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.

Full results of the 2008 Royal Melbourne Wine Show, held in October can be found here.

The 2009 (and 19th), Tasmanian Wine Show will take place between the 12th and 16th of January, showcasing the best on offer from the state. Tasmania is rapidly gaining an international reputation as producing stunning world class wines, especially Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sparkling. All entries to the show must be made from 100% Tasmanian [...]

The South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami Florida is fast becoming one of USA’s biggest wine and food festivals. It hosts a range of international exhibitors and experts, including winemakers, spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities. Hosted by Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida and Florida International University (FIU), the festival benefits the Teaching Restaurant [...]

Indian wine producer, Vallee de Vin, based in Mumbai, are preparing to sell 125,000 litres their flagship wine, Zampa, in the UK and Dubai.
The company, which is one of the biggest Indian wine producers, plans to start making sales within the next six months. Neeraj Deorah, a Vallee de Vin director, told Business Standard:
“Though India [...]

Reuters report today that sellers of Old World wines are finding their biggest growing market in an unlikely location: India.
The report explains how the growing band of wealthy young professionals in India is readily developing a taste for classic wine styles.
Read more on this report here.

The current state of excess supply of grapes in Australia, and around the world for that matter, has certainly been amplified of late due to a panel discussion during the recent Wine Industry Outlook Conference held by the Winemakers Federation of Australia.
During the panel discussion, John Grant of Constellation Wines suggested that Australia’s supply of [...]

Over at the UK Wine Shop we’ve been getting a large amount of visitors searching for Rioja, in particular the Baron de Barbon Oak-Aged Rioja 2006 .  Of all the wine regions Rioja in Spain and Malbourough in New Zealand seem to continue to appeal to the senses of the mass wine consuming public.  Why [...]

From the down to earth genuinely purest winemakers of Romney Park near Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills, comes another really well done Pinot Noir. From a extremely low yielding year (800 kg / acre), Rod and Rachel Short have crafted soft, structured complex wine that could have been completely the opposite from this vintage, as I [...]

I was driving through the hills today taking a peek at many vineyards.  South Australia has experienced its driest September & October since 1914, with average rainfall significantly down. This will consequently prove bitter sweet for many growers as the season progresses.
Around this time of year, the vines are approaching full canopy, as can be [...]

The Johnston family are synonymous with the Adelaide Hills and have been since 1843, having significant involvement in the liquor industry including brewing and running hotels.  In 1993 they planted the first of several vineyards behind the Oakbank Racecousre (home to the largest picnic race meeting in the world). 
They have had success with Sauvignon Blanc [...]