 |
The Australian summer is behind us, although the warm weather is not over yet. The horrific bushfires in Victoria during February touched all Australians deeply and hit the wine industry especially hard, with the tragic death of Kinglake-based wine merchant Rob Davey, his wife and his young daughters, and wine business proprietor Greg Leonard and wife Gail. A number of wineries and vineyards in Victoria suffered significant property and stock losses, as have farms, olive groves and orchards, restaurants, accommodations and many, many others. Our hearts go out to them all.
The Australian wine trade has responded with generous donations from wine producers and retailers toward a massive wine raffle to raise funds for the Red Cross Bushfire Relief Appeal - A$100,000 of products have been donated.
Please help us turn this generosity into A$250,000 cash for affected families. Although a huge amount has already been raised from public donations, it's clear that more will be needed. VisitVineyards.com is selling 1000 of the 10,000 total tickets, and some still remain, giving you a last chance to win one of 33 fantastic wine prizes. All money raised goes to the Red Cross.
First prize is enough wine for a complete cellar collection, worth A$25,000. You have until midday on March 11th to make your contribution and be in the draw - it's A$25 per ticket to help rebuild peoples' lives. But don't delay - it's unlikely there will be any tickets left by the 11th.
If you purchase 5, 8 or 10 tickets you will also receive free VisitVineyards.com Membership(s). The terms and conditions can be viewed on the purchase page below.
February has been a trying month around the country, with massive floods up north and continued drought elsewhere. Only in Australia... but it normally settles in March, so it's a good time to think about getting out into the regions and supporting those trying to get back on their feet the best way you can - with your custom and a supportive smile when you visit.
But if you can't get out of town just yet, and happen to be in Melbourne, show your support and head to Fed Square on the 3rd or 4th for a special bushfire-affected winemakers' showcase (more details below). VisitVineyards.com Members get a A$5 discount on entry, too (this month and throughout 2009).
In this edition:
|
Quick Links:
Upgrade and become a Member - A$99 for a whole year of benefits (A$169 per couple)
Quick Poll:
  |
 |
The concept of terroir is central to the French approach to winemaking, but does it mean anything to us in Australia? It's not all wide, flat and brown. Victorian winemaker Tom Carson - whose Yarra Valley vineyard Serrat was destroyed in the February bushfires - joins Burgundy's Alex Moreau (Domaine Bernard Moreau) in a masterclass at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival on March 21 to discuss the concept of terroir. VisitVineyards.com caught up with Tom for a sneak preview of his session.
More wine:
- Location is no limitation for winemakers who want to make the best wines they possibly can. Adelaide-based winemaker Jonathon Hesketh is proving that by sourcing fruit from all over the world and making wine without borders.
- Australian terroir was discussed by some big wine names in February, and we were there to listen to special UK guest Jancis Robinson MW, James Halliday and others from around the country and globe discuss the terroir effect on the pinot noirs of Australia, and especially the host region Mornington Peninsula. This is the first in our series of articles on the Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir Celebration 2009, held every two years to celebrate this grape variety. You can almost
taste the Peninsula terroir... we did.
|
 |
The best value whites in Taste Food and Wine 2009 are Rieslings, which should come as no surprise because this has been true for years. Those who are not drinking of this elegant grape variety are missing out on drama and excellence in every glass. Check out our top 10 great value Rieslings.
More tasting notes:
|
 |
Our team has been busy chasing some great new offers for VisitVineyards.com Members, from all over Australia and beyond. Yes, we hear you - we're now in the process of expanding outside the Mornington Peninsula, because as beautiful as it is we realise you can't all get to the Peninsula, or even Victoria, this year. If you're travelling in wine and food regions around Australia, make sure you check Members' offers to see where you'll get exclusive offers and the best VisitVineyards.com deals.
Here's some of the latest Members' offers - we upload new ones every week. You can view and search these on your mobile phone or PDA when travelling
- Note the 8th of March in your diaries - Hedonistic Hiking and The Buckland Retreat and Cafe (Porepunkah, Victoria) invite VisitVineyards.com Members who book into their Lazy Lunch Italian Style to bring along a friend for free...
