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Australia – my great journey down under

Australia the trip. It was almost a year ago that I was able to take my first trip to Australia, time flies doesn’t it?  I think we all need to think about the most meaningful things we have ever done, and do more of it!  Personally I can connect most of the meaningful moments with the great vacations I have been blessed to take in my life.   France, Italy, South Africa, Spain…. In that order … These four trips take up huge blocks of space in my “favorite memories of all time file.”   Australia was my most recent, and perhaps my most life changing and I want to share a few great moments.

Places I went to in Australia:

• Sydney (Harbor, Opera House & Bondi Beach!)
• South Australia (Adelaide & Kangaroo Island)
• Wine Regions I visited (Barossa Valley, Claire Valley, McLaren Vale)
• Gold Coast (surfer’s paradise!)
• Byron Bay (amazing ocean community – a must!)
• Brisbane (Australia Zoo)

The Flight

Honestly, flying has become of my favorite things.  When do you ever get to sit still, chill out with a great beverage, read, and sleep, watch TV, and make progress at the same time?   The flight is non-stop to Australia – and it’s only about 13 hours.   Qantas is famous for their service, their clean planes and their beautiful staff.    It’s a totally comfortable flight. You get about 200 movies & TV programs on-demand at no additional cost! All seats are fitted with their own personal entertainment system which makes the ride very entertaining. I was also quite surprised that on the flight they give you a menu to choose your meals! This is for all classes – Economy & Business – and includes unlimited wine & beer! I tasted a nice selection of Aussie wines before I even landed…

Sydney

Most destinations have an iconic city, and Sydney is no exception.  The waterfront, the bridge, the opera house – you have seen all of these on TV.   But did you know how clean the city is?  How European the feel is?   How international it is – I was very impressed and I loved eating in Sydney – there are restaurants everywhere and the seafood maybe the best I have ever had anywhere in the world.

Right: Torbeck, Center: Desk at D’Arenberg Left: Ralph Hassock, Life is a Cabernet (driver/wine expert)

Wine Country – when we say wine country in California, we have visions of vineyards in Napa, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles – right?  When you say wine country in Australia – you mean an entire country of wine!  Grapes vs. People – Australia makes 20 x’s the wine than the population can drink!  That is a lot of vineyard country!

The Food

Picturesque settings are typically accompanied by a great restaurant either in or associated with the wine industry.  Remember the population is very small,  so the restaurants are very important places and really top notch.  Pictured left – ICEBERGS – what a view and the food was divine.  Right:  The menu from “Star of Greece” in the south of Australia on the ocean – amazing!

To me, Australia seemed so far away that it didn’t make my top 5 first places to go and I think that is probably the case for most Americans.  When I did some research though, I found out that most American’s have never even left the State they were born in or perhaps have never left the US.  To me, that is sad because the world is huge, diverse and majestic and the people, the food, the wine, the history, the architecture, the air, the water, the ocean, the wildlife are so breathtaking – seeking to see and experience the world is the definition of living to me.

Thinking of traveling to the land down under?  If you are a LearnAboutWine member, you can do it in style!  Members that book travel on Qantas Vacations before February 28, 2009 will get personalized wine travel assistance, using all of LearnAboutWine contacts, friends and connections to get the best wine tasting.Yes you can afford it – you can’t afford not to go actually – it may be cheaper to go than to stay here!   The dollar is twice as strong right now, everything is 50% off – you will live longer if you take a vacation – you will be wiser – more employable and you may come back with a entire new vision on life and new ideas for your future…. Can you afford not to go?

New Member Benefit:   If you’re a member of LearnAboutWine.com, we have a new program with Qantas Vacations!  Book a trip with Qantas Vacations before Feb 28th (any trip) and you will get a $200.00 LearnAboutWine Gift Certificates, plus we will help organize your visit to wine country and set up a bunch of visits at top wineries and restaurants. Click here to see a few of the deals that Qantas put together for us

“Do you come from a land down under?
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover.”

2008 Top Values

My top ten values for 2008 – the top ten wines under twenty dollars:

1. Palacios “Petalos” Bierzo, Spain 2006 $18.99

 2. Valle Reale “Vigne Nuove” Montepulciano D’ Abruzzo, Italy 2007 $9.99

 3. Nora, Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain 2007 $13.99

 4. Argiolas, “Costamolino” Vermentino Di Sardegna, Italy 2007 $11.99

 5. Tilia, Mendoza, Argentina 2007 $7.99

 6. Paitin “Serra” Barbera D’Alba, Piedmonte 2007 $14.99

 7. La Fenetre/A Cote, Pinot Noir, Cedar Lane, Arroyo Seco 2007 $19.99

 8. Loosen Brothers “Dr. L” Mosel, Germany 2007 $8.99

 9. Avalon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2006 $9.99

 10. Domaine Les Grands Bois, “Les Trois Soeurs” Cotes Du Rhone, France 2007 $10.99

 

Here is the list of wines the class tasted

GERMAN RIESLING 2007 – The streak of impressive wines continues

Loosen Brothers “Dr. L” Mosel, Germany 2007  $8.99

Leitz, Riesling, Rudesheimer Drachenstein, Rheingau, 2007   $15.99

 

SPAIN AND ITALY – simple White wines are so amazing from the old world

Nora, Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain 2007 $13.99

Argiolas, “Costamolino” Vermentino Di Sardegna, 2007 $11.99

 

SAUVIGNON BLANC – quality going up!

