The Wine Blokes

Jono has been involved in the wine industry since he was quite young. His parents had a small vineyard and winery in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia, and spent plenty of school holidays working in the vineyard and winery. He completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Oenology) from the University of Adelaide (formely the Roseworthy Agricultural College). He also holds a Post Graduate Degree in Business Management from Monash University. His wine industry experience include working as a winemaker for Petaluma in the Adelaide Hills under the legendary Brian Croser. He was then sent to Smithbrook in the Pemberton region of Western Australia, then owned by Petaluma. He spent 6 years at Smithbrook managing the vineyard and winery, and during that time also completed a vintage at Chateau Carsin in Bordeaux. The two years leading into 2008, he traveled the world with his partner sampling the worlds best wines, and also fulfilling his other passion of equestrian competition.

Recently it was discovered that one of the new exotic varieties of grape vine planted in Australia, and also produced, marketed and consumed, is not actually the variety we thought it was. The grape variety Albarinho, a spanish white grape, is actaully in fact Savagnin, at least if it was grown in Australia.
We have a vested [...]

The World Wine and Food Expo will be held at the Moncton Coliseum Complex, located at 377 Killam Drive, Moncton, New Brunswick from 30th October.
This is one of the world great wine and food events, and has a large range of exhibitors from wineries, food stalls, and restaurants.
Tickets can be purchased for the 2009 [...]

Not content with past bombings and terrorist activities aimed and bringing awareness to the powers that be in the global wine industry of the consequences of globalisation, French group CRAV this week  set off two bombs at La Domaine de la Baume, the Languedoc estate owned by Grand Chais de France.  Damage was done to [...]

Vinopolis in London is one of the great wine venues in the world dedicated to learning and education of wine. Situated on Bank End, not far from Borough High Street, Vinopolis is easily accessible from all major routes.
The centre opened in 1999, and was the brainchild of wine merchant Duncan Arbuckle. who saw the need for a [...]

Smithbrook are and emerging giant killer in in the Pemberton region of Western Australia and conitnue to impress with their focussed portfolio of wines, delivering savory, minerally styles of Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot.
Only a few vintages old, the Yilgarn Blanc series of wines have got better and better. Similar in style to white Bordeaux, where [...]

Great news for those of you who regularly buy wine online in the UK!
Our sister website, Deal85.com, has got a selection of UK Wine Deals and discount wines that you can take advantage of over the coming weeks and months.
If you know of a wine deal that isn’t in the Deal 85 site, you can [...]

It’s 44 degrees Celsius today in Adelaide. Last week we had the hottest day in 70 years, over 46 Degrees Celsius. We then had 6 days in a row over 40 Degrees. I remember only a couple of months ago in November, freezing my butt and thinking this global warming thing is a crock. In Queensland [...]

Lobethal Road is a small family-owned vineyard near Mount Torrens in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. The cool climate and north-easterly facing slopes nurture low-yielding vines, producing wines of regional character and intense flavours.
Established in 1998, the vineyard covers just 5 hectares and lies at 475 metres above sea level. The low yields, minimal irrigation [...]

Summer is the festival time around South Australia and the 2009 Crush – Adelaide Hills Wine Festival this year should be bigger and better than ever. On Sunday 25th January, many of the hills leading wineries will be celebrating with special events, seminars, music, and food.
Complimentary wine tutorials with passionate young winemakers will reveal the [...]

Hawkes Bay is probably renouned as the poor cousin of Marlborough as far as New Zealand goes, but it certainly is a must try for any worldly wino.  However it is fast becoming renouned as a premium producer of great Shiraz and some pretty special Chardonnays.
Hawke’s Bay is in the North Island of New Zealand, [...]