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Pinot Gris and Grigio are the same grape variety but are made in two different styles, resulting in a spectrum of diverse flavours. Gris is typically picked later and riper, and is rich, spicy and full bodied with a round, glossy texture. Grigio on the other hand, is light and crisp, with a restrained nose, good acid structure and a clean long finish. Both are wines of concentrated character, pioneered in Australia by Kathleen Queany and her husband, Kevin McCarthy of T’Gallant Wines in the 1980s.

Whichever style, both wines are incredibly flexible and pair well with a huge range of foods. Pinot Gris goes spectacularly well with spicy Thai dishes – the sugar content in the alcohol will cool down the chili, and the aroma will draw out the coriander and lemongrass flavours. Pinot Grigio on the other hand, is a great wine to match with seafood as its dry and subtle notes won’t overwhelm the delicacy of Tasmanian Scallops. Alternatively, try matching it with cheese platters or smoked meats.

Due to the newfound popularity there’s a huge range of the variety on the markets, so to help you with your wine experience we’re showcasing a few sublime examples for your enjoyment. The Mount Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Pinot Gris is made from fruit grown on Australia’s oldest Pinot Gris vines and features a plush, soft palate with fresh pear flavours and a citrussy fruit core. Its terrific savoury texture is the result of barrel maturation. The Beelgara Black Label Pinot Grigio 2011 is pale to bronze in colour. Aromatic pear, apple and lemon juice lift from the glass with ripe, juicy and vibrant pear varietals on the palate. It’s a zesty wine with vibrant sorbet and a fruit tingles-like mouthfeel.

To enjoy these fantastic wines or to browse our range, visit http://www.wineselectors.com.au/white-wine/Pinot-Gris-Pinot-Grigio. To discover more about this unique variety, pick up a copy of the latest Selector magazine.

One very lucky winner will receive the Liebherr WK 4127 Single Zone refrigerated Wine Cellar valued at $2,699, the Kogan 42” LCD TV valued at $750, and a Schott Zwiesel entertainment pack including Villeroy & Boch crockery, Schott Zwiesel glassware and Couzon cutlery, valued at $2,823.

To be a part of this amazing opportunity, simply purchase 12 or more bottles of our wine online. It’s that easy! Plus, you will also be entered into the monthly draw to win an ultra premium Chairman’s Series 6-pack valued at $240 – congratulations to Heather Nash from the ACT, the first of our many winners!

Hurry, entries close 30 March, 2012 – visit http://www.wineselectors.com.au/ to start shopping now.

The lead up to this vintage has been characterised by an unexpected cold snap, which may have dampened your Christmas day but holds your 2012 wines in very good steed. In the high elevation regions of Canberra and Tumbarumba, the temperature drop has been used to the winemakers’ advantage. Added soil moisture and the New Year humidity has resulted in a particularly slow and long ripening period resulting in full-flavoured fruit. From Sangiovese to Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz, you can expect great diversity within the styles.

Typified by its continental climate, cool winters and high levels of rain fall, this weather pattern is nothing new to the Hilltops region. At an altitude of 450 to 600 metres above sea level, the rich terra rossa soils are already in the high diurnal temperature range. As a result, you can expect a good variety of wines coming out of this area, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Semillon and Pinot Gris.

2012 is looking very good for the ACT and the Emerging Regions, so visit http://www.wineselectors.com.au/regional-wines/nsw to view our incredible range of delicious wines.

The 2011 to 2012 growing season has been characterised by an unexpected cold snap, which is good news for a spectrum of white wines. In particular you can soon expect some delicious Chardonnays with fresh acidity coming your way, and if the weather holds out there will be exceptional wines with classic long term ageing possibilities in the pipeline.

The red grapes are showing good early colour and the above average rainfall over the Christmas period has protected them against the otherwise harsh summer sun. The fruit is in prime health and is expected to be soft and round with good concentration come picking time, which bodes well for those who appreciate a good bottle of Hunter Shiraz.

The Hunter Valley outlook for 2012 is very positive, with hopes that this could be a vintage to match 2007. Visit http://www.wineselectors.com.au/regional-wines/nsw to view our incredible range from Australia’s oldest wine region.

Method

• Pour orange juice into a saucepan and reduce by two thirds, leaving approximately 80ml of liquid. Pour into a large bowl to cool slightly, before whisking in the oil, salt and cracked pepper.
• Peel and grate potatoes and mix through the chopped dill.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large non-stick fry pan until hot, measure a third of a cup portion of the rated potato and flatten down with an egg lifter. Cook on a medium heat, 2-3 minutes on each side, until a deep golden colour and crisp. Cook in two batches. Put potato cakes onto absorbent paper and keep warm.
• Trim and steam asparagus until just tender.
• Season Atlantic salmon with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large non-stick fry pan over a high heat, add one tablespoon of olive oil to pan and cook salmon on both sides for 2 minutes each side, until medium rare.
• To serve, place potato cake on a warm plate, top with salmon and spears of asparagus, drizzle with vinaigrette and garnish with a few sprigs of dill. ?Note: The vinaigrette can be made in advance. You can also make and cook the potato cakes and warm them up in the oven before serving. If blood oranges are out of season, use a good, juicy, navel orange instead; you just won’t get such an intense colour.

Looking for some great wine suggestions to go with this recipe? Visit http://www.wineselectors.com.au/search?categories=Salmon+%2f+Oily+Fish

Crafted from prestigious Margaret River vines and produced by 5-star James Halliday rated winery, this Chardonnay is bright gold in the glass. Unearth this hidden treasure to enjoy a nose of developed stonefruit, preserved lemon and grilled nuts. Fully developed and beautifully rich, the palate has varietal peach and melon flavours, with delicious, secondary characters plus high-quality oak adding extra layers of complexity.

This alluring wine will appeal to traditional fans of the variety and newcomers alike. Enjoy a chilled glass today with a plate of hazelnut-crusted chicken breast, served in a prosciutto, mushroom and spinach cream sauce.

To purchase a bottle of this amazing wine or to see our range of more hidden treasures, visit http://www.wineselectors.com.au/Special-offers/Limited-Releases