- Red Hill Estate's (Mornington Peninsula) annual wine clearance is one not to be missed for VisitVineyards.com Members. Held from 10am to 6pm from Friday 6th to Monday 9th of March 2009, prices start at only A$40 per dozen. Be there.
- Aire Valley Restaurant is situated on a hill just west of Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road (Victoria). The Homestead dates from the 1890s and overlooks the Aire River Wildlife Reserve and the beautiful Great Otway National Park. They have a great offer: stay two nights and dine in the restaurant, and save $150 or stay three nights and dine and save $250. That's more than your annual Membership back in just one stay.
- In the bountiful Margaret River of Western Australia, Voyager Estate - winner of the best winery restaurant in Australia 2009 - will be onboard very soon. Ever wondered why the famous viticultural sub-region Caves Road got its name? Have a break from wine tasting and find out - produce your Membership card and receive a 10% discount on entry to the Lake, Mammoth and Jewel Caves. Another day, go for a drive south and visit Cape Leeuwin lighthouse, and see the junction of the Indian and Southern Oceans from a seagull's eye view.
- Designed for lovers of food and cooking enthusiasts, Sydney's Greekalicious' culinary adventures will uncover the secrets of Greek cuisine and joys of cooking delicious local food; in fun, relaxed and friendly places. Members who book and pay for a tour in full receive a complimentary double pass to a Greekalicious cooking class - something to look forward to on your return or in preparation for the adventure ahead. Your Membership back in one day!
- Don't forget VisitVineyards.com Members receive 5% off all purchases at Auscellardoor (includes glassware and other items), and free freight for orders over A$200.
Next month we'll feature more offers in other States, and for you to enjoy in between your wine region travels, too.
|
 |
Food, fashion and wine may have changed dramatically over the past 30 years, but one thing remains the same according to award-winning Stillwater chef Don Cameron of Launceston: diners want to have a good experience that is memorable.
More food:
|
|
Melbourne is crawling with food, wine and its lovers during March. Don't miss out on great events throughout Victoria to celebrate its fine produce. You'll find all the major events, and some minor ones too, for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival on VisitVineyards.com, so check out our events page and start planning your visit. Make sure you include getting out of the city to explore Victoria's amazing wine and food regions - as far as possible we've updated our listings to cover those festival events postponed or cancelled by the recent bushfires.
More events:
- Langham Masterclass Series (wine and food) - March 21 and 22, Melbourne
- Explore the Mornington Peninsula Harvest to Table festival - from real ale, to olives, wine with vegetarian cuisine, breadmaking for children to special hawker stall food and a Bollywood seaside extravaganza! Who needs to travel overseas, especially when most offer special prices for our Members?
- Sydney: Taste of Sydney Festival - March 12-15, 2009. This is the perfect occasion to sample signature dishes freshly prepared by world-famous chefs whilst exploring specialist culinary delights, sampling fine beverages and enjoying a fabulous program of music and entertainment.
- Fancy art, theatre and music with your wine? Then come to Tasmania for your cultural and gourmet fix, and find out why islanders are creatively different at 10 Days on the Island, from 27th March to 5th April.
|
 |
Special Members’ offer for Federation Square Victorian Wine Regions Showcase Series 2009
We are delighted to announce that in 2009, all VisitVineyards.com Members receive a A$5 discount per person on entry to the Federation Square Victorian Wine Regions Showcase, which is held on the first Wednesday and Thursday of each month, at - you guessed it - the (indoor) Atrium of Federation Square. Just show your VisitVineyards.com Membership card at the desk. Entry is A$20 for Members; $25 for everyone else - this year there is also live music.
