Secret Vines Blog

Lets talk 'alternative' grapes.

21st October, 2009

In a wine sense 'alternative' has nothing to do with hairy armpits or grass skirts, but everything to do with an evolving Australian winemaking tradition. Different types of grape varieties are like different types of any other fruit. Everyone knows the difference between a Red Delicious or a Granny Smith apple. Just like everyone knows the difference between a Roma tomato or a Big Red.Although some grape varieties were brought out with the First Fleet, James Busby...
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Leave pass granted...

29th September, 2009

I've got a ‘leave pass' from my partner Marion, so I'm out of McLaren Vale for a couple of weeks and in Sydney, catching up with a few friends over birthday season.The problem is, I'm always hungry and I've left my chef (Marion) at home.Yer it's tough.... but I still remember how to fend for myself from my bachelor days. I'm into the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) method of self preservation.And sashimi is all about K.I.S.S.So hit your local fish monger and get hold of some seriously...
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Secret Vines Q & A

17th September, 2009

I've had a few emails over the last week asking for a bit more detail on our service. I thought I may as well share the Q & A with everyone to shed more light on why we operate the way we do....1.                   How come you have such a small range?We taste hundreds of wines a month, yet we only sell twelve different wines at a time. We cull mountains and mountains of dross to make sure every wine...
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Pizza time.....

28th August, 2009

The response by a few members to my wine nerd email this week was..... 'geez you carry on Tim, less nerd words and more recipes from Marion please.'So here's a favourite..... Marion's Turkish Lamb Pizza's.   For the dough; 450g plain flour ,1 tsp sea salt, 1/2 tsp dried yeast, 350ml warm water &  2 Tbsp olive oilPlace flour, salt and yeast in a large mixing bowl.  Pour in water a bit at a time while mixing with your hands.  Add in the olive...
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Getting a little wine nerd on it.........

26th August, 2009

Today we're going to get a little 'wine nerd' about Hollywood, while we're talking museum releases and the 2001 Frankland Estate 'Olmo's Reward'.I just love when a winery does all the hard work for me when it comes to ageing wines until they're at their absolute peak. It prevents my impetuous nature getting the better of my cellar after maybe one too many vinos with my mates. I'm sure you'll have been there too.Well, there's no threat of prematurely ejecting the 2001 Olmo's...
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Lamb shanks for a lazy day

7th August, 2009

Lamb shanks for a lazy day4  big, meaty lamb shanks 1/2 cup  plain flour 1  onion, finely diced 2  carrots, diced 4  celery stalks, diced 4  garlic cloves, finely chopped 1  fennel bulb, diced 1 Tbsp  ground fennel seeds 2 cups  red wine 3 cups  stock (chicken, vegetable or beef) 1 can  tomatoes 1 Tbsp  sugar 1  rosemary sprig 2  bay leaves olive oil for frying...
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Colour me Autumn with Hewitson's 'Gun Metal' Riesling

23rd May, 2009

Some of you may know me from Tim's description on this website as the 'Minister of War', but when I'm not giving Tim a hard time I'm fiddling around in the kitchen and blogging as The Hedonistic Hostess. I wanted to share my latest blog recipe with you because when we paired it with Hewitson's 'Gun Metal' Riesling, it was just too good a match to keep to ourselves.  The zestiness of this wine cuts through the rich stickiness of the roasted veggies.  Try it for...
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A joke from member Colin B

12th May, 2009

A new hybrid grape variety, I kid you not...New Wine  for Seniors  California  vintners in the Napa Valley area, which primarily produce Pinot  Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio wines, have developed a new  hybrid grape that acts as ananti-diuretic!  It is expected  to reduce the number of trips older people have to make to the  bathroom during the night.  The new  wine will be marketed as   PINO  MORE ...
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A Grape Escape.... here's some wine reviews which were quoted by Roberta Muir for Jetstar's inflight magazine

30th April, 2009

"A Grape Escape"Celebrate the Barossa Valley's annual harvest with its glorious Vintage Festival and its wines. TOP DROPS Whether you make it to the festival or not, check out these great new Barossa releases recommended by South Australian wine guru Tim Althaus from Secret Vines, a company of dedicated oenophiles who seek out and recommend the best of the Aussie boutique vineyards.2006 KALLESKE ‘GREENOCK' SHIRAZ It's difficult to top Barossa Shiraz and it's even harder to surpass...
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The Success behind ‘the high-rise in Coomandook'

1st April, 2009

This is an article written by David LeMire MW, one of only 274 Masters of Wine around the world. He's a remarkable guy who knows the wine industry backwards. The article is a fascinating insight for those who like to delve a little deeper and one of the most honest snap-shots you'll read about the current state of the Australian Wine Industry.  Over to you Dave..... Our industry seems more turbulent with change than ever at the moment. The much-anticipated season of...
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