Cindy from Melbourne sent through her compliments on our Side Gate 2008 Chardonnay. She was “blown away by it. So eagerly went to seek more bottles…Very impressed indeed !”.

Thanks Cindy for your appreciation!

Sharday, daughter of Josef, and Joshy loved shooting the campaign and can’t wait to see it in print!

After dinner, they wandered through the Olsen vineyard’s to take a look at their Yarra Valley Pinot Noir grapes which are looking quite superb.

Josef inspecting the vines.

Glen Olsen of Olsen Wines & John Barnier of Goonawarra Wines

Young Pinot Grapes

To join, please email your details to info@brokengate.com.au.

Hello all,

I would like to share some photo’s with you from my trip to Israel and give you a run down on the local food and wine.

To the outside world, Israel isn’t know as a food, gourmet or wine savvy country but after my visit, I have definitely changed my mind. I visited many local restaurants, markets (’shouk’s’) and had dinner with only the locals and overall I would have to say the quality is like none other in the world.

Myself in one of the markets inside Jerusalem’s Old City

One of the reason’s why Israel’s food is so great is due to it’s freshness and the availability of so many spices, as seen here.

I went to a particular Goat’s cheese restaurant/dairy farm in Ein Kamonim (near Gush Segev) that had the most amazing array of goat’s cheeses! This tasting board didn’t last too long!

Don’t forget your after meal digestive: coffee! In Arab restaurants, it’s likely that you’ll have Turkish coffee which is strong in cardamon flavours.

One of my favourite Israeli restaurants was Louise’s situated in Haifa. They have a massive selection of wholemeal, vegan, vegetarian meals while still retaining a homey, country likely vibe. I adored their chicken scnitzel which was coated in numerous seeds alongside the usual breadcrumbs.

This brings us to the end, I hope you’ve enjoyed the sights of what Israel has to offer.

Image Credits: Sharday Orbach & Avner Engel

The grapes I tasted and noted were:

Petit Verdot ~ Traditionally grown in St Emillion, Bordeaux France

Pinot Bianco ~ Traditionally grown in Alsace, Germany and Northern Italy

Moscatto Giallo ~ Traditionally grown in Friuli,Trentino,Sicily

Refosco dal Peduncolo ~ Traditionally grown in Friuli, Venezia, Giulia and Veneto

Garganega ~ Traditionally grown in Nth Eastern Italy & Sicily

Malvasia istriana ~ Traditionally grown in Friuli

Fiano ~ Traditionally grown in Avelliano in Campania, Puglia southern Italy

Prosecco ~ Traditionally grown in Valdobiaddene, Venito, Friuli Venezia Giulia

Greco di Tufo ~ Traditionally grown in Southern Italy around Capania

Vermentino ~ Traditionally grown in Sardinia, Ligurean coast of Italy

Dolcetto ~ Traditionally grown Traditionally grown in Piedmont, Liguria and the Alps of Italy

Nebbiolo ~ Traditionally grown in Piedmont and areas around north western Italy

After four hours in searing heat of 47 degrees, my pallet was in overload and I was now ready for the real deal. A wine tasting and a lunch prepared by my old mate Stefano de Pieri.

“From a name long trusted in the field of new varietals come Chalmers wines, the result of years of experimentation and refinement from terroir to barrique. Australian wines which proudly display their continental heritage” (an extract from notes prepared by Kim Chalmers)

The wines we enjoyed with BBQ Italian sausages, crusty bread, olive oil, soft cheeses and fresh figs were:

Fiano is the primary white variety from the region of Avellino in Campania, East of Naples. Traditionally grown on volcanic hillsides, it is known to have been cultivated there since the times of the Romans. It takes it’s name form the Latin Vitis Apiana, so called because of the bees that were attracted to the Fiano grape’s sugary juice.

Aglianico is at home in the regions of Campania and Basilicata in south central Italy. Its two most famous production regions are Monte Vulture, an extinct volcano
in the north of Basilicata, and Taurasi in Avellino. Aglianico wine from Taurasi is considered to be the ‘Barolo of the South’.

Vermentino is traditionally grown in Sardinia and on the Ligurean coast in Italy as well as on the island of Corsica and in some parts of Provence where it is called Rolle. Vermentino wines are an important part of the Mediterranean coastal lifestyle in these areas. It makes crisp, fresh, minerally white table wines which tend to have a racy, lemony acidity and a lingering
stonefruit finish.

Lagrein originated from Alto-adige in the Sud Tirol region in Norh Eastern Ialy and Southern Austrian, the foothills of the Alps. It is made in both luscious red table wine style and as a rose, considered to be one of the best roses in Italy.

The wine from Lagrein is rich in dark berry and plum fruit aromas, it is savoury and meaty with lovely silky-smooth tannins.

Ripe plum fruit up front, followed by savoury flavours of leather and tobacco are characteristic of this well structured and elegant wine.

My special thanks and gratitude go to Bruce and Kim for a wonderful expierence. I encourage you all to try their wines and visit the Chalmer’s website.

Stefano Di Pieri & Josef Orbach

Ken Watkins taking wine tasting very seriously!

Rubira’s Swallows Hotel
192 Station Street

Port Melbourne

9646 2746

Josef & Ande took a short break last week to enjoy time with their close friends including Mark Barry. Here is a shot of Ande before she devoured the lovely cray!