U3ACastlemaineWineAppreciationGroup4July2019

WinesandfoodpresentedbyBronnieDandDavidDWomenWinemakers

LilianCarter–Wine1–SymphoniaProsecco2016 **wineofthenight**

https://symphoniafinewines.com.au/

Raised on a vineyard in Victoria's Rutherglen region,Lilian Carter was introduced to the delights of fruittastingandwinemakingataveryyoungage.Herfondmemoriesofstrollingthroughthevineyardsledhertopursueacareeramongthevines.

She had always been passionate about science and,after completing her degree in oenology at theUniversityofAdelaide,shetravelledtogainexperienceonvineyardsintheBarossaValley,MarlboroughinNewZealand,SouthAfricaandtheNingxiaregionofChina,whereshewasawardedthe"WineofChina''trophyforachardonnay.

Afterhersuccessoverseas,shereturnedhomeandhasworkedwithtoptierproducers.Shehasbeeninvolvedinallaspectsofwineproduction,withsomeofthemostwell-regardedglobalwinebusiness’andsomeofthebestnicheproducers,inlocationsthathaverangedfromtheestablishedBarossaValleytothewinefrontierofXinjiang,China.

Since2012Lilianhasfocusedthisaccumulatedexperienceontwoobjectives:

1. ensuringsustainabilityandsuccessforsmallandmediumsizedproducersthatarethefoundationofadiverseAustralianwineindustry

2. buildingconnectionsandsupportingthegrowthofthewineindustryandmarketinChina,Asiaanddomestically

In2015,LilianwasinvitedtoparticipateinWineAustralia’sFutureLeadersProgramandiscurrentlyChairoftheVictorianWinesShowCommittee.

TastingNotes

Thewinestyleiszesty,withacitrusaromaandacrispflavour.Enticinglyunderstated,beautifullypoisedandrefreshinglydry,thisisaproseccoofaccuratefruitexpressionoflemon,nashipearandgrannysmithapple,with lowdosage giving freedom to cool KingValley acidityof greatpersistence andperfectly harmoniousintegration.Abeautifullycomposedanddelicatelypoisedaperitif.

Foodpairing:Salmon,tuna,shellfish,softcheese.

Alcohol:11.2%

Hallidayrating:91/100

SamanthaConnew–Wine2-StargazerTupelo2018–PinotGris,Riesling,Gewurztraminer.

https://www.stargazerwine.com.au/

One of Australia’s most accomplished winemakers, a trail-blazing showjudge,agreatrolemodelforwomeninwineandcreatoroftheacclaimedTasmanian Stargazer boutique brand. Samantha Connew, Sam to all andsundry, established Stargazer in 2012 with the name a tribute to DutchnavigatorAbelTasman–thefirstEuropeantosightTasmaniain1642.Herwines,madefrombought-ingrapesandfromherownvineyardintheCoalRiver Valley, have earned Stargazer a coveted five red stars in JamesHalliday’sWineCompanion.

NewZealand-bornandwithaCanterburyUniversityLawandArtsdegreeandaLincolnUniversitywinemakingdegree,Samworked inwineries inSpain,ItalyandOregon,US,andthenbegana10-yearstintatMcLarenVale’sWirraWirrawinery.AsseniorwinemakerthereshewasjudgedtheInternationalRedWinemaker of the Year at the 2007 InternationalWine Challenge inLondon.Anexperiencedwineshowjudge,in2015SammadehistorybybeingappointedchairofjudgesoftheSydneyWineShow–thefirstwomantofillthatpost.

TastingNotes

“Perfumed and spicy, the nose shows quince paste and rosewater noteswith dried pear. There is aglossy texture to thepalate,with the richness framedby subtlephenolicsprovidingbothpersistenceandlength."-SamConnew

"Suchgreatdrinkinginconcept,deliveredwellheretoo.Slipperytexture,glorious,ebullientperfume,good length, lots going on in the flavour zone. This is super drinking here, a wine of charisma andindividuality,shapely,generous inaway,butcinchesupnicelyandresetsongoodacidity.Pear, lightmandarincharacter,faintnuttysavourinessinthebitter-nuttymarzipanzone–adoubleactinbouquetandpalate. It’s not overly serious, but serious enough, and the drinking is real good. Kudos." -MikeBennie(TheWineFront)

FoodPairing:Shellfish,sashimi,goatscheese,foiegras.

