I've just spent some time in the northern frontier of Darwin, actually at Humpty Doo which is well south of the city centre. The choice of wine stores was the local pub outlet, the Thirsty Camel, or further up the road, at Coolalinga there was a Woolworths liquor. Spotting a bargain at either was hard work, then at Woolies I noticed the Penfolds Thomas Hyland 'Cool Climate' Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2011. The single bottle price was $16.69 and this dropped to $14.60 for six. I decided to match this with the Rosemount Diamond Label Chardonnay 2010 as I had just written a story about Rosemount (Rethinking the Shape of a Diamond) and my collecting instincts noted the bottle was the superseded diamond shaped bottle making it my last chance to pour with this curio. The price was $12.50. more...

Listen to the views of the fun police and you would think that Australia has embarked on some new kind of alcohol explosion. more...

In 2007 the Fosters Group wine division disposed of a large, 16 hectare, winery complex in the centre of the Barossa Valley, next to the town of Nuriootpa. This site housed the dreams and hopes of many companies going back to the 1930s and I suspect to the 1900s. more...

The 2007 vintage of Penfolds Grange Hermitage is on sale with the company recommending retailers sell it for around $625 a bottle. Before rushing in to buy a dozen to put away for future drinking, or as an investment if you that kind of person, consider what previous vintages have been selling for recently. more...

It has always struck me as odd that the biggest selling imported beer in Australia comes from Mexico. Beer should come from cool climates such as Germany, and places where the waters are alpine and the hops grow to perfection. Then surely the beer will taste better. Well, so much for that perception. more...

We bring you birds of Australia courtesy of Singer Sewing Machines and this is matched with Ben's award winning Kookaburra photo taken at Lakes Entrance in 2009.