All posts tagged: Best’s

Sparkling Shiraz!!

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It’s that time of year again, when there’s no longer an excuse needed for drinking Sparkling Shiraz. Not that I’ve ever spent too long justifying my indulgence! Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz 2012, about $20-25 pretty much everywhere. Sparkling red’s are a quintessential Australian wine style, frowned upon by the French and confusing most other wine producing countries. The sparkles come in all sorts of varieties from Cabernet, Malbec, Durif, and even that most dreaded grape….Merlot (urgh!). But the predominant style is based around Shiraz, mainly from warm(ish) climates. My favourite area is the Grampians region….Best’s, Grampians Estate & Seppelt leading the way. There’s good ones out of the Coonawarra…Majella is a beauty. The Clare Valleys contributes with Leasingham Classic Clare, amongst others. So many to choose from, so little time… You may have guessed it….But I LOVE Sparkling Shiraz! Seppelt Original is one of the pioneers of the style; consistent, reliable, refreshing and undervalued. A bargain at the price. Yes, there are plenty better (which will get a look in this festive season!) but none …

Best’s Bin No.1 Shiraz

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Wine’s a wonderful thing. It tastes great, is full of mystery and romance, tells a fascinating story and evokes memories to treasure time and time again. Not your bog average wine which has no providence, the favourite of the chain store and bargain bin, but wines with a rich heritage, or back story. Best’s Bin No.1 Shiraz 2012 $25 from Great Western, Victoria. The Great Western region has long been a favourite of mine, so much so I indoctrinated Rachael into it’s seductive charms, and we got married there. Not at Best’s but down the road at Seppelt, outside Vine Lodge. Great Western and I go back a ways, from the obligatory speeding ticket outside Ararat (more cops per square mile than anywhere on earth!) on the way to the Great Western Cup, to drunken wine tours at Seppelt fancifully called “conferences”. Suffice to say, we got ourselves barred from most of the motels in Stawell and Ararat at one stage or another. The Great Western Cup is a ripper race day (Australia day weekend) on …