Bob Curtis, Cabernet King

In honour of #CabernetDay 2012, I thought it only fitting to introduce you to a local Cabernet hero, Bob Curtis of Victoria's Yarra Valley wine region.

~ Bob with his wife Diane, image courtesy of Leader newspapers

Bob Curtis is a vineyard owner who a recent media campaign refers to Bob as ‘the Cabernet King’, such is his pride, passion and level of involvement at Yileena Park winery, located at the foot of the Christmas Hills in Yarra Glen. The 40-acre property features the obligatory rows of vines, a handful of sheep guarded closely by a stern alpaca, a dozen head of cattle and at dusk on any given day, a troop of kangaroos hopping down the hill to graze amongst the vines.

Behind the bar is where you will find Bob, or indeed his wife Dianne, pouring their range of wines that span a delightfully refreshing Pinot Grigio right through to a deeply seductive Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bob is a born story teller. Once he picks up a bottle of his beloved wine and starts to pour he simultaneously opens his heart. You will be captivated by his wine, his knowledge and his enthusiasm. Bob’s story telling repertoire includes history of the local area, wine making fads, food and wine pairings, and of course, all that is grand about Yileena Park.

In my many shopping sojourns to the Yarra Valley I found Yileena Park to have the oldest barrel and bottle aged Cabernet in the region. Bob is well aware of consumer’s buying habits (the majority of Australians purchase their wines merely hours before drinking) and as such he likes to keep his wines from release until they are showing beautifully. The reds are kept under cork and Bob allows release only with his personal tasting approval.

If cellar door experience is Bob’s way of differentiating his wines from the hundreds of others in the Yarra Valley then I shall mark Yileena Park 11 out of 10. A quick-stop to pick up your favourites is nigh on impossible if Bob Curtis has his way. You will likely suddenly find yourself with a glass in one hand; cheese in the other and on the receiving end of one of Bob’s amazing stories of winemakers old and new.

http://www.yileenapark.com.au/contactus.html

Melbourne Food and Wine Blogging Event : @ProBlogger

So what does a Wine Valet blog about?

As you can see from my recent posts (i.e. none) I have had 'bloggers block' for quite some time now. (& you all thought that I was just too busy boozin'). So last night I attended the Melbourne Food and Wine Blogging Event presented by ProBlogger to see if I could find some divine-wine inspiration. Held at Maha Restaurant Melbourne, I didn't really need any more reasons to attend but the lure of Wine Talk Guru: Dan Sims plus real life The Age Epicure contributor, Hilary McNevin had me RSVP- cork, line & sinker.

I met some very awesome ladies and a few top gents over an amazing array of flavours cooked up by Shane Delia and the Maha team. Best of all, I decided that this blog should be about my job as a wine valet, my life in the wine world and the random ramblings that my friends and colleagues know and love me for. (Ramblings are generally romantic and wistful in nature, based on my inner conflicts of an inclination toward practising great etiquette of times gone by and the modern realities of behaviour and place.)

I shall consider this day one of my blogging life, so expect an evolution and a journey. I do not promise to be perfect, however I will endeavour to always improve. I plan to continue studying as a blogger and a writer, as well as an oenophile, just as I plan to always keep at least one foot on the ground as Pretentious is an awfully dirty word to me.

Welcome to my blog. Feel free to share your own thoughts with abandon. Drink Champagne as often as you can and always remember that the best wine is the wine you like.

Catherine A

with Leanne DeBortoli, photo courtesy of the extremely lovely @GastronoMel, cheers Melissa!

Prestige Cuvee Champagne

A 'Prestige Cuvée' is a champagne at the very top of a producer's range. It is the highest quality, the most refined - and the most expensive - champagne that the house offers. What makes these champagnes so special? Since there are no official guidelines for designating a Prestige Cuvée as there are for other categories of French champagne, this question can only be answered by understanding a champagne house's wine making philosophy and tasting the end result of the wine maker's best effort.


Which are your favourite decadent drops?

A Wine Valet - Explained

Origin of Valet:
Middle English vadlet, valet, from Anglo-French, young man of noble birth serving a lord, boy, servant, from Medieval Latin. {First Known Use: 14th century}
Definition of Valet:
An employee (as of a hotel or a public facility) who performs personal services for customers.
Wine:
The oldest drink in the world. Made of grapes, contains alcohol.
Catherine A:
Young Lady whom personally selects wines for customers, based on their preferences and her advanced knowledge.