Alcohol:12.5%

PartofANINTERVIEWWITHJohnQuinnfromIconicWinemakers,Sep16.

Q:Whataboutyouchickstakingoverthewineindustry.Anytruthinthatrumour?

A:Aslessthan10%ofwinemakersinthiscountryarefemaleandevenlessareviticulturalists,Ithinkwewouldbeprettyhardpressedto‘takeover’,butthoseoldcrustymeninsuitshadbetterwatchout,thatwouldbemyadvice!

LouisaRose–Wine3–YalumbaVirgiliusViognier2016

https://www.yalumba.com/

ToherBarossaValleywinerycolleaguessheisLoubuttoheradmirers-andshehaslegionsamonghercolleagues-sheisa"rockstar",a"leader"anda"greatcommunicator".

LouisaRose’scorrecttitleisheadofwinemakingat Yalumba and theHill-Smith Family Vineyardsbutinsimplerterms,sheisthecustodianofbothYalumba tradition and innovation at the 165-year-oldwinery.

It'sabigtaskbutoneshehasbeengroomedforsinceherfirstvintageatYalumbain1992straightfromherwinestudiesandherparents'vineyardintheYarraValley.Hergiftsasatasterandwinemakerhavebeenondisplayeversince.

She isacknowledgedasoneof thecountry's topviogniermakers. It'sherbaby, thewineshe isnowmostcloselyassociatedwith,simplybecauseYalumbadaredtobelievetheRhoneValleywhitegrapehadafutureinthiscountry.Yalumbaisthemostinfluentialproducerofviognierintheworldtodaydueinlargeparttoherwork.

She isnotonly chiefwinemakerbut farmer, seniorwine judgeandwine industry representativeonmanyboardsandcouncils.AsthechairoftheboardattheAustralianWineResearchInstitute,co-chairoftheSouthAustralianWineIndustryCouncilandmemberoftheSouthAustralianAgribusinessCouncil(amongotherout-of-hourspursuits)sheisoneofthemostinfluentialwinemakersinthecountry.

JamesHalliday–Tastingnotes

YalumbaistheleadingViognierproducerinAustralia,withVirgiliusasaflagship.Aromasofstonefruitandcashewarebalancedbyaminerallyedgeandapalatewithsuperbdepthandcomplexity.

Eleganceisasmuchinfavourasflavor,thoughsotooiscomplexity.Thisisafinewine,slender,flinty,spicy,kissedwithwoodsmoke,carriedbystonefruit.Itdartsinmanydirectionsbutultimatelyitzeroeslongthroughthefinish.

Foodpairing:Mildcreamycurries,mildspicynoodledishes,salmon,chicken,creamycheeses.

Alcoholvolume:12.5%

Rating:95/100

VirginiaWillcock–Wine4–VasseFelixChardonnay2017

https://www.vassefelix.com.au

As a teenager, Virginia saw the happiness and joywinebroughttoherparentsandtheirfriendsafterahardday’swork in their small vineyard. It was here she decidedwinemakingwasgoingtobehercareer.“Ilovedtheideaofgrowingfruit,andthenturning it intosomethingthatcouldbemorebeautiful andwould givepeople a lot ofenjoyment.”

More than two decades on, Virginia is the ChiefWinemaker behind some of Australia’s most criticallyacclaimedwines,atMargaretRiver’s foundingwineestate,VasseFelix. She joinedasChiefWinemaker inOctober2006.

“ItissuchaprivilegetobecustodianofthehistoricVasseFelixvines.OurfocusisonMargaretRiver’sbestperforming varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon dominant wines, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc/ Semillonblends.” “We aim to best expressMargaret River’s regionality and the unique site characteristics of ourvineyardsandarefinetuningourpracticesfromthevineyardthroughtowineryeachvintagetoimproveourunderstandingofsiteandclonalcharacters,toassisteachparcelinthewinery.”“ItrulybelievetheMargaretRiverregioncouldbeoneofthegreatestintheworld.We’reonlyatthebeginningofrealisingthefullpotentialofthewines.Iwouldn’twanttobemakingwineanywhereelse!”

