James Halliday Wine Companion 2008: Alternative Varietal Wines

James Halliday's Wine Companion has become the de facto benchmark in Australia. As much as I detest the mentality of buying wine by the points, it is a commercial reality that getting an entry into the Companion with a high score is very important.

Winemakers using new varieties to make wine in Australia are always striving to get the message about their creations across.

They have a few helpers, some wine journalists make a point of trying to write about alternatives regularly, and the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show does a great job. I hope that this website is also playing its part.

The message is steadily getting through - great wines are being made from non-mainstream varieties. As I loiter around wine shows I frequently inadvertently overhear conversations between winemakers or staff and punters.

The tentative question

"What is Sangiovese?"

is gradually being replaced with the confident

"Can I try your Sangiovese?"

(The pronunciation seems to be getting a little better too.)

Finding alternative varieties in the Wine Companion

I have built this page for those who haven't yet bought a copy of the Wine Companion (see how you can buy James Halliday Wine Companion 2008 here) and for those who haven't yet read all 766 pages.

Winemakers whose alternative varieties are listed in the 2008 Wine Companion are invited to list their successes via the form below.

Consumers can follow the links, read about the wines and add their comments on the individual wines.

Winemakers Contributions

Winemakers, tell us about your alternative varietal wines that are listed in the 2008 Wine Companion.

Click below to see what other Vinodiversity readers think about this wine...