Cargo Road Riesling

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to visit what I believe may be the only town in Australia which is also a colour - Orange. It is a region which, being inland NSW, you would expect to lean towards heat and aridity. It's altitude, though, gives it a much cooler climate, and it gets plenty of moisture thanks to its location reasonably close to the Blue Mountains. This makes it the perfect place to grow grape varieties such as Pinot Noir and Riesling, although there are plantings of harder types such as Shiraz and Zinfandel.
This wine is from a winery nestled up on the side of Mt. Canobolas, the summit of which is the highest point between Sydney and Perth (in a straight line). Purchased from the cellar door (of course), it was consumed a week later at my favourite seafood restaurant, Pier 26 in Summer Hill. And I must say it suited the menu very well. It is a riesling in the Australian style, crisp and acidic. The nose has scents of nectarine, and plenty of citrus, and the palate is crunchy, with noticeable grapefruit tendencies. It is long and lingering, too, as is the acid. A great wine for hot days or for eating with seafood or thai.
The bottle I had was the 2008 vintage. The 2005 version having won numerous awards, I think this will cellar well for a couple of years.

Food: Barramundi with lime aioli.
Price: $25 a bottle.

Sydney Cellar Door

This week is, apparently, NSW Wine Week, and as an opening event, there was a "cellar door" in Hyde Park, complete with the obligatory Gozleme and dodgy Pad Thai, and massively overpriced tasting glasses.  Nevertheless, it was a beautiful Sydney day, so I headed out to see if I could find anything interesting.  Step one was to get a "tasting ticket"; $25 for a glass (plastic) and 5 vouchers, each worth 60ml of wine.  A little pricey just for tasting, but the line proved the price realistic:

Yes, the tent in the distance is the front of the line, glowing softly from the satisfaction of so much money rolling in.  

Vouchers purchased, I began wandering around, waiting for something to catch my fancy.  And I found it.  The first place I actually stopped for a drink was at the stall of a winery called Jeir Creek, from down near Yass, which apart from a wonderful fruity riesling produces what I think may be the only sparkling Shiraz Viognier in Australia.  Made in the full méthode traditionelle, it was absolutely delicious, all blackberries and violets.  

I also found rather a wonderful organic winery from near Mudgee.  Lowe make what I consider a wonderfully passable Pinot Noir, and an absolutely delicious Shiraz, all from (almost certified) biodynamic vineyards.  

There were other lovely and original wines as well, and all in all I think the day was a good showcase of NSW wines, though the price may have put some people off.  But what's 

to complain about?  The sun was shining, the wine was flowing, there was live music, and small children were playing in the War Memorial pond.  

What's not to like?  A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, all things considered.