2012 Witches Falls Co-inoculated Verdelho

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Witches Falls Verdelho 2012 Witches Falls Co inoculated Verdelho photo‘Elegant’ is not a term I would generally use to describe Verdelho. Descriptors such as big, fruity, vibrant and easy drinking readily spring to mind. But, I would hesitate to cite elegance as a typical feature of wines made from the Portuguese grape.

However, the brand-spanking new Verdelho from Witches Falls, in the Granite Belt, has forced me to do just that. The wine definitely tends more toward the elegant, lean and intricate end of the spectrum rather than the vibrant and forthright.

Certainly, it boasts the zippy acidity and the bold, fresh stone fruit and melon characters typical of the variety. However, this is overlaid with subtle orange blossom and herbaceous nuances and the wine comes together on the palate in a seamless, silky web of textures.

I suspect this has something to do with the co-inoculation technique employed in the making of the wine. In very simple terms, this means that multiple yeasts were used to initiate fermentation with an aim to give the wine greater flavour, structure and complexity. I believed it worked.

The wine finishes dry and clean with a slight, cleansing bitterness reminiscent of apricot skins. I would consider pairing this lovely, fresh, crisp style with a chicken ceasar salad or a light, Thai pork curry.

Cellar: Drink now or cellar until 2015.
Get it: In the next gourmet selection pack from The Gourmet Belle’s wine club! Find out all you need to know here →
Winery Website: www.witchesfalls.com.au
More: Learn more about Verdelho here →

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Regional Flavours, Southbank

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Regional Flavours 2012 Regional Flavours, Southbank photoWow, what happened to Regional Flavours? The ‘team’ at Southbank have certainly taken this foodie festival to another level. When I arrived bright and early on Saturday morning to find Little Stanley Street completely blocked off and heaving with tents, I quickly recalculated my ‘plan of attack’. All of a sudden the couple of hours I had set aside to stroll around the expected 20-odd stalls (probably belonging to the same Regional Flavours stalwarts…if can you have ‘stalwarts’ after only four years of operation) seemed a little misguided.

More than 100 of Queensland’s best food and wine producers, from 12 different growing regions, turned out to showcase their wares and remind us the wonderful epicurean delights available in our own (sizable) backyard. As it turned out, I needed just over 5 hours to get round to all of the stalls (oh well!).

I love the memories and stories that food can evoke. So I probably tasted and purchased more rosella jam, beetroot and ginger based products than is entirely healthy (and the motley bunch of goods will require me to get a little creative in the kitchen!). But, I felt completely vindicated in the knowledge that my gluttony was supporting our state’s food and wine industry. I can’t wait until next year’s event!

A few highlights for me were: Towri Sheep Cheeses (the blue and the pecorino are SO good); Scenic Rim Olives (great infused oils and smoked olives); Seatonfire Chilli (loved the creative salt and rosemary chilli chocolate and the hot chilli sauces and relishes); D.A.D.Z Farm (yummy beetroot, zucchini relish, rosella jam and pineapple/ginger jam); Symphony Hill Wines (classy range, including Verdelho and Shiraz Viognier); Mayfield Chocolates (Country Caramel Chocolate!); Lirah (beautiful range of balsamic vinegars and verjuice); Tillari Trotters (love a good ham steak); Stella May Fine Foods (Boozy Duck Pate!!); Hinterland Feijoas (who also grow rosella – I’m obsessed); and T-Licious Tea and Coffee (with the lovely May King Tsang who loves her tea and was doing a great job educating visitors at the Herbal Tea Garden)…and too many more to list here (unfortunately).

Click here for a ‘degustation’ of images from Regional Flavours. Or visit The Gourmet Belle facebook page for more.

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