What are the ideal storage and serving temperatures for my wine? STORAGE TEMPERATURE All wine should be stored at around 13 degrees, and avoid temperatures over 18 degrees. FOR SERVING REDS A little under room temperature, ideally 16-18 degrees. Served to cold it will be tight and the flavours will not develop, but served too warm […]

WHAT DIFFERENTIATES ORANGE FROM OTHER WINE REGIONS? Wines from Orange and the Central ranges region are known to be light to medium bodied, elegant, aromatic and very fine. This is due to the uniquely harsh terroir and also the result of the heat summation. Orange Terroir: being nestled on the side of a mountain, means […]

Tim Smith Wines is a 5 RED STAR Halliday winery. And now head winemaker Tim has been awarded the highly respected title of Barossa Winemaker of the Year by the Barons of Barossa. So, who is Tim? Tim started his career in wine by working as a cellar hand for Yalumba in 1987 – 15 […]

Heading south from Bendigo through harsh country side towards brooding Mount Alexander, I can’t help but be amazed by how far removed the reality of the wine growing and making industry is from the perceived romance of wine – and the beautifully presented bottles of hard labour and heartache that grace the shelves of bottle […]

Heathcote is Victoria’s premium Shiraz producing region. It is positioned in the heartland of central Victoria – mid way between Shepparton and Bendigo. The countryside is truly Australian – harsh, dry, dusty and has a low rainfall. The conditions here are difficult, with some years suffering from drought and others from too much rainfall or […]

Driving up into Beechworth I realize that this is going to be a very different wine experience. At 530m it is approx. 360m higher than Albury and Wangaratta – both less than 40 minutes away. Entering the township is a trip into yesteryear. Obviously an extremely rich centre in the mid 1800’s gold years, the heritage […]

It is October. I head west from the Hume as the sun breaks over the rolling hills behind me. Its golden glow spreads over the tapestry of green. Dotted between the fields, vineyards and livestock are magnificent Victorian federation buildings. It’s clearly a region that enjoyed wealth from the mid 1800’s gold rush. Entering Rutherglen […]

WHAT IS SHIRAZ VIOGNIER? Shiraz Viognier is the blend of 93 – 97% Shiraz with a small volume of Viognier white grape – normally only 3 – 7%. WHAT DOES VIOGNIER DO TO SHIRAZ WINE? Viognier is a white wine variety that has very unique characteristics. It has a floral nose, hints of apricot and […]

Heathcote is Victoria’s premium Shiraz producing region. It is positioned in the heartland of central Victoria – mid way between Shepparton and Bendigo. The countryside is truly Australian – harsh, dry, dusty and has a low rainfall. The conditions here are difficult, with some years suffering from drought and others from too much rainfall or frost. […]

So what is Amarone? And what makes it so special? Amarone is an Italian style of dry red wine, that is all about the winemaking technique. Originating in the Veneto region in North-Eastern Italy, it is traditionally known for its strong, rich, powerful flavour. This intensity comes from the drying process… The grapes are harvested […]