Back to 2008 Daily Schedule (Itinerary)
>>> SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - AUSTRALIA
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BINDI
Bindi is the name of the Dhillon Family farm located 50 kilometers northwest of Melbourne in the Macedon Ranges. Originally purchased in the 1950s as part of the larger grazing farm known as "Bundaleer," Bindi is a 170-hectare farm of which six hectares are planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Fifteen hectares are dedicated to managed plantation eucalyptus for high grade furniture timber whilst the remainder of the land is maintained as remnant bush land and important indigenous grasslands. The Bindi vineyard is the fundamental focus of their endeavors. The vineyard and winemaking philosophy is to seek balance and purity in the expression of the various individual vineyard sites and this philosophy is applied to farming and conservation at Bindi. Bindi is committed to the preservation of the natural harmony.
Email:bindiwines@bigpond.com |
>>> SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - AUSTRALIA-TASMANIA
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BAY OF FIRES
At only 32 years old, Fran Austin came to Bay of Fires with a wealth of experience. Fran graduated from Adelaide University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science (Oenology) and was employed at Domaine Chandon with sparkling winemaker Tony Jordan. She followed this experience with stints at Matanzus Creek Winery in Sonoma County, Argyle Winery in Oregon and finally as a "flying winemaker" with Cellar World International, in southwest France. Fran was appointed to Bay of Fires in January 2002 and now lives onsite. Bay of Fires is located in Tasmania where some of the world's most celebrated cool climate grapes are grown, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and of course, Pinot Noir. In addition to their varietal wines, Bay of Fires produces a selection of sparkling wines. Tasmania's cool growing conditions, along with Bay of Fires' commitment to moderate yields, result in wines with outstanding varietal intensity, elevated fruit spice, and mineral complexity.
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FROGMORE CREEK VINEYARD
Frogmore Creek Vineyard is located in Southeast Tasmania, an island situated off the bottom right hand corner of Australia and is arguably Australia's most identifiable cool climate viticultural region. Tasmania's climate is dominated by the westerly "Roaring 40s" trade winds which produce high rainfall on the west of the island, but mild, dry conditions in its eastern half where most of the vineyards are located. Tasmania is rapidly gaining a strong reputation for its sparkling, Pinot Noir and Riesling wines as well as other cool climate varieties. Frogmore Creek Vineyard was established in the late 1990s by Californian business partners Jack Kidwiler and Tony Scherer. In 2003, they bought Hood Wines, a contract winemaking enterprise which had been established by Andrew and Jenny Hood in 1990. The winery's labels, Frogmore Creek and 42oS are sold in major markets throughout Australia and, since 2007, are also being exported to California.
Website: FrogmoreCreekVineyards.com Email:linda@frogmorecreek.com |
>>> SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - NEW ZEALAND
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FELTON ROAD
Established in 1991 with the first wines released in 1997, Felton Road is situated on north-facing slopes in Bannockburn, Central Otago. The winery is supplied exclusively from their own intensively managed 32-hectare vineyards over three sites, thereby ensuring full control over quality from pruning to bottling. The vineyards are managed by an increasing organic and biodynamic regime to ensure outstanding quality grapes. Minimal intervention in the winemaking allows the unique vineyard characteristics to express their complexities and personality in the finished wine. They produce Chardonnay and Riesling, in addition to Pinot Noir, to the tune of 10,000 cases per year. The wines have very quickly attracted considerable attention around the world and are now exported to over twenty countries worldwide.
Website: FeltonRoad.com Email:wines@feltonroad.com |
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PEGASUS BAY WINERY
Pegasus Bay Winery is a small family owned and operated winery, focused on producing high-quality wines, which express the terrior of the vineyard and the true characteristics of each variety. It is situated in the Waipara Valley, 30 minutes north of Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. To the east, the Waipara Valley is separated from the ocean (Pegasus Bay) by a range of hills, which protect it from the cooling winds of the Pacific. To the west lie the Southern Alps (Main Divide), from whence the region's hot 'nor'west' winds derive. Its sheltered position, but proximity to the sea give it warm days, cool nights, and a dry autumn, resulting in a very prolonged ripening period. This promotes intense flavor development and optimal ripeness, while retaining good natural acidity, perfect for growing Pinot Noir. Winemakers Matthew Donaldson and Lynnette Hudson (husband and wife) believe in traditional sustainable viticultural management, low crop levels, and minimal handling of fruit during processing, such that they capture the unique characteristics of the vineyard.
Website: PegasusBay.com Email:info@pegasusbay.com |