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Our State of Play wine feature sees the Tasting Panel review Australian wines made from two of Italy’s noble varieties – Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. See what our Panel thinks when they put these two Italian stallions through their paces.

You can also read about the emergence of Sydney’s Italian food scene through the eyes of two of its founding chefs. Beppi Polese tells how he served wine in coffee cups before he had a liquor licence and Armando Percuoco shares his recipe for casserole of baby goat with peas. The Dream Vertical takes in the wines of the Zema family, one of Coonawarra’s finest. And if you ever wanted to cook like an Italian, Tobie Puttock shares his insights into capturing the fresh, vibrant flavours of Italian cuisine.

Young Riesling typically shows citrus and tropical fruit aromas and flavours, with varying degrees of floral and mineral characters and high levels of fresh acidity. While they drink beautifully on release, many also have good cellaring potential. Bottle age enables their acidity to soften and the development of complex toasty and honey characters.

Riesling is said to express its origin, or vineyard better than any other grape variety. The best quality Rieslings are grown in cool regions, which have an extended ripening season and cool nights, for acid retention. These conditions allow the development of delicate aromatics, a greater range and concentration of flavours, moderate alcohol and high acid levels. The Clare and Eden Valleys have long provided the benchmarks for Australian Rieslings, but there are some newer regions that are also making great progress.

The Clare Valley is regarded by many as Australia’s greatest Riesling region and it has a long history of producing distinctive, age-worthy Riesling. Within the region there are defined sub-regions that consistently produce characteristic Rieslings of outstanding quality with the ability to develop with cellaring. The high altitude and cool climate of the Eden Valley is also suited to Riesling. Eden Riesling is typically elegant, fragrant and finely structured with the best examples capable of long ageing and developing toasty overtones.

Away from South Australia, Victoria’s Grampians region has a long history of producing some age-worthy Rieslings. Further south, Henty produces some of Australia’s finest Rieslings, which typically start out lime scented and develop complex toasty characters. Western Australia’s Great Southern region has staked a claim as one of the best in the country, producing Rieslings with intense purity of lime juice and herb flavours, developing gradual complexity with bottle age. Tasmania’s cool climate has a great ability to produce Alsatian varietals. Tasmanian Riesling has great length, with citrus and mineral characters and high levels of natural acidity.

Riesling is a great wine to enjoy in its youth, but will also develop great complexity with cellaring. You are sure to enjoy consistently high quality examples if you stick to Rieslings from these regions.

Our Clare and Eden Riesling packs give you a great insight into these time honoured regions. This selection features some of Australia’s finest Rieslings from leading producers.

Compare Rieslings from Bethany, Dandelion and Mountadam in the Eden Valley with Clare classics from Eldredge, Pikes and Neagles Rock for just $101.94

Australia’s climate is suited to Shiraz and thrives in many regions. The vast array of regions, soil types and Australian climates produces a broad range of expressions and styles. Australia is also home to some of the world’s oldest Shiraz vines. In South Australia’s Barossa and McLaren Vale regions these highly prized old vineyards produce some intensely flavoured, long-living Shiraz.

Shiraz is widely planted in South Australia which is home to the Barossa Valley, Australia’s premier Shiraz region. The Barossa has some of the oldest Shiraz vines in the world that consistently make some of Australia’s finest Shiraz from both small and large producers. Barossa Shiraz typically shows plum, cherry and blackberry flavours with savoury tannins. McLaren Vale produces full-bodied, full-flavoured Shiraz, usually with high colour, high alcohol and dark fruit flavours backed by layers of licorice, spice and violet characters and soft tannins. Clare Valley Shiraz is deeply coloured with a tight, concentrated structure, red currants, blackberry flavours and fine tannins. Coonawarra Shiraz is medium bodied and ripe with smoky cherries, spicy, peppery undertones and dusty dark berry aromas and flavours.

Victoria’s Great Western region has long been the source of intensely flavoured, long-lived Shiraz, while the nearby Grampians also makes sturdy, structured wines with intense, spicy examples. Heathcote Shiraz is typically full bodied with intense black cherry, prune and chocolate characters and usually has high oak to match.

Some of Australia’s all time greatest wines have been made from Hunter Valley Shiraz. The Hunter style is generally medium bodied, with fragrant, earthy aromas, cherry, berry characters, layers of violets and savoury, dusty plums backed by fine, soft tannins. It usually drinks well in its youth, but some have an amazing ability to develop in the cellar. Canberra’s hot days and cool nights produce intensely flavoured, spicy Shiraz with high levels of natural acidity giving great flavour length. Over in the west Mount Barker Shiraz is usually medium-bodied and shows white pepper, spice and dark berry flavours.

Australia’s many wine regions produce a diverse selection of Shiraz styles. It’s no wonder that this variety enjoys great popularity here and in export markets. To savour a stunning selection of Shiraz from across Australia, our Coast to Coast Shiraz pack. Included in the mix are superb varietals and Shiraz blends from leading regions in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Take your palate on a Shiraz tour for just $101.94.

The expertly crafted Endeavour Reserve Pale Ale is super fresh with an ideal level of bitterness. Alternatively, if you like your ale rich in aromas and flavours of ripe tropical fruit perfectly complemented by warm toasted notes from the malted barley, the award-winning Endeavour Reserve Amber Ale 2010 is the perfect choice.

All four of these sublime beers offer a rare level of quality and deliver intense and interesting flavours. So if you fancy a cleansing ale we suggest you add a case to your next wine order.

Melbourne Race Day
There’s nothing like the excitement of a day at the races. Our Annual Race Day is one of our most popular events. Held in the Peter Lawrence Room at Caulfield Race Course on Saturday 14th May, this event features everything you would expect from a day at the races - fashion, glamour, excitement and a flutter - with a sumptuous lunch and matching wines. Bring a group of friends along and join Wine Educator Chris Barnes for this day at the races with a Wine Selectors twist.

Melbourne Race Day – Saturday, 14 May at Caulfield Racecourse.

Get drawn in to Magnetic Island for an unforgettable lunch
Our Magnetic Island Lunch is fast becoming one of our most anticipated events, so treat yourself to lunch in paradise on Sunday 5th June. Overlooking the Marina at Magnetic Island, the event includes lunch at Peppers Blue on Blue Resort with matched wines and some great giveaways. Make a weekend of it!
Magnetic Island Lunch – Sunday, 5 June at Peppers Blue on Blue.

Cheese and wine – simply divine!

It's little wonder that when it comes to Wine Selectors events, the Cheese and Wine Appreciation Courses are the most popular. Very few people can resist the sublime match of quality wines with King Island Dairy cheeses. As well as matching some of your favourite cheese varieties, you have the opportunity to sample some exquisite temptations you don’t normally find in stores.
Sydney Cheese and Wine Appreciation – Sunday, 17 April at Sebel Pier One.
Brisbane Cheese and Wine Appreciation – Sunday, 8 May at the Quay West Suites.