GATHER ROUND GEOLOGY NERDS… Planet Earth’s Eocene epoch lasted from 56.5 to 35.4 million years ago.  At the beginning of the Eocene, Gondwana, the ancient supercontinent from which our country was formed, had been splitting apart for some time, however Australia and Antarctica remained joined.  Fast-forward to around 40 million years ago (plus a few extra details that we won’t delve into here…), Antarctica eventually split away from Australia and drifted south, creating a large, ridged valley, exposing the volcanic seams that then deposited lava flows around the more elevated parts of what we…

I am writing to you on the launch of my 2021 Smart Grenache and 2021 Old McDonald Grenache. Setting these wines free is always a moment of great release, and a signal that the current vintage is over. But this year it is not so, and I find myself asking questions: Firstly, will my 43rd vintage ever end? A year of inopportune rain and unseasonal cold culminating in a late harvest, reduced yields and too much time for reflection and contemplation, and amongst the swirl,…

  This year marks the second year of an Australian landmark: Chalmers Bush Block.   This really is the Chalmers family making its mark, and we are so excited about this next release - the people have been asking, and it is finally here! Bush block is undoubtedly Australia. Inland Australia, with its own rhythm, its warm, red dirt and blazing sun. It is a place where grapes – millions of tonnes of them – have grown. But till now, none have grown like these...…

This year’s single-vineyard release from the Frankland Estate clan is tinged with touch of sadness as it’s the first since Barrie Smith’s passing late last year. But I tell you what, he would be proud of these releases AND the way that the Smith-Cullam clan continue to tell their story and live out his dreams through the wines! The release has been beautifully summed up by the winery here – all that’s left to do for the rest if us is to sit back and…

Cellarhand is so pleased to introduce you to our new producer, Velich and his amazing wines coming straight from the eastern Burgenland in Austria.   They say you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family…. One of the great things about working with the best winegrowers from all over the world is that there is never a shortage of quality producers getting in touch looking for someone to represent them,thanks to the appeal of being bed-fellows with some of the greatest names in…

New single vineyard beauties from the Onannon trio now available      Can you have unassuming rock stars? Certainly, in the local wine scene, the three winemakers behind Onannon fit the definition of ‘rock stars’. You’ve got Will Byron (‘ON’), formally long-time winemaker at Stonier and a nominee for Gourmet Traveller WINE ‘Winemaker of the Year”. Then there is Kasper Hermann (‘ANN’) who has been responsible for the trajectory of Toolangi and Rochford over recent vintages. Finally, Sam Middleton (‘ON’) who carries the family torch…

Named in 1973 after the Scottish Highlands town of his ancestors by founder Ewan Jones,  Dalwhinnie has had a long and illustrious history of producing some of the Pyrenees region’s best Chardonnay, Shiraz, and Cabernet. Patrick Walsh recalls going there back in the early 90s and having the famous BBQ rib-eyes and back vintages of Shiraz in the unique setting amongst the vines, and as a young sommelier at the time thinking life was pretty good! It feels almost a full circle moment from those…

‘Immune to hyperbole, this is an estate to watch (and buy, and drink). Hearty congratulations are due’, says Erin Larkin for the Halliday Wine Companion. In a sea of fierce competition, Deep Woods Estate is continuing a non-stop run of awards with an ever-growing count of sensational reviews, gold medals and trophies - most recently included in James Halliday's Top 100 Wines of 2022 with the 2020 Deep Woods Reserve Chardonnay. Deep Woods Estate was originally established in 1987 and since that time has gradually…

With Lowestoft scooping the pool with trophies for the best Pinot Noir at both the 2022 and last year’s Royal Melbourne Wine Awards, at the National Wine Show of Australia, and winning Best Pinot Noir of the Year at the recent James Halliday Wine Companion Awards, people are starting to wonder where this newcomer Tassie label has appeared from, seemingly out of nowhere. Read on…! Lowestoft is the Tasmanian string to the Fogarty Wine Group’s bow, whose Australian beginnings date back to the mid-1800s when…

The heart of the Chalmers family has always been in the Murray Darling wine region. Merbein, just outside Mildura, is where the family’s home is, and the location of the Chalmers’ vineyard and vine nursery. This unique and diverse land is also the adopted home to every variety they’ve imported to Australia over the last twenty years. It is the source block for supplying millions of vines planted across Australia’s wine regions, hence the name ‘Mother Block’.  These Mother Blocks have given the Chalmers family…

CellarHand is excited to announce that we have signed a key distribution agreement with Western Australia’s Fogarty family for the distribution of their Fogarty Wine Group stable of sought-after wine brands. These include Deep Woods Estate (Margaret River), Dalwhinnie (Pyrenees), Lakes Folly (Hunter Valley) and Lowestoft Wines from Tasmania – available to the trade for the first time. On announcing the news Patrick Walsh, founder and managing director of CellarHand remarked: “This is an exciting moment for Virginia, myself and our whole team in our…

Frankland Estate wines founder Barrie Smith’s vision and passion for wine leaves an impressive family legacy and mark on the Western Australian wine industry. Barrie Smith with wife Judi Cullam established Frankland Estate in 1988. Barrie died on Wednesday (17.8.2022) leaving behind him an impressive legacy. Barrie’s passion for fine wine, sense of adventure, sheer determination and tenacity proved to be a great formula in establishing and developing this now impressive family wine estate. It was Barrie and Judi’s vision to make some of Australia’s…

Harold Olmo was a believer in Frankland River. He was the viticulturist who, back in 1955, declared that this place was at least the equal of any place in Australia or California when it came to the potential for Bordeaux-beating Cabernet blends. The Smith Cullam family were believers in Olmo. Judi Cullam and Barrie Smith named their ambitious flagship blend after him when they started producing it back in the ‘90s. As the records show, they honoured him with an elegant wine of distinction. And…

It's unanimous: 2021 in Austria was bloody brilliant. There was a cold spring, a cool summer and a late start to picking that eventually kicked off during a constant, dry, sunny early autumn. It then ended gloriously with what the Bründlmayer team called a “golden finale” in late autumn. “The 2021 vintage was for us almost perfect,” says Weinviertel organic ace Ingrid Groiss. “In years like 2021 when we harvest a little bit later, we see that the wines are really expressive and show almost…

We’re really pleased with the way the wines of La Spinetta’s Rivetti family have seen their Australian audience grow in the past couple of years. The Tuscan-grown Vermentino and Sangiovese have always been staples for many, as has the ever-reliable Langhe Nebbiolo. A few other occasional wines have added interest, but there’s little doubt that the increased precision and detail of the cru Nebbiolo wines – the four Barbarescos and two Barolos – has driven a new level of respect and enjoyment.   It's hard…