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Wine Regions of Australia: Margaret River Wines

Margaret River wines and Margaret River wineries

Margaret River is located in the beautiful South West region of Western Australia. It is located 272 kilometres south of Perth, city. Situated just three hours drive from Perth, the Margaret River wine region offers a huge selection of world-class wines from over 90 wineries.

The Margaret River Wine Region covers the area between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin and east to Busselton, enveloping a cluster of towns, each with its own distinct personality.

Signature wine varieties: With its maritime influenced climate, Chardonnay along with red and white Bordeaux-style blends are particularly successful. The region has become famous for its fruity, dry white wines, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

Responsible for only 1% of Australia's wine production, that small amount contributes 20% to the finest quality wines in Australia!

Harvest time: End of February through to mid-April

Climate: The climate is warm maritime with cooling breezes (and sometimes strong winds) off the Indian Ocean. Most rain falls in autumn and winter. There are 8.1 sunshine hours per day and an annual rainfall of 1160mm. Growing season rainfall is usually about 200mm.

With all it's charm and beauty, the Margaret River wine region is such a long distance away for most of us, making it difficult to do regular visits to the Margaret River wineries. However, some of the beautiful, world-class Margaret River wines are available for delivery right to your door step:

Beckett's Flat - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/beckettsflat
Island Brook Estate - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/islandbrookestate
Moss Brothers - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/mossbrothers
Sandstone - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/sandstone
The Grove Vineyard - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/thegrovevineyard
Vasse River - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/vasseriverwines
Windows - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/windowsmargaretriver

Enjoy!

Have you enjoyed the wines from these or other Margaret River wineries? Let me know, I'd love to hear of your experience.

Wine Tasting Tip: How to Serve Wine

More wine tasting tips

While I'm still on the subject of wine tasting tips, here's a tip for you on the best way to serve wine.

For sparkling wine, pour it down the side of the glass to protect the precious bubbles (just like beer!).

For still wine, whether that be red wine or white wine, pour it into the centre of the glass to let the aroma fill the glass and float upwards.

And, never fill a glass more than two-thirds. (This allows you to swirl the wine to release it's full aroma and, since the aroma of the wine is just as important as the taste, this will improve your experience of that wine).

P.S. Quote of the Day - "The juice of the grape is the liquid quintessence of concentrated sunbeams." (Thomas Love Peacock 1785-1866)

Wine Tasting Tip: How long does an open bottle of wine last?

Wine tasting tips

Here's a wine-tasting tip from Australia's Boutique Wineries for how long an open bottle of wine will last...

1 - 2 days for light white wines (e.g. Riesling), red wines (e.g. Pinot Noir), pink wines and sparkling wines.
3 - 4 days for fuller-bodied white wines (e.g. Chardonnay), fuller-bodied red wines (e.g. Shiraz) and sweet white wines.
1 - 2 weeks for pale dry sherry and vintage port.
3 months for tawny port, muscat, tokay and sweet sherry.

P.S. Quote of the Day - "Every glass of wine we drink represents a whole year of vineyard cultivation and perhaps several years of effort in the winery... Yet most of us throw it away, straight down our throats, without even trying to "read" it!" (Jancis Robinson)

Wine Regions of Australia: Hunter Valley Wines

Hunter Valley Wines and Hunter Valley Wineries

One of the best known and also the most visited wine regions of Australia is the Hunter Valley in NSW. Apart from their beautiful wines, it's popularity is probably partly due to the Hunter Valley's high visibility, being only 2 hours drive north of Sydney.

The Hunter Valley is also Australia's oldest wine-producing region. Wine grapes (as distinct from table grapes) have been grown and processed in the Hunter Valley for more than 180 years.

The region is unofficially divided into the Lower Hunter and Upper Hunter Valley with one official sub-region Broke Fordwich.

Signature wine varieties: The signature varieties of Hunter Valley wines include Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz.
Harvest time: Late March to late April.
Climate: The region has a hot, humid summer and cool winter.

Hunter Valley Wines

With more than 70 Hunter Valley wineries, you'll find it difficult to visit all of them in a day or two and taste their wines as well. So, this is where Online Hunter Valley Wines comes in - you can enjoy the boutique Hunter Valley wineries experience from the comfort of home.

You could start with some of the beautiful wines from these Hunter Valley wineries:

Apthorpe Estate - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/apthorpeestate
Catherine Vale Vineyard - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/catherinevalevineyard
Foate's Ridge - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/foatesridge
Kelman Vineyard - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/kelmanvineyard
Tranquil Vale Vineyard - http://www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/tranquilvale

PS. Quote of the Day - "Good wine is a necessity of life for me." (Anonymous)

Today's Wine Ratings: Five Geese (Hillgrove Wines)

Five Geese Wines, aka Hillgrove Wines

These boutique wines keep being recognised for just how good they are. Here's a review for the Five Geese McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003 written by Phillip White in the Adelaide Advertiser Food & Wine section on 12/04/06.

Five Geese McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003

93 points
13 percent alcohol
Screw cap

"I'm getting old", says Sue Trott. "But, we're all getting better at growing grapes, aren't we?" Especially true, on her account. This lush Shiraz is beautifully mellow and languorous, with that glint of smoky peat the priceless Blewitt Springs sands impart. It's easily mistaken for oak. With impeccable balance and velvety tannin, this perfectly accompanies french onion soup.

This wine is available at www.boutiquewineries.com.au/winery/fivegeese