Bellarine Times
Tuesday 9 August 2011
VOL 4. No 32
www.bellarinetimes.com.au
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FINE DROP According to the connoisseurs, we don’t have to go very far to dust our palates with some of the country’s finest wine.
From left, co-owner of Marcus Hill Vineyard, Margo Harrison, and Geelong Winegrowers’ Association marketing executive and director of Leura Park Estate, Lyndsay Sharp, celebrate the region’s acknowledgement in the 2012 Halliday Australian Wine Companion. Photo: DAVID FINLAYSON
BY DAVID FINLAYSON AUSTRALIA’S leading wine reviewer has effectively given a solid seal of approval to Bellarine wines in his latest premier wine guide just released. Thirteen Bellarine wineries were awarded a fourstar rating, or above, out of a possible five stars, in the latest edition of the prestigious Halliday Australian Wine Companion. There were 33 Geelong-based wineries reviewed, including the Bellarine wineries. The Halliday Wine Companion is compiled by Australia’s foremost wine judge and industry commentator, James Halliday. Geelong Winegrowers’ Association marketing executive and director of Leura Park Estate, Lyndsay Sharp, said the outcome for Geelong wines generally was “very exciting”.
S u r f Forecast
“A five-star rating is what every winery aspires to because it is the definitive guide to good wine in Australia,” Sharp said. “More than 81 per cent of Geelong wineries reviewed gained a four-plus star-rating. In addition, 45 per cent of reviewed wineries achieved the highest possible five-star rating for “outstanding winery” – an increase of 10 per cent from 2011. “Wineries send in their range of wines, or selected wines, and then James Halliday and panel review each and every wine. It would be a huge job. “Most wineries use the rating as a platform to showcase the calibre of their wines. So often in cellar doors a winery will state the Halliday-rating because people recognise it as such a strong guide. “Geelong Wine stands tall against the best connoisseurs from around the world now seek out Geelong’s offerings. It has evolved into a multi-
award winning wine region. “The exceptional representation at the top end of Halliday Wine Companion ratings categorically showcases and reinforces the calibre of the grapes, winemakers and wines of the Geelong region.” Region highlights in the 2012 Halliday Wine Companion include: - 13 Geelong wines were showcased in Halliday’s ‘Best of the Best’ list, featuring the highest-rated wines in Australia of each varietal; - 45 per cent of reviewed Geelong wineries were listed with the maximum five-star rating of ‘Outstanding Winery’; and - 15 per cent of reviewed Geelong wineries were listed with 4.5 star rating. The Bellarine wineries to achieve a four-star rating or above were: Banks Road Vineyard; Barrgowan Vineyard; Bellarine Estate; Curlewis Winery; Grassy
Point Winery; Jack Rabbit Vineyard; Leura Park Estate; McGlashan’s Wallington Estate; Marcus Hill Vineyard; Mermerus Estate; Nalbara Estate; Oakdene Vineyard; and Scotchman’s Hill vineyard. “To have that many local wineries classified as being in the upper echelon of Australian wine endorses what most of us in Geelong have known for a long time – some of the best wines in this country are literally in our own back yard.” Sharp said a unique feature of the Geelong wine region was that it comprised three sub regions – The Bellarine, Moorabool Valley and Surf Coast - each boasting its own unique ‘terroir’. Many of the Bellarine top-rating wines will be showcased at the Toast to the Coast Festival, on Melbourne Cup weekend, from October 29-30. For further information: www.winegeelong.com. au or www.toasttothecoast.com.au
WED 2-3ft Average SE 16º THU 2-3ft Improving ESE 17º FRI 1-3ft Inconsistent NNE 16º SAT 2-4ft Quality NW 17º
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