New release 2007 Shiraz

The 2007 Shiraz (with 5% 2009) is a dark red colour with a magnificent aroma of white pepper, dark berries and milk chocolate. On the palate it is massively fruit sweet with a taste that runs the spectrum of dark cherry, plum, chocolate and liquorice with gentle tannins. It is fully mature, a deeply satisfying wne to drink now but one that, we think, will continue to develop for several years. To order now click here www.tomswaterhole.com.au/shopdisplayproducts.asp

The grapes we grow

We have just received the 2009 vintage report from the Winemakers Federation of Australia and as usual it makes fascinating reading.

If you read the wine columns in the newspapers you could be forgiven for thinking that these days the only white grapes we grow are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio and most of the red grapes are the newer trendy Italian varieties such as Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Barbera. Well, you couldn’t be more wrong.

The most widely grown red varieties are, in order of volume: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir – almost exactly what the traditionalists would expect. But then come varieties such as Petit Verdot, Ruby Cabernet, Mataro, Grenache and so on. The Italian varieties barely get a mention. Sangiovese was a miserable 0.2% of the total crush, Barbera a tiny 117 tonnes and Nebbiolo so small it didn’t even appear amongst the “also grown.”

When it comes to the whites the results are even more astonishing. Chardonnay still accounts for almost half the white crush, followed by Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and, believe it or not, Colombard. We have long suspected that Colombard is, as Jancis Robinson politely puts it “blended with more fashionable grape varieties to add volume and provide useful natural acidity” (Pinto Grigio anyone?) But what came fifth? Muscat Gordo Blanco.

What on earth is Muscat Gordo Blanco? Well, it’s a pseudonym for a grape better known to the rest of the world as Muscat of Alexandria and which, in typically Australian fashion we shorten to Lexia. This year we crushed 56,000 tonnes of it which, at 1,000 bottles per tonne translates into 56 million bottles or bottle equivalents of Fruity Lexia.

Scary isn’t it.

Sunday lunch

Sunday Lunches at Toms Waterhole We will be hosting hot homemade soup and  woodfired Pizza  lunches. Many of you have asked for it so Sunday 2nd August and Sunday 23rd August are the next dates.  Bookings essential by phoning Jan on 02 6344 1819 or e-mail balloonjan@bigpond.com  It’s winter time so we will keep you warm in the winery around the pot belly stove and some gas heaters.

Inland NSW Tourism Awards

We are excited to be going to Narrabri,a 6 hour drive away, this weekend for the presentations. Canowindra has 4 finalists out of 58…including both our businesses..Toms Waterhole Wines and Balloon Joy Flights. We have been finalists for the last 4 years and hope to go 1 better this year.A great feat for such a small town !! These Awards cover all of NSW west of the Great DIvide.