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Thanks to Mariner Boating, Etihad Airways & Wine Selectors, this incredible prize will take the lucky winner and a friend through one of France’s most famous wine regions on a luxury canal barge. Highlights of this once in a lifetime experience include:
• x2 Business Class flights to France from your nearest capital city
• two nights accommodation in Paris
• ten nights accommodation on a canal barge (penichette)
• lunch under the cellar vaults of the famous XIIth century Couches Castle at La Tour
• a horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic village of Rully
• dinner at the 3 star Michelin rated Lameloise in Chagny
• wine tastings at some of the region’s most stunning vineyards
• plus AUD$5,000 spending money

That’s just a snapshot of what’s included, for full details go to wineselectors.com.au/celebrating35/cruise

For your chance to WIN this exciting French experience simply make a purchase from Wine Selectors; receive a regular delivery case or subscribe to Selector Magazine between April 15 and September 30, 2010. The more wine or subscriptions you purchase, the more chances you have of winning. #Terms and Conditions Apply.

Chardonnay is the most widely planted, and most important white wine grape in Australia. There are several reasons why, but most telling is that Chardonnay thrives in virtually every region that it has been planted in Australia. It makes a vast array of wines from the cheap and cheerful ‘sunshine in a glass’ examples that are brimful of bright, tropical fruit flavours, right through to the complex, elegant styles that have great finesse!

Winemakers can choose to ferment Chardonnay in stainless steel at low temperature to accentuate the bright fruit aromas and flavours. Fermentation in oak will add depth and complexity, as will oak maturation. The choice of oak is an important consideration, with newer oak adding more nutty, spicy, toasty characters than older oak. Malo-lactic fermentation converts the sharp malic acids into smoother lactic acids and imparts complex butter and butterscotch characters.

Lees stirring, the post-ferment agitation of the dead yeast cells, adds a richer texture to the wines. Often winemakers will use several of these options to make many batches, and then make their final wine after careful blending!

Chardonnay thrives in all Australian wine regions, however the finest examples come from Margaret River, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Adelaide Hills and the Hunter Valley. This is confirmed by the results of the 2010 Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show. Chief judge Iain Riggs commented of the show: “The stand-out variety was the 2008 Chardonnays from around the country – Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia – every region in the southern states really performed well.”

Tell us what you think about Chardonnay for a chance to WIN. We’d really like to hear what you think of Chardonnay. It may be Australia’s most planted white grape variety, but is Chardonnay top in the popularity stakes? Tell us what you think and you could win a premium 6-pack valued at $250! Log in and click here. webtest.wineselectors.com.au/survey

McWilliam’s were established in 1877 and have steadily built their reputation for quality wines. They have vineyards and wineries from coast to coast. Their Margaret River labels include Evans & Tate, Catching Thieves and X&Y. In South Australia McWilliam’s owns the historic Brand’s Laira, one of Coonawarra’s oldest labels, which produces the benchmark Stentiford Old Vine Reserve Shiraz.

The Lillydale Estate winery in the cool Yarra Valley also comes under McWilliam’s umbrella, producing elegant wines, particularly Chardonnay.

McWilliam’s heartland is New South Wales, where the company owns vineyards in several regions. The McWilliam’s winery in the Riverina produces an excellent range of wines from quaffers, right through to dessert wines of rare quality. The Hanwood range represents excellent value for money. They make excellent cool-climate wine under their Barwang label, which produces superb Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Chardonnay from the exciting Hilltops region, along with elegant, cool-grown wines from the high altitude of Tumbarumba.

The Hunter Valley is home to McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant, which excels with the region’s signature varietals. The entry level Elizabeth Semillon and Philip Shiraz provide a great value introduction to these two wine styles. McWilliam’s also produces some exceptional single vineyard wines, these national treasures include Lovedale Semillon and Rosehill Shiraz.

Quality is at the heart of all McWilliam’s wines, so you can be assured that every wine they make, from entry-level quaffers, through to rare, single vineyard wines will deliver satisfaction.

Refer a friend and enjoy a rare McWilliam’s red.

