The Homemade Wine Critic

16 Aug
2011

I remember the first time that I announced to my Dad and his wino buddies that I was thinking of studying winemaking. I was standing around a large plastic tub filled with bobbing black grapes, my Dad was off to one side carrying an emptied wooden crate, family friend Dino held his home-made macerating device in the tub, cousin Julian was having a debate with my Dad, while cousin John wielded the hose and was seen cleaning the machinery post-crushing. It was a typical homemade winemaking setting, with Dino’s mother Rita standing by to complete the picture.

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Wine Reviews August

9 Aug
2011

BY FARR Chardonnay 2007

Geelong, Victoria

RRP $55

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Video: Homemade Winemaking [1996] – The Australian-Italian Way

4 Aug
2011

This movie was filmed by my mother Christine back in 1996.

To indicate the times, there is a moustache in this film worn by John. A.

This is what my brothers, sister and I grew up with in Werribee South.

The film was edited and ‘polished’ by the daughter Krystina (me) some fifteen years later in 2011.

If you can squander some time aside then I hope you enjoy it, because we have only embarrassed ourselves by publishing it.

The Tasting: Valpolicella, Amarone and the venerable Speri

2 Aug
2011

A week ago on the 27th July 2011, the wonderful Sommeliers Australia association put together a delightful tasting for twenty willing Members at the old Melbourne Wine Room in St Kilda. The tasting was hosted by none other than The Wine Guide’s Dan Sims, with panel members including Speri winemaker Luca Speri, Italian wine importer Matt Paul from Trembath & Taylor and La Donna del Vino. I sat up the front voraciously anticipating the good things to come over the next two hours.

What words do you associate with an Amarone della Valpolicella wine tasting? Let me tell you: Velvety. Voluptuous. Vim. Vibrant. Va va voom! Exaggeration aside, my brain cannot ignore the urge it has to continue that alliteration of the letter ‘v’ by making reference to the script from a scene in the movie, ‘V for Vendetta’. Right here. Right now. Apologies for confusing anybody. Blame my brain.

Voila!

In view, a humble Vaudevillian Veteran, cast Vicariously as both Victim and Villain by the Vicissitudes of fate. This Visage, no mere Veneer of Vanity, is a Vestige of the Voc populi, now Vacant, Vanished. However, this Valorous Visitation of a bygone Vexation stands Vivified, and has Vowed to Vanquish these Venal and Viulent Vermin Vanguarding Vice and Vouchsafing the Violently Vicious and Voracious Violation of Volition!

The only Verdict is Vengeance- a Vendetta, held as a Votice- not in Vain, for the Value and Veracity of such shall one day Vindicate the Vigilant and the Virtuous. [Chuckling].

Verily, this Vichyssoise of Verbiage Veers most Verbose, so let me simply add that it’s my Very good honor to meet you, and you may call me V.

As spoken in V’s introduction to Evey – V for Vendetta (2006)

Enough of that. Now to the details of the tasting!

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Random & Twisted: A letter to Gianduia

26 Jul

2011

Question: Why the letter to ‘Gianduia’? Answer: Randomness and because I can.

Dearest Gianduia,

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Music: Who threw the whisky in the well?

19 Jul
2011

Sung by Wynonie Harris with Lucky Millinder and his Orchestra, 1944.

On a side note, I will point out now that I have added a video element to the top tab section of my site for those of you who have not yet noticed. Enter there if you dare.

Wine Reviews July

12 Jul
2011

SHIRVINGTON Cabernet Sauvignon

McLaren Vale, South Australia

RRP $55-$65

Hmm…that name…Shirvington. Doesn’t it make you think of the Australian track athlete Matt Shirvington and the package that was so infamously publicized on television years ago?

Or was that just me getting a little excited? Anyway, the joke beckons, but I will save that until last.

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Random: The Geek. The Poet. The Loner

5 Jul
2011

Growing up, I have always been a geek. I was even the teacher’s pet.

If you’re one of my friends, or have met me previously and know how I roll, then that’s not too difficult a concept to imagine or believe.

I am a proud geek though, Buddy Holly glasses and all.

The ever-so-cool Buddy Holly

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TWO Ladies of Wine = DUE Donne del Vino

28 Jun
2011

Two Ladies of Wine...kinda like Two Fat Ladies??

My oh my there is another La Donna del Vino on the other side of the hemisphere! Check out this gorgeous Italian sommelier talking about Garganega (the white grape used to make Soave in the Veneto region).

Should I mention that it’s all in Italian??

It doesn’t matter. She sounds gorgeous, and oh happy days if you can understand her.

Not sure about the 1980’s music in the background though…

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The Wines of Valpolicella – Fratelli Speri

21 Jun
2011

Fratelli Speri is located in the the wine zone known famously as Valpolicella within the Veneto region of north-east Italy. It lies within the province of Verona. Working back that’s the winery (Speri), then the zone (Valpolicella), then the province (Verona), then the region (Veneto). Don’t worry, I get confused too. They make a number of wine styles including Valpolicella, Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto (all to be explained later). There is also a casual review of their Speri Valpolicella Vigneto La Roverina DOC 2008 to finish things off. But firstly, here is an excerpt by the Speri family that I enjoyed.

