EMOTIONAL, humbled and shocked is how winemaker Mike Hayes described his reaction to winning the coveted Samuel Bassett award at the 2014 Queensland Wine Awards. The award is presented to a person who, over time, has contributed to the advancement of the Queensland Wine Industry.
Father and son combination of Sam and Ray Costanzo are setting the standard for Queensland wine. At the recent 2014 Queensland Wine Awards Golden Grove was named Queensland Winery of the Year with Sam Costanzo taking out Queensland Viticulturist of the Year and Ray Costanzo Queensland Winemaker of the Year.
The Hungry Horse story is an interesting one. Let’s just say it involves a bludging relief teacher and a problem solving task set to kill time. We’ve all had those relief teachers, let’s face it.
Sirromet Wines owner and founder Terry Morris has declared war on the tidal wave of New Zealand-made Sauvignon Blanc flooding Australian markets. The Gold Coast-based businessman is urging fellow Queenslanders to help turn back the invasion by switching to locally-produced Verdelho as an alternative white wine.
A whiff of this and I’m picturing palms, pools and sunshine. Very tropical and the pineapple and passion fruit on offer confirms that. Deliciously fresh with the spice character Verdelho brings with it washing through to the end.
Tobin, 72, runs his boutique Granite Belt winery at a loss because he refuses to compromise on quality for quantity. Imperfect fruit is ruthlessly cut from the vines and left to rot on the ground. This encourages a concentration of flavours in the remaining berries.
Wine glasses will be raised across the Granite Belt for CEO of the Queensland College of Wine Tourism John Neville as he prepares to step down after eight years in the top job.
Queensland’s Granite Belt is one of Australia’s most interesting regions, on the face of it much too far north to produce high-quality grapes. That it is able to do so is explained by its altitude, over 800m.
The southern Queensland grape producers might have missed out on the smoke taint damaging grapes in the southern states, but they have had a tough season this year, with hail and frost damaging many of the region’s crops.