticed the phrase “skip the line”. Yes, this is a common theme in Rome (and other tourist destinations we visited) and by choosing to pay for a tour you get to blow right past that line.

Some of the line on the day we went, may have been attributed to the fact that one Pope quit and the new guy was getting sworn in and our tour was right between the two events. The tour Tiffany took us on helped put the historical significance of the things we saw into some historical perspective. She was very passionate and knowledgeable of all things Vatican. She had left the USA on a one way ticket to Rome with the sole objective to be a Vatican tour guide. Mission accomplished to the benefit of everyone who is lucky enough to get her as a tour guide.

The DarkRome tour was worth every penny, and although we are sure there are other tour operators that are good we heard and observed some that were not. A good tour, with a great tour guide, of a place that is steeped in a long and colorful history. We give Dark Rome's Vatican Tour a 'Recommend'. If you get lucky enough to have Tiffany as your guide, thank…, well you know who to thank.

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

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Watch the video here

When in Rome, Alpi Hotel

Rome is an amazing city. Period! There are ruins on top of ruins that are on top of ruins. For those who are up to walk (a lot) it is a never ending discovery of things to see. We had a recommendation to stay at Hotel Alpi.

The Hotel Alpi is a family owned hotel that is in a quiet area of town two blocks from Termini Station. Most people would probably need the bus pass (relatively inexpensive) as its about a mile and a half to two miles from the Collosem / Forum area. It's a bit closer to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish steps but still a good twenty minutes. Of course, these areas are not on the same path but are two different legs of the triangle. Most of the sights need to be visited twice. Once at night and again during the day to really appreciate them. The city seems very safe day or night and other than wandering street vendors trying to sell you junk souvenirs and the like offers no cause for concern. Buses are everywhere but be aware that at commuting times they will be packed. Literally!

The Hotel Alpi is a cute boutique style Hotel which is part if its charm and also part of its quirkiness. Koalas shower was so small and oddly shaped if you dropped the soap it was never to be used during that shower again. The elevator was almost exactly the size of a British phone booth and up a flight of stairs to get to it, then often down a flight to get to your room. Now with Kiwi's room you also had to get on a second elevator after all that as well.


The quirks aside, the rooms were clean and comfortable and it was a pleasant stay. The staff were very helpful and just as importantly, the breakfast was substantial.


The location worked well for us, mostly because it really is at one end of everything which allowed for a continuous loop of sightseeing. If you stay in the middle you need to go both ways to see things. Termini station gives you a lot of options as well. We found that out as we experienced the Rome subway to the Vatican that it is something to behold.
We spent very little time other than sleeping at the Alpi but we give it a 'Good, would go back'.

Cheers,
WineWalkabout

Rome and RomeCabs

We waited what seemed like a eternity for our bags. The last half dozen or so to come off the plane. Somehow this always seems to happen. Ah, but to be able to walk out of the airport without going thru customs again was a pleasant surprise (TSA take note). Although not as pleasant as the next hour is so would be with RomeCabs. Always wanted to be greeted at the airport by a guy with a sign. Actually a hot lady in a chauffeurs hat, but we digress. As we exited the terminal there was our sign welcoming us and a luggage trolley to relieve us of our bags. Even with wheelie bags it was nice. We were in the new comfortable Mercedes van in less than three minutes and quickly and fuss free heading towards Rome.


Our driver and mini tour guide, Sergio, was pleasant articulate very knowledgeable and full of enthusiasm and passion for his city. Oh the things we saw and the stories we heard. Sergio even showed us the way to drink from the Rome drinking fountains.
Between surviving Rome's roundabouts that are 4 lanes wide with no lane lines and the locals habit of using every possible driving surface to get around, being in the capable hands of an experienced Rome driver made what could have been a nightmare into an Adventure. Having just flown in from California we can not think of a better arrival process than to have RomeCabs pick you up and give you a overview of Rome on the way to your Hotel. We would not hesitate to try some of their other services based on our experiences both arriving and being returned to the airport a few days later. A truly wonderful experience of just the right length to kick of your stay in Rome. An absolute 'recommend' and maybe a 'Must Do' for first timers like us. Check THIS out...

