The Palate - January 2011

Hi there,

We trust you all had a great Christmas and brought in the New Year in style ... hopefully with your favourite Hardys drop!

Only several weeks into the New Year and we have already arrived at our first public holiday – Australia Day! In this issue of The Palate, we help you celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian. In our popular From the Kitchen section, we give you two great recipies from food writer and broadcaster Nigella Lawson that go perfectly with our light bodied Nottage Hill reds, Pinot Noir and Merlot.

You can also take advantage of our wine offers exclusive to subscribers of The Palate, and we will fill you in on everything that's happening at our cellar door (and trust us, there's plenty going on!) Also read about how Oprah farewelled Oz in style with Hardys wines.

You will also learn about South Australia's Riverland wine region, and we'll check in with Bill Hardy, who will provide the latest on his trips abroad as Hardys Ambassador.

Don't forget, we always want to hear from you, so be sure to vote in our Have your Say section, where we ask you what your favourite summer wine is.

So now take some time out and kick back and enjoy our first issue of The Palate in 2011, and from all of us here at Hardys, Happy Australia Day!

In this issue:

Wine Style
From the Winery
Hardys at Large
You said it!

And much more!

Wine Region Focus – Riverland

The Riverland is Australia’s largest wine producing region, accounting for more than a quarter of the national grape crush. The River Murray nurtures the region’s grapevines, which produce warm, fruit-driven styles of wine that have underpinned much of Australia’s export success in recent decades.

The Riverland has a crucial place in Australia’s ‘food bowl’, where winegrapes coexist with citrus orchards and almond plantations. The days are warm and the ample sunshine ripens the fruit to produce wines of generous and attractive flavours.

As the region continues to grow and adapt to new conditions, winegrape growers and winemakers continue to explore new grape varieties with the view of delivering high-quality and delicious wines.

To read more about the Riverland wine region, visit the Wine Australia website by clicking here.

	A great Nottage Hill deal Purchase any 6 bottles of Nottage Hill Pinot Noir or Merlot for $50! Offer includes: 4 x Spiegelau stemless wine glasses Delivery to any Australian address To place an order, click here
	From the Kitchen The great Aussie picnic on Australia Day is tradition. The warm, often hot – make that very hot – weather is not ideal for red wines (so some might say), but contrary to popular belief, lighter reds consumed chilled are delightful and refreshing. Traditionally, reds are consumed at room temperature, but when the ambient temperature is soaring, reds soon become hot, a problem easily solved by grabbing the nearest ice bucket and putting them in with the whites. If we have to select one meat that is undoubtedly Aussie, it has to be lamb! This Australia Day we have selected a salad from Nigella Lawson’s latest app collection, her Anglo-Asian Lamb Salad. It has a hint of Asia about it, suitably celebrating the wonderful 'East meets West' partnership that is so Australian. Our Nottage Hill Pinot Noir and Nottage Hill Merlot both fall into the light to medium, soft fruity category of red wines. Both are ideal for summer drinking and suit this salad to a tee. Nottage Hill Merlot fits the classical description of Merlot – it is medium bodied and soft, with dark cherry and plum fruit and very soft tannin on the finish. The soft tannin suggests that this is a red that could get away with a touch of chilli, so we have havled the original amount of chilli from Nigella's Anglo-Asian Lamb Salad recipe to make it a little more red-friendly. Nottage Hill Pinot Noir goes really well with summer salads. Its slightly strawberry and very fruity lift with pomegranate undertones would suit Nigella’s Anglo-Asian Lamb Salad, perhaps with some pomegranate seeds (if you can find them this early in the year) dispersed amongst it. The Pinot Noir would also go well with Nigella’s Rainbow Trout Mimosa, another beauty that can be downloaded from Nigella’s latest app. Reds are not usually associated with fish but we love the fuller bodied earthy character of rainbow trout matched with Pinot Noir. Nigella's Rainbow Trout Mimosa recipe is super simple and quick, making it ideal for Australia day fare. Nigella’s Anglo-Asian Lamb Salad Ingredients for 2 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped or minced 1 lamb loin 150g of mixed salad leaves (including rocket and radiccio) 3 tbsp of chopped mint Dressing 2 tbsp Thai fish sauce 1 tbsp red currant jelly 2 tbsp white vinegar 1 tspn soy sauce ½ red chilli, seeded and finely chopped 1 spring onion, finely sliced Method 1. Heat the oil in a heavy based pan and add the garlic. Cook the lamb for 5 minutes on one slice, then turn over and cook for another 2½ minutes on the other. 2. Wrap the meat in foil, making a baggy but tightly sealed parcel, and let it rest for about 5 minutes. 3. Whisk together the dressing ingredients. 4. Open the foil parcel and empty juices into the dressing. Cut lamb into very fine slices and add this as well (the meat should be pink). 5. Divide the salad leaves between plates then arrange the soused lamb with the dressing over each one. Finally scatter the chopped mint over the top. Nigella’s Rainbow Trout Mimosa Ingredients for 2 1 egg 4 cups of green salad leaves, including rocket 1 tbsp flavourless oil 2 tbsp soft butter 2 rainbow trout fillets 2 tbsp chopped parsley 1 tbsp chopped dill Salt and pepper Method 1. Boil egg for 7 minutes then place in cold water to cool. 2. Line platter with salad leaves. 3. Bubble oil and butter over medium heat, browning it slightly. 4. Add the fish fillets, skin-side down, and cook for 3 minutes each side. Remove to prepared plates 5. Peel and chop egg finely. 6. Mix the egg with the chopped parsley and dill and sprinkle this mixture over each fish fillet and salad. For more of Nigella Lawson’s recipes, visit www.nigella.com