ArespectedauthorityonMargaretRiverwinemaking,Virginiahasrepresentedtheregionaspresenterandpanellistofnumerousinternationalmediaandtradeconventionsandmasterclasses, inadditiontobeingasought-after regionalwineshow judge.Shealsoservedontheboardof theMargaretRiverWine IndustryAssociationforseveralyears.

Virginiahascompleted26vintagesinMargaretRiver,andworkedinternationalvintagesinAlbania,NorthernItaly,Sicily,AbruzzoandNewZealand.

VirginiaisoneofthemostawardedfemalewinemakersinAustralia,havingbeennamed‘GourmetTravellerWINEAustralianWinemakeroftheYear’in2012(shewasalsoafinalistin2010)and‘WinemakeroftheYear’byTheWestAustralianGoodWineGuide2013.Virginiawasalsonominatedas‘WinemakeroftheYear’inWineEnthusiastMagazineUSA’s2014WineStarAwards, ‘WinemakeroftheYear’ intheASVO(AustralianSocietyofViticultureandOenology)Award forexcellence2016,and ‘Winemakerof theYear’ in the2017AustralianWomeninWineAwards.

TastingNotes

Appearance:Palestrawwithagreentinge.

Nose:Asubduedyetcomplexperfumeoflemonblossom,limeandginger,withdelicatehintsofbriocheandpineneedles.Savouryovertonesofbreadcrust,almondandspicyoakbringdepthtotheintriguingfragrance.

Palate:Thesoftcreamytexture,polishedacidityandlight,drytanninfinishcombinetocreateanincrediblebodyandmouthfeel. Lovely citrus flavoursminglewithhintsof crusheddry vine leaf and kaffir lime.Notovertlyfruityinthiscoolvintage,thewineisdelicateandtextured,withpurebalance

FoodPairing:Crab,prawns,pizzaMargaritawithmozzarellacheese,chicken,creamycheese.

Alcohol:13%

Rating:95/100HuonHooke

VanyaCullan-Wine5-CullenManganRedMoonMalbecPetitVerdotMerlot2017

https://www.cullenwines.com.au/

Vanya Cullen has been winemaking at her family’sWilyabrup estate since 1983. Shewas appointed to ChiefWinemakerin1989andManagingDirectorin1999.Duringthat time, she has been rigorously experimenting in thevineyard(especiallywithsoilandtrellismanagement)andin the winery all the while looking to give her winesgreatercomplexity.HerpalatehasbeenhonedbyjudgingthroughoutAustraliaandoverseas,andbyhercontinuouspursuitofathoroughknowledgeofthewinesoftheworld.

“Winemaking is now in the hands of Vanya Cullen,daughter of the founders; she is possessed of anextraordinarily good palate. It is impossible to single outanyparticularwinefromthetopechelon;allaresuperb.”–JamesHalliday

Over the past decade, Vanya has transformed her family firm from one of Margaret River’sbestintooneofthecountry’spremiumboutiquewineries.CullenWineswhileremainingfamilyownedhassinceevolvedmakingqualitywinefromacertifiedBiodynamic,CarbonNeutralandnaturallypoweredestate.Exemplaryviticultureliesattheheartofhersuccessbutso,too,docareandthoroughattentiontodetail inthewinery.

“At thevery topof thequalityandethical treeyoumightdrinkwine fromthebiodynamicallycertifiedvineyardsofCullenfromMargaretRiver”–TimWhite

VanyaCullenwasthewinnerof the2000Qantas/TheWineMagazineWinemakerof theyear.Shewas the third recipientof thisprize, the firstWesternAustralianand the firstwoman towin theaward.Vanyahas judgedatwine shows ineverymajor city inAustralia. In2008, shewas awarded the UK Drinks Business Magazine “Woman of the Year 2008” and in 2011 the“Green Personality of the Year” for her commitment to the wine industry and fordemonstratingthatyoucanoperateasuccessfulbusinesswhilelookingaftertheenvironment.2013wasVanya’s30thyearofwinemakingatCullenWinesand2014celebratedVanya’s25thanniversaryofbecomingChiefwinemakeratCullenWines.

