A Few Favourite Wines
As a young academic, I have grown to appreciate various wines and in Australia we are seriously spoiled for choice. With some of the best wine regions in the world, it's no surprise that I have enjoyed a number of fine wines.
So what are some of my favourite wines? Well, I do really enjoy white wine, specifically a Semillon. Semillon is a very soft, fruity and not too sweet wine that leaves my palette quite smooth. My absolute favourite Semillon is from the Hunter Valley, in New South Wales, a wine region which has some of the best Semillon wines in the world. More to the point, I love, I mean, absolutely LOVE, a Semillon from the family owned Tyrrell's Wines. Regardless of the year, you will never be disappointed by any of their Semillons. Tyrrell's Vat 1 Hunter Semillon is especially special, and I only ever open one of these on a special occasion. My favourites being the 2005 Museum Release Vat 1 Hunter Semillon or their 2007 Vat 1 Hunter Semillon. Now if you don't believe me, it's probably worth mentioning that their Vat 1 Hunter Semillon is amongst one of the most awarded white wines in Australia. However, as an everyday bottle (which I dislike sharing) my favourite would be their Stevens Semillon. I personally love their 2009 bottle, however the 2011 bottle is just as lovely.
Beyond Tyrrell's Wines, there are a couple of other everyday wines I really enjoy, including the smooth and fruity Sauvignon Blanc Semillon from Cape Mentelle, in Western Australia's Margaret River. I also really enjoy Lindeman's Sauvignon Blanc.
However, I do need to be careful as some of the preservatives used in wines nowadays often leave me with a shocking headache 20minutes after having my first sip. So, I also stick to organic wines which are preservative free when I am unsure.
A favourite organic wine is the Levin Sauvignon Blanc. Levin Wines is located in the Loire Valley in France and it is a family owned business operated by David Levin and his Melbourne born wife Lynne. Levin Wines have also received numerous international awards in recent years. Their Sauvignon Blanc (my favourite) has a rich and refreshing flavour with a hint of citrus. If you can get yourself a bottle, you definitely will not be disappointed.
In regards to really good wine regions in Australia, we have so many! My favourites, mainly because the white wine that they produce are to my liking, include Adelaide Hills, the Hunter Valley and Margaret River. I hope in the near future I am able to explore these regions more thoroughly, after all, they are in my backyard.
I cannot take credit for these lovely photos as they are from the amazing @tyrrellswines instagram account.