Secret Vines Blog

Showing all entries for 2009

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...
Read more… | (0) Comments

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...
Read more… | (0) Comments

Good quality wine glasses are the only tool(s) that count

9th March, 2009

Wine is one of those past times / passions / hobbies /medicines /sports (?) that doesn't require much equipment.In fact, I reckon that there is only one ‘tool' that no-one should be without and that is a decent wine glass.   Here are my thoughts....Through the looking glass:It's pretty simple really, first and foremost your glassware should be completely transparent (regardless of fashion). There is nothing worse than tinting or etching because you won't be able to see the...
Read more… | (0) Comments

Advice from the old country - you just know we're not talking cricket.....

5th March, 2009

This was a press release I received recently. I don't know this guy but I like what he has got to say. Seems like the ‘old country' has the same problems we do here in Aus."Choose carefully when you buy wines online", warns Naked Wines.As the economic recession takes its toll on consumer's spending power, revolutionary online wine retailer Naked Wines is warning wine lovers not to waste their money on dud deals when they buy wines online.(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 28, 2009 ) Norfolk ,U K...
Read more… | (0) Comments

First they trashed the Grange brand, now a great man's name

10th February, 2009

The team at Crikey question the new Penfolds advertisements which labels one of our greatest winemakers a renegade...... They say maverick...This article was first published by Crikey on 3/2/09First they trashed the Grange brand, now a great man's name. Richard Farmer writes:"Renegade: a deserter from one faith, cause, or allegiance to another; an individual who rejects lawful or conventional behavior." That Webster's Dictionary definition is hardly a flattering description to add to a man's...
Read more… | (0) Comments

Have you ever bought a bottle of wine just because it is plastered with medals?

28th January, 2009

Here at Secret Vines we won't be using wine show results to promote a wine. For the simple fact that most wine shows can lead to any old result. Below is a great excerpt recently published by Peter Mitham from www.winesandvines.com discussing the falibilities of a system that so often produces questionable results.What do you think about medals stuck on bottles of wine? Do you think the best wineries win shows? Do you find it a reliable way to select wine?Oooo..... I love the...
Read more… | (0) Comments

Wine and Sex; the latest from New Scientist

28th January, 2009

This article from well credentialled New Scientist Magazine claims that drinkers experienced rates of impotence 25% to 30% below those of teetotallers.Please don't tell us about your personal experiences here... maybe just pass it on to any of your friends that don't drink wine.Alcohol stops men being a flop in bed. 26 January 2009 by Ewen Callawayfrom http://www.newscientist.com/Men might want to remember a new rhyme: a drink a day keeps erectile dysfunction away.Despite traditional views...
Read more… | (0) Comments