2. Emerging Varietal Wines Book Launch

3. Availability of the book

4. Victorian Showcase

5. Website updates

**********************

1. Vinodiversity Wine Club Launched

I have just finished the arrangements for the launch of Vinodiversity Wine Club.

The first offer is for a superb mixed dozen of wines from emerging varieties made by Aldinga Bay in the McLaren Vale. I have negotiated a special price with winemaker Nick Girolamo who is keen to demonstrate the virtues of alternative varieties in the Australian environment. Further offers will be added progressively, but when you see this one you will agree that the first offer will be hard to beat.

A few members have reported that the special on Yendah Vale Sangiovese had sold out by the time they tried to buy. Sorry about that. Winemakerschoice who are the merchants were holding a warehouse sale and it just went out the door. I will keep you informed through this newsletter or more frequently through the Vinodiversity blog at http://vinodiversity.blogspot.com

***********************
2. Emerging Varietal Wines Book Launch

The book was launched at a function at Cloudwine Cellars in South Melbourne on Saturday 4 February. An enthusiastic group of winelovers came along to see what the fuss was about and to try some interesting wines presented by winemaker Joel Pizzini. The Verduzzo, Arneis, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo were all very well received. Joel also brought some Brachetto grapes to taste as they don't have any wine from the variety yet. Brachetto is used in Italy to produce a light sparkling red wine and Pizzini intends to do something similar.

I was particularly pleased to have Cloudwine Cellars involved as they have done great work in supporting boutique wineries in Victoria and throughout Australia. They have stores in South Melbourne, Camberwell and Brighton.

For those of you who missed out you can order your book online from this link https://www.vinodiversity.com/buyevwa

**********************
3. Other places you can buy the book

Emerging Varietal Wines of Australia in now being retailed by Books for Cooks, 233-235 Gertrude St Fitzroy, Victoria. This is a wonderful shop with new and used books dealing with all aspects of the culinary arts including a fine wine book collection.

The cellar door at Crittenden at Dromana are also selling the book. Garry Crittenden has an impressive record for promoting new varieties, especially Italian varieties.

Other bookshops and cellar doors will be retailing the book. The quickest way to get the book is by ordering it online through http://www.darbyhiggs.com Don't worry, although you order and pay for the book in US dollars your copy will be printed and dispatched from a facility near you.

**********************
4. Victorian Wine Regions Showcase Series

I will be flying the flag for alternative wine varieties at the Victorian Wine Regions Showcase Series throughout this year. These are held on the first Wednesday and Thursday of each month at Federation Square in Melbourne. The next Showcase will be for Western Victorian wineries on 1 and 2 of March. The April Showcase will feature North Western Victorian wines.

*********************
5. Website updates

New and substantially revised pages on the Vinodiversity Website are now given a pointer at this page You could add it to your bookmarks (favourites) or you might like to set up an RSS feed to be kept informed.

Recent pages have included updated or new pages on McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, and Mornington Peninsula wine regions and the information on wineries using Pinot Grigio/Gris.

With the launch of the Vinodiversity Wine Club, this newsletter is even more valuable. You can share it with a friend by just pressing the forward button on your email program.