Welcome to the November Vinodiversity News.

Goodness it's nearly November. They'll have the Easter eggs on the shelves soon. We are a little early with this newsletter but there are a couple of important announcements I'd like to get out to you.

Bacchus and the Bird

Sorry no recipe of the month for November, just a whole cookbook for free. I've been busy in the kitchen again. Well, busy at the keyboard tapping away at topics culinary.

The result, so far is a nice little ebook called Bacchus and the Bird. It has a about a dozen or so recipes, and they are all matched to interesting wines. You may guess that they are not all Sauvignon BlanK. The price so far is free, but once the commercial frenzy of Christmas really gets going I'm to start charging for it. So get in quick.

Zinfandel is a variety I have only warmed to over the past couple of years

Is it Zinfandel or is it Primitivo? Well sorry, it's neither - its really Crljenak Kaštelanski. The Croatians named it first. But people still call it Zinfandel or Zin. No Albarino/Savagnin style political correctness here.

Now I'm starting to write a magnum opus - Vinodiversity's Compleat World Guide to Zinfandel/Primitivo/Crljenak Kaštelanski with lots of recipes and food pairing. Maybe I'll come up with a ZINgier title.

But I need your help. Can you give me some suggestions or recipes for foods to go with Zin? Contributions from winemakers most welcome - give your Zin a gentle plug.

See this page about Zinfandel and food to add your piece of wisdom about this variety.

Melbourne Alternative Varieties Club

A small group of winelovers enjoyed the first outing of the Club. We had a dinner with eight fabulous wines - Albarino, Gruner Veltliner, Malbec, Mencia, Monastrell, Pinot Meslier, Tannat and Weschriesling.

Church St Enoteca in Richmond is holding an event on 11 November called Tour of the Obscure. They promise a few rare Italian varieties matching some of their great food. I've booked a table for the Alternative Varieties Club. You are welcome to join us. Details here or email me via the contact page.

Federation Square Regional Wine Showcase

The monthly showcase rolls on. Western Victoria has it's turn this month so we will see wineries from Ballarat, Grampians (Great Western), Henty (Portland), and Pyrenees (Avoca) Regions. I'll be there with my Vinodiversity table. Drop in for a chat. Details of the Wine Showcases here

Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show

This event is holding its tenth show in Mildura. Winemakers from around the country submit their wines made with emerging varietals. There is always a surprise or two. Last year the top wine of the show was from a relatively unknown winery - Mayford Tempranillo 2006 from Alpine Valleys Region.

I'll give a report and a listing of the 2009 award winners in next months newsletter. Meanwhile you can check out the AAVWS Site

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