The Wine Century Club

A couple of years ago I attended my first Fed Square Wine Showcase, right in the city of Melbourne. Apart from being fortunate enough to try some 40+ quality Victorian wines, I happened to meet Darby Higgs from Vinodiversity. Darby has a passion for new and alternative grape varieties and wines, in Australia. I was awed by the knowledge that Darby had and sought to purchase his book:

click to purchase

I also learned that Darby Higgs is a Wine Centurion. The Wine Century Club is "the club for adventurous wine drinkers who've tried one hundred grape varieties or more." Being quite the adventurous type myself, I saw this as a challenge to accept. "The first fifty will be easy", Darby commented. I thought that he must be joking. Turns out, he was right. 50-55 really started to become tricky. So I went and bought myself a De Long's Wine Varietal Table to adorn my office wall.

click to purchase

De Long's Table showcases 184 wine grape varieties, really just the tip of the iceberg in drinkable grape variety land. I haven't been able to tick off 100 different tastes just yet, but I am sure the wait will not be too long. Each new variety is tasted and relished with a little sniff of victory.

Slowly, but surely!

Most recently I was able to try a Mac Forbes (Yarra Valley) Blaufränkisch and a Judge Rock (Central Otago) St Laurent to inch closer to my target. Once I reach the magical 100, I am sure something really special will be 'popped' open and enjoyed!

~Please note: I have not received payment nor compensation from suppliers of the above products, I simply intended to share wine tools that I have come across in my own personal wine journey.

I would love to hear about interesting, new or alternative grape varieties that you may have tried, post a comment below or send an email to ladyoenotria@gmail.com

Unbroken Bonds. Dominique Portet Wines.

The wines that we drink invariably have a great story behind them. Where the vines came from, winemaker adversities, generational tradition, the love between two people or between heart and land. There are thousands of stories. Hundreds of thousands. I like hearing the stories of wines and the diverse nature of "how things came to be". Let me share with you a great story about a winery logo, from the Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia.

image from Portet Wines

Julia Portet, wife of winemaker Dominique, tells the story to those who happen to drop by the cellar door when she is there. Julia met the famous Greek jeweller, Ilias Lalaounis and his family when she was a student. A long term friendship flourished and Julia is the extremely proud owner of a pair of earrings created in the form of what is now the logo on her husband's wines. This intricate and unique logo takes the appearance of an arabesque, a sinuous unbroken line that is characteristic of Moorish decoration. The design represents the links and close bonds between generations, families and continents. The emblem style first crafted by Ilias Lalaounis, is as unique and as beautiful as the Portet wines. The jeweller has very generously given his permission for the form to be reproduced on the Dominique Portet label.

images from Portet Wines

As the ninth generation winemaker in his family, there are many, many stories that could be told when you pour a glass of Dominique Portet wine. I, for one, enjoy retelling the story of the logo. A shape which the Portet family will tell you suggests grace, strength, purity of line and unbroken bonds. Qualities the winemaker encapsulates with his beautiful wines.

blogger's own images- a favourite brunch!

• Visit Julia, Dominique and the team at 870 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream, Victoria, Australia, 3770
• Visit the Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum at Kallisperi 12 & Karyatidon Str., Acropolis 11742, Athens, Greece
• Visit my Facebook page to keep up to date with my New World adventures ~ https://www.facebook.com/Oenotria.LandOfTheVines