Vanyawas inducted into the Australian BusinessWomen’s 2015Hall of Famewhich honoursand celebrates Australian female business owners who have been exemplary in theirindustries,aretrailblazersanddemonstrateinspiringandaspiringbusinessjourneys.

TastingNotes

Colour:Mediumredwithrubytinges.

Bouquet:Plum,Cherrieswithliftedfloralnotes.

Palate:Mediumbodiedwithdarkcherries,blueberriesandsavourynotesonthefinish.

FoodPairing:Turkey,pork,lamb,roastedpeppers,bluecheese

Alcohol: 12.0%

RatingJH:95/100

KathleenQuealy–Wine6-SeventeenRowsPinotNoir2016

KathleenQuealygrewupinanerawhereyounggirlsgrewup to be nurses or teachers. Not winemakers. She hasshapedherwinecareerinherownvision,notconformingto the accepted wisdom of the day and has become alightning bolt of change. And that, asmuch as anything,sayswhythiswomanistodaynamedLegendoftheVine.

The first female to have this honour bestowed on her,Kathleen has never backed down or taken rubbish fromanyone. She released the first unwooded Chardonnay inthecountryin1990andwasdubbedthe“QueenofPinotGrigio”byJamesHallidaynotlongafterfoundingT’GallantontheMorningtonPeninsula.

KathleenstartedherloveofwineworkingonthebottlinglineforMcWilliamsinthelate70sasanafterschooljob.Herparentsfirmlybelievingshewouldpursueacareeroftheday,wereshockedwheninsteadofenrollinginnursingorteachingsheboughtherselfascooterandtookofftowinemakingschoolinWaggaWagga.

KathleenstartedaswinemakeratBungawarrain1984,inadditiontovineyardmanagerandbeekeeperandin1986shebecamethefirstfemaletowinatrophyattheBrisbaneWineShow.Kathleenandherhusband,KevinMcCarthy’sfirstvineyardwasT’Gallant.QuealycarvedoutsuchanichemarketfortheT’Gallantlabelthat in 2003, after protractednegotiations, itwas acquiredbyBeringerBlass (nowpart of TreasuryWineEstates).

Kathleen and Kevin purchased Balnarring Vineyard. Kathleen then started Quealy Winemakers, in 2006launchingwithjusttwowinesPobblebonk(whiteblend),Rageous(redblend)plusaPinotNoirandaPinotGrisasapassingnodtoconvention.

She’sbeenonandofftheMorningtonPeninsulaVigneronsAssociationonseveraloccasions,re-joiningthecommitteemostrecentlyin2015wheresheisparticularlyvocalaboutprotectingtheregionfromPhylloxera,promoting(andprotecting)MorningtonPeninsulaPinotGris,andanythingelsedisruptiveshecanthinkof.

Kathleenremainsastalwartsupporterofdiversity,independenceandmeritrecognitionacrosstheindustryandwillcontinuetodowhateverthebloodyhellshethinksisrightonanygivenday.

TastingNotes-KQ

SeventeenRowsembodiestheidiosyncraticnatureofPinotNoir.Siteexpressionpersonified.Broodingyetbuoyant aromas of dark plum, violet, and rich earth stem from meticulous vineyard management, vinematurityandextendedmaceration.Onthepalate,earthyundertonesof rootvegetableandspicesupportpristineplumandcherryfruit.SeventeenRowsispleasureandcharm,richandlingering;atrueMorningtonPeninsulaPinotNoir.

Foodpairing: Beef,duck,pork,mushrooms,nuttymediumfirmcheesesuchasgruyere.

Alcohol:13%

HuonHookerating:93/100

Ageingcapacity.Apleasureinitsyouthbutrewardscarefulcellaringforupto15years.

