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Classes and Trophies in Wine Shows  Robert Asks :
My Steven's 2006 Semillon has a heap of Gold Medals, at various shows and in various classes, and a Trophy.

Are classes standard for ...

Is there any Grechetto in Australia?  A Reader Asks:

Is anybody growing Grechetto and making wine with it in Australia? (used in Orvieto Italian white wines)

Darby Replies

I don't ...

Best Wine Grape varieties for Northern NSW  Bruce asks:

Can you please advise on suitable wine grape varieties for North NSW. Broadly, the climate is wet, humid summers and dry winters, with ...

Where can I buy Txacoli in Australia  A reader Phillip has asked

Where can I buy Txakoli in Australia?

Can You Help?

Note by Darby


Txakoli is a light sharp white wine from ...

John Gladstone's book "Viticulture and Environment"  Geoff Says

I'm trying to obtain the aforementioned book however your site says it's out of print. Could you please tell me how I might be able to ...

Sources of Italian wines in Australia  A reader has emailed me

We have just recently returned from our trip to Italy. We enjoyed many wines from Tuscany but preferred the Sicilian Nero ...

Jacquelines Ridge Sav Blanc  Faye asks about Jacquelines Ridge Sav Blanc:

I have had this wine in Brisbane and live in Melbourne. Where can I buy it?

I can't find it anywhere....

Barossa Varieties?  Rob Asks

Do you think that Tempranillo, Graciano, and Mataro are varieties that are well suited to the Barossa/Eden area?

I ask about Mataro because ...

Substitute for madeira wine  Rick asks:
I need to make a Madeira sauce, but no Madeira is available. What do I use as a substitute?

Darby says
I think that recipes which specify ...

Sulphur Preservatives in Wine  Michael Asks

Why do some wine makers use preservative 224 and some use 220. Is there any technical difference or is it local or personal choice?

Darby ...

Finished wine bottle etiquette  Marie Asks:

When you finish a bottle of wine should you turn the bottle upsidedown in the wine cooler? This was done at a pub to let the waitress ...

Similar wines to barolo  A Reader asks:
I have a recipe that requires Barolo wine, but I am not sure of the type of wine Barolo is.

Could you tell me what type of Australian ...

When does a grape variety cease being alternative?  Larry Asks:

Reading your latest newsletter , it occurred to me that I too wondered when a grape variety became mainstream. The two varieties mentioned ...

sugar content of wine  Paul Asks:
Is there a ready reckoner for sugar content, so that the buyer knows if it is sweet or dry?

What is sugar content of the chambourcin variety ...

Saperavi - who had it firts in Australia?  Lesslie Asks:
Which grape nursery released Australia's first Saperavi?

Darby Says
The variety has been listed as one in the Merbein Grapevine ...

what is the spelling/name of a blended wine ....it mean 'maniac'  Kate asks:
Can't find the correct spelling of a blended wine, The person that told me about it guessed a spelling 'meneacol'...said it means maniac....

Who currently stocks Lazy Ballerina Shiraz in U.K or Europe?  John Asks: Please help, Where can I buy/order Lazy Ballerina Shiraz in U.K.or Europe? I am desparate to share the flavour with my wife.

Darby Says:...

How old is too old for drinking Tempranillo and Grenache?  A reader asks:

I have just gotten a 2003 Glaymond Tempranillo and a 2004 Glaymond Grenache should I hurry and drink them, or are they on the edge ...

Wine Bottle Base Hole Denoting Wine Quality?  Paul Asks

Hi - Is it true that the deeper the hole on the base of the actual bottle does suggest that the quality of the wine is excellent.

When ...

St MaCaire Wine  Today I opened a 1982 LoxtonMedia Estate Saint Macaire wine, fully expecting to have to pour it down the sink but I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted ...

Diamanté blu - can you help?  Desperately looking for Fratelli Saraceni Diamanté Blu peach wine from Florence, just returned from Italy.
Any ideas for Brisbane buyers apart from shipping ...

Pinot Bianco plantings in Australia?  Can you provide me with information about where the Italian variety Pinot Bianco is planted in Australia and what its availability as wine is and where ...

Tempranillo Graciano Blends  A Vinodiversity reader's question

I have been impressed with a few Tempranillo/Graciano blends

Hello Darby,

I have recently come across this ...

Value of old wines  A reader asks:
I have two old bottles of wine which I'd like to know the value of.

I have a 1989 bottle of De Bortoli Shiraz, and the second bottle ...

Thanks for your Mourvedre page  Jane writes
Just to say I love your website. I wanted to find out about local representations of Mourvedre and your list was spot on. Many thanks

Jane ...

Fiano - Terroir and disease resistance   Fiano - Terroir and disease resistance

Brain Asks

We live in a coastal area with humid summers. The red wine variety Chambourcin grows well here ...

Correction in Saperavi article  Nick Writes

There is one mistake in an articla about Saperavi. Saperavi truely means 'dyer' but not in Russian. It is a Georgian word. 'peri' means ...