As part of our 35th anniversary celebrations, we’ve secured a very special refer a friend gift. The McWilliam’s “1877” Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2004 plus four Schott Zwiesel European crystal glasses could be yours – total value $155!

Click here to start referring friends today!

Congratulations to our competition winner R. Gregg from Cammeray and a lucky friend, who will enjoy a package to indulge their senses at Tasting Australia.

Her winning entry describes dinner with the Naked Chef “Tasty tidbits, morsels and bites, Blood-red drinks sipped in the night, with 'tastiest' chef Jamie Oliver, with irreverence and wines Nought could be holier!”

Lunch with Maeve O'Meara at Peter Lehmann Wines

Set on the banks of the meandering Para River amongst tall red gums and sweeping lawns, the Peter Lehmann Wines Cellar Door provides an idyllic setting for this intimate luncheon.

An indulgence for the senses, the menu has been hand crafted to create a vibrant and uniquely Barossa flavour, featuring produce from local gourmet suppliers such as Maggie Beer, Barossa Farm Produce and Linkes Butcher.

Begin with roaming nibbles in the beautiful garden, and then sit down to a delicious shared meal, complemented by a selection of Peter Lehmann wines. Complete the occasion with a seasonal dessert and a shared plate of cheese from local and South Australian producers.

Date: Thursday 29th April
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Peter Lehmann Winery, Para Road, Tanunda
Cost: $95 per person, bookings essential
Bookings and information: Contact the Peter Lehmann Wines Cellar Door on (08) 8563 2100
Website: www.peterlehmannwines.com

Feast for the Senses – Food and Wine Matching
Saturday May 1st or Sunday 2nd May
Adelaide Riverbank Precinct, Elder Park

Mark your diary to be in Adelaide on Saturday May 1st or Sunday 2nd May for the Feast for the Senses. Make sure you visit us at our Taste of Wine Selectors marquee between 11am - 5pm for a food and wine matching masterclass with Chef Peter Howard and wine educator Michael Quirk. Match a fine Tasmanian Sparkling wine, with King Island Dairy cheese. Then enjoy a main course created by Peter Howard next to a Hunter and Barossa Semillon. Then finish with an exotic Barbera partnered with some Lindt Chocolate. Cost is only $10, pay on the day. Sorry, no forward bookings.

Word of Mouth Sunday
Sunday 2nd May
Adelaide Riverbank Precinct, Elder Park

Word of Mouth goes beyond the earlier food, wine and beer writers' festivals. Word of Mouth is a celebration of the spoken and written word in food and wine-related matters. It’s a great opportunity to meet and learn more about some of the people who help shape the way we eat and drink.

Travel bugs
2:30pm to 3:00pm

Its often regarded as the best job in the world: to be a travel writer. But is it such a junket? Is it all soft beds and free food? Who wants to be a food and travel writer? The experts are quizzed: Andy Harris, Paul Diamond and Winsor Dobbin.

Matchmaker, matchmaker...

4:15pm to 4:45pm

... make me a match. Are there any rights and wrongs when it comes to pairing wine with food? Or food with wine? Are we too obsessive in our quest for the perfect match? Former sommelier and publisher of Selector magazine, Paul Diamond; respected wine writer Nick Ryan; food & wine writer Peter Howard and lapsed winemaker and TV cook Ian Parmenter try to shed some light on this colourful topic.

Selector magazine presents Simply South Australia with Pete Evans

Join the Lion Hotel, Celebrity Chef Pete Evans and Jerry Fraser Oyster Shucker Extraordinaire for a special dinner celebrating the finest produce South Australia has to offer. This special four-course menu is matched with regionally specific wines to heighten the local experience.

Date: Wednesday 5th May
Time: 7:30pm
Location: The Lion Hotel Restaurant, 161 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide
Bookings and information: Phone (08) 8367 0222
Website: www.thelionhotel.com

Saturday,8 May 2010

Chatswood Cheese and Wine Appreciation at The Sebel Chatswood

Sunday, 9 May 2010

Homebush Chocolate and Wine Appreciation at Novotel Sydney Olympic Park

Friday, 14 May 2010

Darwin Wine Tasting at Novotel Darwin Atrium