Happy Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Italy Adventure Starts with KLM

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Bubbles Wine Bar Schiphol Airport

The start of a journey or Adventure can often set the tone. At least for a while. It's important then that it be a good experience to start off with. Kiwi and Koala were leaving SFO with KLM airlines to Rome with one layover in Amsterdam. Flying aboard their MD-11 was comfortable and pleasant. Couple of hints. If you're flying on one of these it's a 3,3,3 seating layout so traveling with 4 is a bit awkward but no dramas. Arriving at our seats and getting settled was something we wish someone had been filming. First off we had booked and preprinted boarding passes with seats A thru D. Not one of us double checked our seating assignments when after luggage checkin we received new boarding passes. Now we were D thru G. As luck would have it the D ticket holder boarded first and was sent down the first isle and being the smart assets (thanks auto correct) we are, we just told the cabin crew that we were with them and followed. Well that puts most of us on the wrong side of the plane. Then the, who sits next to who fiasco starts, we literally did two 360 degree turnabouts as we each sat in each and every seat and moved bags in the overheads to match. Massive comic relief to our cabin attendant. He was certain we had arrived at the airport on a very short bus. Wine served was a 2011 and 2012 Terra Andina Cabernet - Merlot from Chile in a 375 ml screw cap bottle 2012 already you ask? Yes and maybe that may help explain the lack of character. Not a bad drop but not one that would lead you to overindulge and maybe that's the plan. Food was decent and a little surprise of ice cream in the middle of the night / flight was nice. Overall a very nice flight.
A couple hour layover in Amsterdam was put to good use with a cappuccino to start and a bottle of French wine (because we could) at the lovely Bubbles Wine Bar Not a bad airport to have to burn a few hours. Leg two to Rome was handled by Alitalia for KLpM and was on an Airbus A-320. Other than the incessant chatter of the 30 or so over excited high school kids on the Rome leg another good flight. After what seemed like an eternity our bags showed up and to our pleasant surprise our exit from the airport did not involve any security or customs checks! Our new best friend Sergio from Rome Cabs was there to whisk us away to Rome to begin our Italy Adventure for real. All in all KLM gets a 'good' rating from us and we would definitely choose again.

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

This was not an isloated experience. Read: KLM Part Deux

WineWalkabouts WW

Having spent some time with the people of Yalumba recently, any time we find some of their wine at a local wine shop it's hard not to buy some. With 2013's quest to find affordable wines in the **** range more often the WW this week is a Y series Yalumba Shiraz Viognier. This is a great wine for this price range or a price range more than twice what was paid. Lovely purple color and nice clarity, it's easy drinking with dark berries, most notably blueberries and a touch of sweetness that is subtle and hard to put your finger on (Yalumba says Turkish delight) and a nice soft finish. This is a good wine to share and is easily paired with a variety of meat and pasta dishes. A solid 6 and **** this Yalumba Y Series Shiraz Viognier is a bloody good drop so go get yourself some!

Happy Tasting Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Paso Robles Wandering, Villa San-Juliette

Being in Paso Robles one cannot miss an opportunity to taste some local wine. No really, you just should not fight the inevitable. The area has a plethora of good and great wines to experience, and with so many to get through, one you miss is the one you may never get to.  With that in mind, a visit to the East side and off to the north for a change of pace was the choice. Technically in San Miguel it was later discovered, the venue was Villa San-Juliette. It has a spectacular facility that is perhaps even a little intimidating. But not to worry, as it really is just wine.

Driving through the gates and up to the Villa is a transporting experience, taking you from the back roads of rural Paso Robles / San Miguel and into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. The facility is positioned on the top of a rolling hill and overlooks the surrounding vineyards in grand style. The Tuscan style tasting room was just opened this last October 2012 and it is truly beautiful.

Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick (successful TV producers), purchased the vineyard in 2005 and originally named the winery Villa San Michelle.  Taking note that there was another “Michelle” in the wine industry, Ken and Nigel stood among their vines and put their creative juices to work to rename the winery.  In the final draw, the winery was named for Ken’s lovely wife, Julie, and thus was born Villa San-Juliette. While rookies in the wine business, their business savvy and ability to build a successful team appears to have them on the right track. The dream was born during a trip Nigel took to Napa Valley. Ken caught the fever and the journey then began to find a vineyard to bring the dream to fruition. While a bumpy road to their dream they stuck to it and have see it start to blossom.