Fresh back from the Christmas/New Year break, we are in full swing satisfying bottling demands for crisp, dry whites and rosés.

We are gearing up for vintage. It looks like being a mid to late February start, with the Cabernet Sauvignon at Reynella having turned through veraison (change of colour in the berries), which means it now has the potential to be the first red to cellar this year.

Myself and winemaker Paul Lapsley tasted all potential 2010 Eileen Hardy Shiraz wines last week. The mood in the room was beyond excitement! All the wines are looking exceptional, with the 2010 Eileen Hardy Shiraz being tipped to compete with the 2004, which took out the Bushing King title at the McLaren Vale Regional Wine Show in 2009.

– Charlie Seppelt, Hardys Tintara winemaker

	From the Tasting Bench Hardys Chronicles range (RRP $16) offers wines that are blends of a classical varietal and a new or emerging varietal. The result is fresh, soft and juicy wines that are perfect to consume in warmer months compared to the more traditional fuller bodied wine styles. Our most popular Chronicles blend is the Twice Lost Shiraz Cabernet Rosé. It has juicy aromas of strawberry and raspberry, with hints of rose petal. It has a soft and creamy finish with well-balanced acid and sweetness. The Gamble Chardonnay Pinot Gris displays juicy peach and pear characteristics, with hints of green apple and honeysuckle. It is soft with creamy, mineral characters and a lingering finish. With our Butcher’s Gold Shiraz Sangiovese, fresh dark plum, black sherry and summer berry characters are complemented by structured tannins and a juicy, mouth-watering, long and textured finish.
	Cellar Door abuzz There is plenty of activity happening at Hardys Tintara Cellar Door. Read below to find out more ... Historical Building and Garden Self-Guided Tour We have just released our Historical Building and Garden Self-Guided Tour brochure, which offers visitors to our Cellar Door with a truly unique experience. The tour gives insight into McLaren Vale's rich history and the legacy of our pioneer and founder, Thomas Hardy. We are one of only two wineries in South Australia offering such an experience. Ask our friendly staff for a brochure when you next visit Hardys Tintara on Main Road at McLaren Vale. Twilight Tastings Another exciting addition to the Hardys Tintara Cellar Door is our Twilight Tastings, which are on trial until this coming Friday, January 28. Complimentary tastings of our iconic wines will be available from 5-8pm, including our 2008 Eileen Hardy Pinot Noir, awarded Gold as the best Australian Pinot at the 2010 International Wine and Spirit Competition. Finalist for Best Cellar Door Regional Award We narrowly missed out on winning the McLaren Vale Grape, Wine and Tourism Association's (MVGWTA) Best Cellar Door Regional Award recently, after being named one of four finalists. It was a huge honour to be named a finalist and with any luck next year we'll go all the way! Visit McLaren Vale on Australia Day to help Qld Hardys Tintara will be joining more than 40 businesses in McLaren Vale to participate in a major fundraiser on Australia Day for the Queensland Flood Appeal. Organised by the MVGWTA, the contributions being made by businesses are a combination of a donation per bottle sold, per guest within a restaurant or accommodation provider, plus additional generous donations. We encourage you to visit the McLaren Vale region and help support fellow Australians in Queensland on Australia Day.
	Cellar Door Offer Subscribers of The Palate can purchase any 6 bottles from the Hardys Chronicles range for $90! This offer includes: 2 x Spiegelau stemless wine glasses Delivery to any Australian address To place an order, click here
	Come see us at Adelaide’s biggest cellar door! Stop by and have a chat to our friendly team at the Hardys Tintara stand at the 2011 Cellar Door Wine Festival, from Friday, February 25 to Sunday, February 27 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. We’ll be serving some of our specially selected premium McLaren Vale and multi-regional ranges, plus fantastic specials so you can take our wines home and enjoy them with friends and family. This is South Australia’s first state wine festival, so come along and be part of this inaugural event where you will discover the best wine, food and regional experiences in the state. You will have the chance to visit more than 100 wineries, and enjoy wine tastings, master classes, food sampling, a regional farmer’s market, live music, Fringe performances and more. You can also go into the running to win a Smart Car, plus you’ll be given a free Riedel wine glass and a free $5 wine token! Sound like your idea of a good time? Round up your friends and family and come along. You can double your chance of winning the Smart Car by simply pre-purchasing your tickets. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketek.com.au (GA $20, conc. $18, VIP $45). To find out more information about the 2011 Cellar Door Wine Festival, visit www.cellardoorfestival.com.
	Oprah farewells Oz in style Hardys was thrilled to supply bottles of Sir James Tumbarumba for Oprah’s farewell function at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday, December 14. The event followed Oprah’s Ultimate Australian Adventure, which saw her bring 302 audience members over from the US to embark on unforgettable journeys in what was one of Australia’s biggest tourism campaigns. Joining Oprah and her lucky travel companions at the farewell function were celebrities including Hugh Jackman, Olivia Newton-John, Bono, and Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman.

