Is it reasonable to pay $100,000 for a large bottle of wine? In turn this asks the question; knowing there is a limit to the pleasure you can derive from drinking a wine, does it mean the price paid became the reason for buying the wine? more...

How many retailers looked at the café and restaurant scene in Europe in the 1960s - 1970s and wondered if the bottled water business had a future in Australia? In the mid 1970s the local water Hepburn Spa trickled out of the Farmer Bros. stores and I recall a need to stock exotic waters like Perrier and a few from Italy. more...

In this section I develop themes which were mentioned in Parts 1 to 5: Part A discusses how climate and weather create wine flavours while briefly looking at the vast topic of the role of viticulture and wine making. I then illustrate this approach by applying these thoughts to a sample of wine regions. more...

Few wine commentators wish to understand the significance of the Murray Basin taking the view that the basin is no more than a maker of industrial wines. The average wine buyer cannot afford the wines they like to write about and to make price sensitive wines you need regions like the Murray Basin. After all over 60% of the country's wine comes from the Murray Basin while supplying the 30% packaged as casks. more...

The Federation debate continued the rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne with the location of the new capital being of great importance. After reviewing many sites the Australia Capital Territory was selected in 1908 at a mid way point between the two cities and declared on 1st January, 1911. Canberra was named as the location in 1913 and Canberra Day is remembered on the 12th March. more...

As believers search the desert for Lasseter's lost gold reef so it is that marketers at Treasury Wines study crystallography for the perfect diamond shape to revive the fortunes of the Rosemount brand. A recent marketing meeting ended with the cry 'we have found it', the diamond which will have customers grabbing bottles from the shelves of supermarkets. more...

The marketing hype said this: "Clarke (Michael Clarke CEO Treasury Wine Estates) said TWE will launch its biggest ever consumer promotion next month. For any six bottles of Penfolds Bin Series or Icon and Luxury wines purchased, consumers in Australia will be able to purchase an exclusive refrigerated wine cabinet that stores up to 32 wine bottles at a significantly reduced price. more...

Years ago Ben gave me with the insight that in the eastern hills of the Barossa, the region we call Eden Valley, lived Svetlana the keeper of Gruner Veltlinger, or as he called her the Lady of the Eastern Hills. I had doubts if such a person existed and even more doubts about the future, if any, of Gruner Veltlinger. more...

Mataro was one of the first varieties planted in South Australia and from the 1880s was a staple in the production of fortified wines. The period from the 1890s till the 1950s spans the dark ages for table wine in Australia and the choice was beer, spirits, sherry and port. more...

We have not heard from Wine Australia since 21st October, 2016 when this letter demanded further wine geographical terms be censored (see here). If you are new to this story it began on 17th August, 2016 with an email from Wine Australia. more...

When seeking information about Australian wine you might decide that Wine Australia was a good starting place; after all it says, 'The Australian Grape and Wine Authority (AGWA), trading as Wine Australia, is the single Australian Government statutory service body for the Australian grape and wine community.' more...