GeraldineMcFaul–Wine7–ElgeeParkCabernetMerlot2017

https://elgeeparkwines.com.au/

Geraldine McFaul is one of the shining lights of theMornington Peninsula where she has worked sincegraduating with distinction in Wine Science from CharlesSturtUniversity.

Since 1995, her winemaking career has allowed her tocompletevintagesintheLoireValleyandBurgundyandhastakenhertotheLondonInternationalWineShowwhereherwine has won the highest accolades in Internationalcompetition.

In 2006 she was runner-up to Stephen Henschke in theQantasAustralianGourmetTravellerWinemakeroftheYearAward.

ElgeePark,theoldestvineyardontheMorningtonPeninsula,wasoriginallythecountryestateofBailleauandSarahandtheirchildren.In1972thefirst400vineswereplantedontheirproperty,establishingthePeninsula’sfirstcommercialvineyard.

GeraldinestartedworkingwithElgeeParkgrapesunderTodDexteratStonierWines in1995andfrom2003asStonier’sseniorwinemaker.BailsMyerwassoimpressedwithGeraldine’swinemakingskills,whenshemovedtoWillowCreekvineyardin2008,hedecidedtomoveElgeeParkwinemakingwithher.GeraldinenowmakesElgeeParkwinesundercontractatWillowCreek,MerricksNorth.

Tastingnotes

HarvestedfromtheMorningtonPeninsula’soldestvines,plantedin1972,showsaromasofcassis,aniseed&darkchocolate.Thepalateshowsripecoolclimateflavoursofblackcurrantandcocoa.Thecabernetgiveslengthofflavour,whilstthemerlotprovidesthevelvetytexture.MaturedinFrenchoakfor18months,theoldvinesandskilledwinemakingcontributetoaremarkablewine. EP

FoodPairing:Beef,venison,lambshanks,pepperonipizza,lasagna,hardcheese

Alcohol:13%

EleanaAnderson–Wine8–MayfordGrapesofWrathShiraz

https://mayfordwines.com/

Anoenologygraduatewhohadcutherteethwithseveralvintages in Germany, the USA and at various smallVictorianwineries,Eleanaembracedtheopportunity tobuildherownbusinessfromgrassrootswithherhusbandBryanNicholson.

Theyestablished their vineyardas aweekendhobby in1995 with a modest planting of shiraz. Starting withnothingandjugglingbabiesandmultiplemortgages,shebecame adept at borrowing things and relied heavilyuponthekindnessoffamily,friendsandneighbours.

ThefirstMayfordwineswerereleasedin2007.

Since then, Mayford wines have attracted consistentlyglowing endorsements and a loyal customer following,selling out quickly every year. They have come to beregardedasbenchmarkcoolclimatewines.Mayfordrecentlyreceivedthe2019GourmetTravellerWineCellarDoor“BestTastingExperience”awardfortheAlpineValleysregion.

Outofeveryevent,comesastory.Thestoryofthis2016GrapesofWrathshirazbeginswiththedestructiveforcesofnatureandquicklymovestoataleoffriendshipandkindness.

Leadingintothe2016harvest,awallofhailcamedownfromMtBuffaloandthroughtheMayfordvineyard,takingwithitoverhalfthecrop.Unexpectedoffersofwinegrapesfromfriendssoonfollowed.TheresultisthisblendofshirazfromsomeofVictoria’sfinestcoolclimateregions–atestamenttothepleasuresofgivingandreceiving.

TastingNotes

Thewordimpeccablealmostalwaysspringstomindwhentasting/drinkingaMayfordwineanditdoesagain

here.Thisisripeand(sweetly)berriedbutit’smanicuredandneattoo;itsflavoursfeelasthoughthey’vebeen

carefullyplaced,onebyone.Blackberry,clove,plum,graphite,gumleafandabrightredcurrant-likecharacter.

Smokyoakhasbeenjudgedtoperfection.Spiceandfloralnoteshover.Notabigwineinanywaybutperfectly

presentedandapleasuretodrinkasaresult.

Drink:2019–2027+ CampbellMattinson–TheWineFront

FoodPairing:Grilled,roastedbeef,beefstews,smokycheese.

Alcohol:13.9%

Hallidayrating:94/100