Out and about with Bill Hardy

The last couple of months of 2010 are somewhat of a blur to me. After my Japan/Philippines promotional trip in late October, the first two weeks of November saw a number of important visitors come to see us at Hardys. Natsuko Kumazawa, our Marketing Manager in Japan, brought a party of four important Japanese wholesale and retail customers to immerse them in the Hardys experience. Nick Jones and James Roberts from our European office then accompanied two senior buyers from well-known UK supermarket chain Sainsburys. They were seeking new opportunities from within the Hardys product portfolio. I also welcomed the new state manager for Qantas Airways, Roch van Delft, to our headquarters and was able to remind him of the long and fruitful relationship our companies have enjoyed.

From mid-November, my personal life started to throw a large shadow over my work activities. In the third week of the month, our family welcomed a number of American friends and family of my daughter Alix’s fiancé, Adrian Sikorski. They came to celebrate their wedding at St Peter’s Cathedral. Receptions in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and at our family home at Seacliff put a serious dent in the stocks of Sir James Tumbarumba sparkling and the superb Hardys HRB range! The following week the bubbles continued to flow when I entered my seventh decade of a fortunate and satisfying life. Then, on November 27, I hopped on a plane bound for Chile to begin six weeks of long service leave, which saw me visit some Chilean wine regions, hike for three weeks in Patagonia, wind down in Buenos Aires, head to Denver for Christmas, and welcome in the New Year in New York!

Returning to my desk in the second week of January was not easy. Fortunately, things were reasonably quiet with many Hardys staff and customers still on their summer break. This gave me the opportunity to catch up on many matters that arose while I was away, and begin planning my promotional activities for 2011. Already on the horizon are visits in a couple of weeks’ time from two senior managers from one of our important Danish customers, and a study tour by members of the French Institute for Vine and Wine.

International trips in the next few months will include a 10-day trip to Europe based around the major German wine fair, Prowein, in late March, and a 10-day trip to Canada in early May to work with Wine Australia, which has organised a major promotion of Australian wine with the gigantic Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Meanwhile, here in Australia, the 2011 vintage will be underway and, with exceptional climatic and market challenges to be met, I will be following the progress with considerable interest. How about a Hardys Sir James toast to a successful outcome and a vintage year in 2011?!

Have your Say

Here at Hardys we like to find out what you think and what is important to you – it helps keep us on our toes and inspires us!

Each month we'll ask you to vote on a particular topic and we will post the results the following month.

Last month we asked you what your favourite food and wine pairing was at Christmas. About 38% of you voted Pork & Sparkling Shiraz, while 25% said Duck & Pinot Noir, 13% Ham off the bone & Rosé, 12% Turkey & Chardonnay and 12% Seafood & Sauvignon Blanc.

This month we'd love to know what your favourite summer wine is. Click here to cast your vote.