With two lines wine for sale, an Estate label and a more cost approachable line called Fat Monk. The boys will be going back to take a closer look at the Fat Monk label among other things as the “We call it the Tuesday-Wednesday wine” has our attention.

The tasting of the Estate line was a very pleasant experience expertly handled by Leanne. All the wines were very shareable and one in particular was not only very nice to drink but had an exceptional price point. The bottle purchase of the taste was the Signature Blend ‘Chorus”. At a 7 and **** it was too good a value not to buy. All the wines tasted were well worth trying and were very nice. You will undoubtedly find a few new favorites. Villa San-Juliette also offers a nice selection of Small Bites daily to enhance your wine tasting experience. These small bites are prepared with the wines in mind as they seek to bring out the subtleties of the wines. A nice touch particularly when it’s a ways to a restaurant.

While this was a quick stop and tasting, we would look forward to going back and talking with some of the folks behind the scenes as this has all the potential of becoming a destination winery in the area.

This winery and its wines get a ‘Recommend’ from us. Go on by and check it out and let them know we sent you.

Happy Tasting Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

The Kiwi and Koalas WW

Recently, the gift of wine was bestowed upon us by an individual, who knowing of our interest in wine wanted to share one of his favorites from his home town area in Amador County. The bottle of his choosing was a lovely Estate bottled 2008 Zinfandel from Convergence Vineyards. This 2008 Estate Zinfandel from Convergence was voted ‘Best Zinfandel’ in The Sierra Foothills and received 2 Gold Medals at the Calaveras Wine Competition. Not bad, and as it was enjoyed with dinner it reminded us of just how enjoyable a good Zinfandel can be.

To quote their description: Brambly blackberry fruit mixes with smoky spice for a classically styled Zinfandel. A big rich mouth feel and bracing acidity assures years of age-ability. “Life would be hell without Zinfandel”.

With our rating of a 7 and a price point that has it only $1 off being a **** wine this is a great WW drinker. We will definitely be looking to this area for some more nice surprises and in particular from Convergence Vineyards.

Happy Tasting Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala

Walkabout Clare Valley, Greg Cooley Wines

View of part of the Clare Valley.

It just happened that on this blustery Wednesday while driving through the Clare Valley the boys had an hour or so to kill before their next appointment. Located approximately 120km north of Adelaide, the region has more than 40 wineries including Skillogalee, Cardinham Estates, Annies Lane, Claymore Wines, Grossett Wines, Jim Barry Wines, Killikanoon, Kirrihill Wines, Knappstein Wines, Leasingham, Neagles Rock, Paulett Wines, Pikes, Reillys and Taylors. With all these options luck would have the boys looking left and pulling into Greg Cooley Wines.

A cozy little tasting room with a free standing wood burning fire giving off some magic warmth on a cold winters day and a tasting list that immediately got their attention. The list had all the usual suspects but also some not so usual and all had names that required questions. The wines are named after people who have been of influence to Greg over the years and their influence is as varied as the wine styles - from South Australian author Monica McInerney to his Greyhounds vet, Graham Beh! An interesting approach to naming wines for sure.Unfortunately, Greg was not on site during their visit but next time the boys will be looking to get more of the back story for you (and them) as it sounds like it may be very interesting.

A lovely young lady, we will call her “Lisa” (embarrassed we have lost our notes)was serving up the tastings and filling in the story of each one. She was well versed in the wines and holding her own with the boys verbal sparring. Staying on task with those two going at it would be a test of the best. The wines were delightful with a common theme of well balanced and approachable wines. None were over oaked and most were already to take to dinner. The Rehbein &Ryan’ Reserve Cabernet and the Bennet & Byrne' Reserve Shiraz were the take home bottles of the day. We will be back and next time plan ahead.

Greg Cooley wines not only gets a ‘Recommend” from us but recently received ‘5 STARS - JAMES HALLIDAY AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION 2011 EDITION’.

Go by and have a taste. You will be glad you did.

Happy Adventures,

Cheers,

WineWalkabout

Kiwi & Koala