From left: Gianpaolo, Gianpietro, Luca, Chiara & Alberto

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Random: Warner Brothers Pepé le Pew – Little Beau Pepé IN ITALIAN!

17 Jun
2011

Warner Brothers Pepé le Pew aka Little Beau Pepé

IN ITALIAN with French accent! Un po’ strano (a little strange)!

Nebbiolo: King of the Langhe (ie: Barolo & Barbaresco). Is its noble status achievable in some Australian regions?

14 Jun
2011

NEBBIOLO IS REGARDED AS THE ‘KING OF THE LANGHE’ WITH THE BEST – BAROLO AND BARBARESCO – POSSESSING OUTSTANDING AROMATIC COMPLEXITY, TANNIC POWER AND EXCEPTIONAL AGEING POTENTIAL. WHAT GIVES THIS GRAPE VARIETY ITS UNDENIABLE DISTINCTIVENESS IN ITS HOMELAND AND CAN IT ACHIEVE SOMETHING SIMILAR IN AUSTRALIA? DISCUSS WITH REFERENCE TO THE VINE, SOIL, CLIMATE, VINIFICATION, MATURATION AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS.

Introduction

Ancient Greeks referred to Italy as Oenotria – the land of wine 1. It is an apt description for the geographical ‘boot’ of Italy, which embraces a variety of climates and soils allowing for diverse opportunities in grape cultivation 2. The native grape of particular fame is Nebbiolo from the Barolo and Barbaresco zones, which herald from north-western Italy in the Langhe hills of the Piemonte region 3. Ample reasons exist for its elite status, but discussion will also be directed towards how Nebbiolo fares in Australia, where the illustrious qualities of Italian Nebbiolo wines convinced many Australian winemakers to plant the fickle grape, perhaps not always in areas best suited to the representation of its classic tar and roses character.

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A tale: D’accordo with the accordion

7 Jun
2011

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, a shiny accordion of colossal proportions lay in its heavy leather case in the living room of a grand house. The accordion was often loved and cared for by its original owner, Mr Giovanni Menegazzo (known amongst friends as Jack), who would pick up his accordion with pride and play entertaining melodies on its keys and buttons.

This was Nonno Jack. A handsome man indeed.

Nonno Jack playing an accordion

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Random: Joke on finishing things

5 Jun
2011

Finishing Things

I am passing this on to you because it definitely worked for me today, and we all could probably use more calm in our lives.

Some doctor on TV this morning said the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started.

So…

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Wine Reviews June

2 Jun
2011

CHALMERS Nero d’Avola 2009

Mildura, Victoria

RRP $29

This is a wine of mid-burgundy hue with dusty pink tones that made me seriously want to watch ‘Pretty in Pink’ because I kept picturing Molly Ringwald’s character fabulously suited up for her prom in that garish pink dress…you remember the one!

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Ramblings: Pronunciation “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain” and “Shaddup you face”

31 May
2011

Snapshot from My Fair Lady

Mostly people will complain or berate someone for enunciating a word incorrectly. Hell, I’m guilty! My mother struggles with many a word, but I suppose her most famous is referring to the Japanese number game Sudoku (pronounced like SUE-DOOR-KU) as Sodooko (yeah…SUE-DOO-KOE). Wrong. So obviously wrong.

Yet what about the others who tease someone for pronouncing things CORrectly!?! This is something that happens to me all the bloody time. Bloody bloody bloody. Watch your mouth, young lady…Ahhh shaddup you face! (see end of post)

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Nipples & wine…seriously: My published review in GRAM Issue 4

26 May
2011

Click through for printed version

Whoever thought u could not write ‘nipple’ in a wine review & ever be published was poorly mistaken…

Gram Issue 4 – Wine Reviews

P .S. Nipple refers to the review on Giaconda’s Aeolia Roussanne

The Laconic Bruno Giacosa

24 May
2011

Today I present one of the fathers of Langhe winemaking in Piemonte, Italy – Signor Bruno Giacosa. Some might refer to him as a stubborn man; someone who lived by the mantra of doing what tradition displayed to be best for the wine regardless of what trends dictated should be done to sell more. Clearly this philosophy has boasted well for Mr Giacosa. His wines are long-lived, penetrating, and at times, breathtakingly magical. This post is all about the Giacosa estates, coated in lots of love, with a friendly review of his Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto d’Alba 2007 at the end. Allora, let’s delve into the mind and world of Mr Giacosa!

Pensive Bruno Giacosa - Photograph by Gio

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Random: To make you smile :-)

20 May
2011

 “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy” – Anna Frank (1929-1945)

Photograph by Recovering Lazyholic - Erin Hanson (click photo for link)

Too feverishly gorgeous not to post.

Drink a delicious bottle of wine and have a dandy weekend!

Random: “To plank, or not to plank: that is the question…”

17 May
2011

Yep…I bet that Hamlet did ponder this question too.

Before you go getting yourself confused, here is a super-brief explanation of what ‘planking’ is.

Actually, first off, this is what it is NOT like.

Lesson A) It is NOT like doing the ol’ “Light as a feather, stiff as a board’ concept seen in witchcraft movies like The Craft:

‘Light as a feather, stiff as a board’ – NOT planking

Lesson B) It is also NOT like my family cat, Pedro, who got it wrong straight away by being on his backside. Good try Pedro.

The cat Pedro trying to plank...unsuccessfully

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