The winter chill is in the air and its time we reached for a warming fortified wine, and we all know Australia makes some of the worlds best. And just to reaffirm what we already knew, renowned American wine critic Robert Parker Jr. has just awarded an unprecedented 100/100 to Bullers and Chambers wineries for their $100 bottles of Muscat!

But even better for the average punter like you and me is that their $20 bottles rated mid 90’s, brilliant drinking to be had at an affordable price. Now before you ask, we haven’t got these labels in store at the moment as I believe since the review they have sold out the world over, but it does highlight the incredible value our Australian Muscat’s, Ports and Tokays represent.

So when you next pop in we have a great selection of Australia’s best fortified wines just waiting for you to take them home and get snuggly with them.

Here’s a common question we get asked in the shop,

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“What’s the difference between Tawny port and Vintage Port?”
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...Well, the difference lies in the making of Tawny and Vintage Ports.

Tawnys start off with grape varieties like shiraz, grenache, touriga, mataro and cabernet. They are crushed and fermented, but near the end of fermentation and whilst the wine is quite high in sugar, the wine maker will add some brandy or grape spirit.

This fortifies it, stops the ferment and fixes the sugar levels. Then it goes into oak casks for long ageing, adding that lovely nuttiness to the port.

The winemaker will blend this with other vintages to make the house style; Club, Grandfather, Para etc. This tawny port is ready for immediate drinking, and once opened doesn’t have to be drunk straight away. It is recommended to knock it off within a couple of months.

VP is quite a different kettle of fish entirely. Similar grapes are used but the wine maker will bring in his big fat cousin Guido to stomp extra hard on the grapes and extract every bit of juice he can!

The ferment is allowed to go a bit longer to make a drier wine before the hard liquor is pitched in to stop the ferment. This is all pumped into casks for a couple of years before bottling. This is done without the sort of filtering that is common place with red wines, and as such the vintage port will contain more sediment.

VPs need cellaring, sometimes for as much as 20 years before giving their best and becoming smooth and approachable like tawnys. Enjoy them with blue cheese and one of the fine cigars we have in our humidor.

Wine Club Tours

Bad news for anyone who wanted tickets for the Voyager to Mildara tour as we are BOOKED OUT!

Teach you to drag your heels when we start selling tickets for our tours! But you’ll know what to do next time I announce a tour, get in quick to reserve tickets for a good time!

And it just so happens I’m in the midst of organizing a full day tour to the Riverland visiting a number of wineries and lunching at Banrock Station. Sound Good? I’ll post more info soon.

Wine Expo

Here it is Ladies and Gentlemen, the date for the biggest Fishers Fine Wine Expo yet!!!

Diary this in,

Saturday 30th July 11am to 5pm

The Settlers

Don’t miss this !!!

New Cleanskin

We’ve got a new nudie bottle in store, it’s a terrific blend of 2001 Limestone Coast Cab Sav and McLaren Vale Shiraz. It’s drinking beautifully now and is only $10.95. (I’m sure that if it was labelled it would have to retail for over $18!)

We have it on taste in store all week, so you can check it out for yourself.

Featured Wine

Lindemans 2002 Reserve Cab Sav

Ross the Boss had this to say about the wine…

“Some wines are over priced and most are about on the money, but sometimes you will come across one that over delivers for the price you pay, this is one of them. The Lindemans Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has great robust flavours and a well balanced oak structure. A stand out."

Ross Griffiths.

This Weeks Tastings

This week we have PENNYFIELDS wines on taste between 4pm and 7pm

The lucky winner of last weeks tasting prize was Susan Westcroft, Congrats, you have picked up two bottles of Southern Secret Wines.

Pop in any time to collect your prize.

The regulars keep coming back to the tastings

Specials

Nottage Hill range and Seaview Fizz any three for $20

Black Jack Bourbon $23.97

McCallum Scotch $22.97

StRemy Brandy $22.97

Johnnie Walker Scotch $26.97

Carlton Midstrength $25.97

Boags Draught $23.97

Hahn Ice 30 can block $26.97

Heineken Lager 6pack $13.97 + free metal stubbie holder

Coolabah 4Ltr cask $8.97

Jim Beam and cola cans 18pk $39.97

 

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That’s all folks, see you in store soon.......

Don’t forget its five o’clock somewhere