briefs
MACEDON MOVE FOR NEAL
GEELONG winemaker Doug Neal is returning to his first great loves - chardonnay and pinot noir - in a new region under a new brand.
The long-time maker at Paradise IV in Geelong’s Moorabool Valley is moving on following the decision by Paradise IV vineyard owners, Graham and Ruth Bonney, to put the 4ha property up for sale. Neal will move to the Macedon Ranges wine region to make wine for Elizabeth Hudspeth and Alex Stevenson at Hesket Estate where chardonnay and pinot noir are the lead wines. “They’ve got some wonderful pinot and chardonnay at Hesket,” he added. His own wines will be made at Hesket and will include a shiraz sourced from the old Seppelt Mount Lofty vineyard in the Grampians.
As part of a “last hurrah,” he recently held a tasting of Paradise IV back vintages of chardonnay, Chaumont (a blend of cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and cabernet franc) and the flagship Dardel shiraz. The chardonnays, it has to be said, were a major highlight, which augurs well for the future.
AUSTRALIA’S TURN
THE Chinese market has developed a taste for French cabernet sauvignon, but Chinese drinkers are now also turning to Aussie cabernet.
Demand is growing, so much so, that China is now the main overseas destination for Australian cabernet sauvignon. In the 2017 vintage, production of the grape rose 8 per cent on the previous year, and export sales are near record levels, increasing 20 per cent in the last 12 months to 15.4 million cases. China is the main destination with a 43 per cent share of the export cabernet market. Increased demand is having a beneficial effect on grape prices. Wine Australia research reveals that prices for the grape have increased in the Riverland, Murray Darling/Swan Hill and Barossa Valley, as well as traditional top spots Margaret River and McLaren Vale.
LEGENDS LINE UP
HISTORIC Ben Ean winery, fully refurbished under new owners, was the setting for the annual Hunter Valley Legends and Wine Industry Awards.
This year, for the first time, a Tourism Legend Award was introduced and was awarded to restaurateurs Robert and Sally Molines of one-hatted Bistro Molines. The couple has been a leading force in the Hunter dining scene for 45