Their next event (this week) is a special bushfire wineries showcase on March 4th and 5th, with tastings and sales from the winemakers affected by the recent bushfires, from 4.30pm. Be there to show your support. Everyone will receive a special $5 coupon to redeem against purchases of wines from the makers - so help them in two ways, by being there, and buying. Three cheers to Fed Square for putting this event on at such short notice.
Next month it's Sunbury/Macedon on 1st and 2nd of April.
All Members have to do is to show your VisitVineyards.com Membership card to receive your discount. Truly your passport to greater wine enjoyment (these events are fun!)
|
 |
Competitions and winners – win wine, books and more in March
Celebrate life - wine, food and laughter - in March and enter our competitions. This month we have our normal subscribers and Members' competitions, plus two extra competitions for those who respond by email! Read more and enter below.
SUBSCRIBERS:
- Cover yourself in wine - literally - with bodycare products from Curly Vine,
- read up on what to serve fresh in Autumn in Seasonal, or
- find out what wine with what food with Taste Food and Wine 2009.
Read more and submit your free March entry here.
VisitVineyards.com MEMBERS could be
- sipping on wines from Dromana and Red Hill Estate on the fabulous Mornington Peninsula,
- enjoying a chuckle with Kingsley Amis over his views on Everyday Drinking, or
- tasting wines from their favourite Victorian Wine region at the Fed Square Wine Showcase (two double passes to be won, valid through 2009).
Enter the March Members' competition here
Are you a February winner? Find out which subscribers won the sparkling wines from Deutz and who will be discovering salmon's inner secrets here.
Who of our VisitVineyards.com Members won the Hesketh worldly wines? And which Member's family will be celebrating the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival at The Point in Albert Park? Is it you?
NOTE: If prizes are unclaimed they will be redrawn. So don't think 'I never win anything' - please check to find out.
FOR THE QUICK: If you're an entrepreneur or just interested in discovering the latest business ideas and philosophies, we've also got 3 annual subscriptions for Australian Anthill magazine to give to the first three subscribers or Members (resident of Australia) who email us at subscribers@visitvineyards.com
And courtesy of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, we have 6 tickets to giveaway:
- two to the Connex Sizzle at Fed Square on Saturday 14th March (valued at A$35 each),
- two to the Cellar Door at Southgate on Saturday 21st/Sunday 22nd March, where VisitVineyards.com will have a stand - please come and visit us (tickets are valued at A$25 each) and
- two to the Global Trends session at The Langham, 1.30-6.30 pm Monday 23rd March (valued at A$40 each).
To enter, please email us by midnight Sunday 8th March, stating your event preference, to be in the draw on Monday 9th. (Your ticket will be express posted to you).
If you're a new subscriber or Member, you may not know that we offer fabulous wine, dining, book and travel prizes in our free monthly competitions so enter each month to be in the subscribers' draw, or for Members' competitions (with even better prizes) enter here.
|
|
Complete our survey by 15th March for a chance to win Grange '98
Our subscriber survey is open and thanks to more than 600 of you who have provided valuable feedback already - be assured we'll take it all onboard. We want to make planning your visit to Australian wine and food regions the best experience it can be.
To encourage your feedback you have the chance to win four great wine prizes if you complete it before 15th March:
The person making the best suggestion this month for a new Members' offer will receive a bottle of Tasmanian pinot noir as a thank you, so please also email us your recommendations. Or you might just like to fill in our quick poll above - tell us your views on pinot noir, or the best (or worst) of wine back labels.
Have a great wine and food month, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Salut!
Robyn Lewis and the VisitVineyards.com team
|
|
|
This email was sent to [email address suppressed] by VisitVineyards.com - PO Box 488, North Hobart TAS 7002, Australia.
Click here to unsubscribe
Know someone who may enjoy reading this
newsletter or might like to become a Member? Please click here to forward a link to them.
© Visit Vineyards® and Winepros Archive 2009 All rights reserved.
All images are © of their respective Copyright owners and are used with permission.
PS If you can’t view the newsletter correctly, please click here to read it online. You can also read past editions of this newsletter by clicking here.
|
|