Wine Bottles  Peter Says A friend of mine recently told me that you can tell a good wine by the bottle it comes in. He said winemakers don't put ordinary wines in ...

Please recommend a wine club  Denise asks about a wine club My wine club has just been taken over by Woolworths, and I'm concerned that diversity of product will be lost. Hence I'...

Food Pairing and Japanese Food  Vinodiversity reader Michael asks:

What are some good wines to drink with Japanese food?

Darby Says

There are a wide range of foods in Japanese ...

Grape varieties in the Hunter valley.  Richard Asks:

What grape varities are grown in the Hunter, and what wines are they specifically known for?

Darby Replies

Like most Australian ...

Bobal Grape Variety in Australia  A reader asks: I'm interested to know if anyone knows anything about the Spanish variety red wine variety Bobal, whether its grown in Australia anywhere ...

Viognier tasting - using my notes  Dear Darby

I am planning a Viognier winetasting for a group of friends (we do this once every 8 weeks or so) and I would like to distribute your notes ...

Australian Beaujolais (Gamay)  A reader asks

Where can we buy Australian Beaujolais?

Darby says:

Well we can't, there is no such thing as Australian Beaujolais.

Beaujolais ...

Wine Festival in Australia   Krista Writes:

I heard about a wine festival (not too fancy one) in Australia, where people have white clothes on and the wine is thrown all over ...

Garagists in QLD  I am a garagist from Cape Town (South Africa), who has recently relocated to Brisbane.

Over the past 10 years, I have produced about 250lts of Shiraz ...

Albarino and Vinho Verde wines   Caroline asks ,

I love Albarino and Vinho Verde wines, but can't afford to spend a lot of money. I know that you don't have to spend a lot on a good ...

What is the right wine glass?  A Reader asks
What is the right wine glass?


Lately, most restaurants we have visited have one wine glass they use whether you are drinking red ...

Marketing and wine varietal diversity  Don Asks
The so called "wine boom" in the U.S. in the 1970's certainly increased the tendency for the worldwide wine market to label varietals (rather ...

Apartments for French wine tour  Frida asks:

My paramour Milo and I are travelling to Paris and embarking on a French wine tour.

We would like to stay in apartments rather than ...

Preservatives in Wine  Bec asks:

I have asked two different bottleshop proprietors about whether they stock preservative free wine and both told me that apart from the ...

Best winemaker using Barbera Grapes  Tony Asks:

Who is the best wine maker using Barbera grapes and what are the main regions in Australia

Darby Says:

Barbera is an underated ...

Expensive Wine VS. Cheap Wine  Tom Asks:

What goes into the growing of and the making of expensive wine and how does it differ from a wine like "two buck chuck?

Darby Says:

Like ...

How do you find sugar content of wines  A reader asks is there a table to show the sugar content of wines?

Darby Says
As grapes ripen the vine manufactures sugar and stores it in the ...

Graciano, Nero Davola, or Aglianico in the Barossa  A reader asks

What variety do you think is better, Graciano, Nero d'Avola or Aglianico, What order from best to worst would they be in. Why.

I ...

How do I pronounce Savagnin?  As a volunteer, I read for 990 6RPH Information Radio (Radio for the print handicapped) in Perth and one of my programs, called Off the Vine usually includes ...

Mean January Temperature and Continentality of Wine Regions  Ashley Asks:
Which of the following is likely to have both the lowest Mean January Temperature and the highest
continentality?
a. Margaret River (WA)...

Best Travel Book for French Wine Regions  Andrew asks:

I have a friend who enjoys wine and is planning to travel to France next year. I'd like to buy them a practical guide book to French Wine ...

Light red wines in Australia  Julie asks
Can you recommend some light red wines from Australia?

I don't have a great physical tolerance for Australian 'big' red wine (although ...

Differences between McLaren Vale region compared to other regions.  Andrew asks:
I'm doing an assignment for a T.A.F.E course on McLaren Vale and have a question about how the wine style of McLaren Vale grapes compare ...

Temperature to serve a Chambourcin  Michelle asks: What is the best or recommended temperature to serve a Chambourcin at?

Darby Says: The quick answer is room temperature. But in ...

Karri Grove Verdelho 2003  Alan Asks: How long would Karri Grove Verdelho be expected to be drinkable?

Darby Says... Hmm, the conventional wisdom is that
Verdelhos are best ...

Reference about grape texture and characteristics  De Long's Wine Variety Table is a great source in getting to know the wine grape varietals.

I was wondering if there is similar source of literature ...

Ranger Park in Strathebogie ranges  Adrian asks: I'm looking for a wine that I think was called "ranger park" from the strathbogie region, I can't seem to find a reference to it anywhere ...

Verdelho In Australia  Hi there -I wonder if you could help me? I am a bit of a wine nut, love wine different varieties and so I am very impressed with your web site.

I am ...