Cheers! Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year, from my travels down under in Australia.
I spent a rather nice day between Christmas and New Year with a group of family and frends, wine tasting in the Yarra Valley. This is a major wine production region in the hills north-east of Melbourne. I mentioned this in my previous post and thought I would add a little more.
Our choice of vineyard (there are many) was Yering Farm Wines, who offer what they call guided wine tasting. Some readers may be familiar with this concept, but it was a new experience for me. The idea is that you sample 6 or 7 of their different wines, while a knowledgable member of the vineyard staff talks you through the particular qualities of each.
There is a tasting fee of 10 AUD. However, if you then buy a bottle (or two) of your favourite wine, the tasting fee is deducted from the price.
My favorite was their 2019 Chardonnay (see my main photo). The tasting notes read: Aromas of warm, toasty oak with hints of banana and peach, on the palate peach, citrus and subtle toasty oak with hints of vanilla. Silky, mid-palate balanced with gentle acidity.
To be honest, I’m not sure that I detected all of those particular nuances in the taste, but it was certainly a very pleasant glass of wine! I paired it with a meal of Tasmanian salmon (smoked, infused with chilli and ginger) with roasted veg and savoury rice, eaten al fresco (see below).
First track to be added to the ADK Playlist in 2023 is from an Australian artist I discovered for the first time recently, when he played live on local TV here. This is Morgan Evans with Over For You.
A Different Kitchen 