I'm collecting some info about organisations, groups etc which promote particular varieties. The latest I found out about was Tempraneo Aussie wineries producing  tempranillo.  There are a few more and I thought I'd give them a kick along by making a website about them.

See what I already have here http://www.vinodiversity.com/varietal-wine-organisations.html

Contributions and comments welcome.

 Changes to the licence fees for alcohol related events has the potential to heavily impact on the smaller wineries in Victoria.  The fees for some types of licence have trebled. This hits very hard at those wineries who rely on small community festivals and farmers markets and the like.

You can see a report by Jeni Port in the epicure of 9/2/10 http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/epicure/walking-the-thin-red-line/2010/02/08/1265477561145.html

All wine consumers will lose if these changes have the effect of further concentrating the industry into the hands of large operators and supermarkets. Binge drinking, bad behavoir and drunkenness does not occur at farmers markets, yet patrons and stall holders are asked to pick up the hefty bill for policing badly managed nightclub districts.

If you feel strongly about this then you can join a facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=294529112510 But don't be a passive member take some action!

The live music industry are doing so. Supporters of the diversity in Victorian wineries can do so as well.

Grenache as alternative variety is a controversial issue as Caughtredhanded says.  I agree with most of what you say but it is a SA centric view.

 

I base my inclusion of grenache as an alternative on a few points

 

The variety was subject to vinepull schemes for quite a while and it looked like it was heading for obscurity.

 

In SA it is very common, always has been, not just for fortifieds but also for blends - in the 1960s they were called claret now they're called GSM.  But elsewhere they are rare.

 

Varietal grenaches are fairly uncommom.

 

Grenache is not grown much outside SA - a pity I think.

 

The Australian Alternaive varieties show included greanache as a permitted variety until a few years ago, but not nay more so it is an open question.

 

I am leaning to the view that grenache varietals, ie >85% should be regarded as alternatives. However I think it is a bit difficult to discombobulate varatital Greanches from Grenache blends.

 

 

 

BTW I think varietal Cab franc is "alternative" but most of it is used in blends with Cab sav.

 We all look forward to the end of July when Halliday's book comes out. It always contains a few surprises.

 

One thing I find disappointing is the lack of coverage of alternative vaireities, are they not submitted, or do they get such low points that they are nor mentioned?

 

This year though a couple of reds got high points, Kabminye's 2006 Carignan and Eldridge estste 2007 Gamay, as welll as Grooms Bsh Block Zinfandel.

 

As ususual there is a fair slew of new wineries.  There entries are marked with a vine leaf.  I have written an analysis of the varieties used by new wineries at http://www.vinodiversity.com/new-wineries-in-halliday2010.html

 

Have any other monkeys found anything interesting in the lates Wine companion?

 

Darby

Vinodiversity.com

 The Wine Century Club is an interantional group of wine geeks who have tasted over 100 different wine grape varieites, and recorded them. 

 

It is a social, educational and mostly FUN thing to be involved in.  It was started by Stev De Long (of the Grape Varietal Table fame) and his wife.

 

A group of winelovers has decided to start a Melbourne chapter of the Wine Century Club.  You can see more info or register your interest at this page 

 

http://www.vinodiversity.com/wine-century-club-melbourne.html