Mulderbosch, Sauv Blanc, Stellenbosh, South Africa 2006   $15.99

Benziger, Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast 2006   $14.99

 

PINOT NOIR – what a year!

La Fenetre/A Cote, Pinot Noir, Cedar Lane, Arroyo Seco 2007  $19.99

 

COTE DU RHONE 2007 – Another great year

Saint Cosme, Cotes-Du-Rhone, Rhone Valley 2007   $10.99

Domaine Les Grands Bois, Cotes Du Rhone “Les Trois Soeurs” $10.99

 

ITALIAN REDS of VALUE

Valle Reale “Vigne Nuove” Montepulciano D’ Abruzzo 2007 $9.99

Paitin “Serra” Barbera D’Alba, Piedmonte 2007 $14.99

 

ARGENTINA – Always a great wine for the money

Felino Vina Cobos, Malbec, Mendoza 2007 (by Paul Hobbs) 17.99

Altocedro, Malbec, Mendoza 2007 18.99

Terrazas de los Andes, Malbec, Mendoza 2006 18.99

 

SPANISH RED VALUES – hard to narrow down this to just a few:

ALTOS Del Duraton, Castilla y Leon, 2005 $9.99

Palacios “Petalos” Bierzo 2006 $18.99

Cabernet – Becoming a value

Avalon, Napa Valley, 2006  $9.99

Tilia, Mendoza, Argentina, 2007 $7.99

Here is the list selected by the participants in the class:

1. Palacios “Petalos” Bierzo, Spain 2006       $18.99

2. Paitin “Serra” Barbera D’Alba, Piedmonte 2007  $14.99

3. La Fenetre/A Cote, Pinot Noir, Cedar Lane, Arroyo Seco 2007 $19.99

4. Valle Reale “Vigne Nuove” Montepulciano D’ Abruzzo, Italy 2007 $9.99

5. Avalon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2006  $9.99

6. Altocedro, Malbec, Mendoza 2007           $18.99

7. Loosen Brothers “Dr. L” Mosel, Germany 2007   $8.99

8. Terrazas de los Andes, Malbec, Mendoza 2006   $18.99

9. Altos Del Duraton, Castilla y Leon, Spain 2005   $9.99

10. Mulderbosch, Sauv Blanc, Stellenbosh, South Africa 2006  $15.99

 

RED: Wine & Beef

Come and join a powerhouse team of BREADBAR and Learn About Wine for a social and educational carnivorous extravaganza! Learn about 8 types of beef – from Filet to Waygu paired with 8 types of wine from small California Producers.

Wednesday December 3, 7pm at BREADBAR in Century City

$69 Limited Presale – $80 After Dec 1st ( Limited Availability)
$55 TASTE & Vintage Members

For the first time this December 2008,
BREADBAR is excited to present RED : a tasting of Beef and wine.

Featuring Ian Blackburn of LearnAboutWine and Consulting Breadbar Chefs Noriyuki Sugie and Chef Rogelio in partnership with California wineries and organic, grass-fed beef herders and purveyors, this tasting event will spotlight different cuts of beef and their ideal mates in red wine.

Eight different cuts: (For example)
Prime Rib
Short ribs
Filet Mignon
New York
Skirt Steak
Rib eye
Tenderloin

Learn about why each of these cuts are unique, and the effects of Grassfed, organic and Wagyu classifications. Be prepared and tasted alongside a host of small boutique wine producers from all over. A welcome tasting of wines from Easton and Terre Rouge will start of this tremendous night and collaboration.

Wine List

Margerum Wine Company, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara
Buttonwood – Cabernet Franc, Santa Ynez
Terre Rouge Grenache/Syrah Blend
Baxter 2004 “Eaglepoint Ranch” Syrah
Scheid Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon, Monterey
Twomey Merlot Napa Valley
Easton Estate Zinfandel “Estate”

and Dessert wine with Cheese course to be determined.

Advanced purchase required – this event will sell out quickly.
CLICK HERE TO BUY Tickets to RED

Beer and Bubbles – Benefiting Meals on Wheels West

Beer and Bubbles – Benefiting Meals on Wheels West with Wine and Jazz at Cafe Del Rey Saturday, December 6th, 3-5pm. Come and enjoy a great international selection of beers, sparkling wines and Champagne with LearnAboutWine at Café Del Rey.

Beers of the World
Bass
Boddingtons
Deshutes
Green Flash
Karl Strauss
Mirror Pond
New Belgium
North Coast Old Stock Ale
Spaten
Stone
Fat Tire
Mothership Wit
1554
Giddy Up

BUBBLES of the World
Cava- Juve y Camp Brut Reserva04
Champagne- Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV
Champagne- Pommery Brut Rose
Champagne- Pommery Brut Royal
CaliforniaSparkling – Domaine Carneros, DomaineChandon
Prosecco– The bubble of Italy
Cava– The bubble of Spain
Australianbubbles – Sparkling Shiraz

*Beer and wine line up with continue to adjust as the event comes closer.

A cheese table will be provided with the event.
Appetizers will be offered for an additional charge.
Live Jazz by the Maple Drive Jazz Trio

Café Del Rey – on the ocean in Marina Del Rey
4451 Admiralty Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 823-6395


CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

 


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Napa Produces 3% of the total wine in the state of California – but it also produces approximately 30% of the total dollars.