The Wine Blokes

Pauls Winemaking Experience include (in his own words):

Pauletts Winery in the Clare Valley:

Makers of a consistently classy Riesling and some oft underrated reds (from better vintages) in the Polish Hill River sub region of the Clare Valley.

Taught me that chemistry is not winemaking and the best wines have personality not a perfect set of numbers.

R. Dubois et Fils, Pemeaux Prissey, Burgundy, France

A great little family winery. Living and working with 3 generations of French winemakers was an incredible experience.

Produce wines from Aligote a traditional grape variety in the region resulting in clean, simple, high acid wines best consumed in the first year after production (often teamed with cassis to make kir the aperitif of choice in the region). Some outstanding Chardonnays and Pinots from their better parcels look out for the Clos des Argilliers.

Learned the importance of site (aspect, soil) on harvest time and the benefits of small batch winemaking.

Voyager Estate, Margaret River, Western Australia 

A super well backed winery in the heart of one of Australias premier regions. Worked night shift for most of my stay so I couldn’t tell you with much certainty what the place was like but people say it’s a nice part of the world.

Produce some solid reds, a barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc that I really enjoyed and a Semillon / Sauvignon Blanc that always offers great value for money.

Jacques et Francois Lurton, Rueda / Toro, Spain

Though having travelled before this was my first true introduction to flying winemaking (which actually is a misnomer) the plane just being used to change continents from then on you drive a lot. I flew into Bordeaux with my French Phrase book and a local job offer only to be handed the keys to a rental car and a map to nowhere Spain. 8 hours on I was at the winery.

Based in Rueda making whites with the regional varieties Viura (a clean, simple blending option) and Verdejo (more body and style a bit like Semillon - saw some great wooded styles while I was there). Also worked in Toro making massive reds with Tempranillo.

Taught me that its cheaper to pay one wine maker and give them a car than it is to pay 2 winemakers.

Shaw and Smith, Adelaide Hills, South Australlia

Makers of a consistently good Sauvignon Blanc. These guys championed the variety before it took off and are reaping the rewards now. Also make some highly polished reds and a barrel fermented Chardonnay that is very appealing young but seems to age poorly for ?

Chateau Trianon, St Emillion, Bordeaux, France

An amazing place, lived in the old chateau on the site and worked vintage in the most modern old looking winery (imagine computer controlled wood tanks). First vintage in an old estate in the process of being dragged to the top of the pile. Amazing commitment to quality. Back to the French view of vineyard to wine small batch production. Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Hacienda Araucano, Chile / Bodegas Jacques et Francois Lurton, Argentina

Worked in Argentina first as their vintage is ahead of Chilean amazing countryside and soils a backdrop of the snow covered Andes is something else. A larger volume winery producing commercial styles in very much a new world way.

In Chile at Lolol, it was a smaller premium operation, more along French lines with small batch fermentation and hand plunging. Also travelled to Casablanca to make some pretty good Sauvignon Blanc and process larger volumes of varietal reds in a state of the art cooperative style winery.

The Islander Estate Vineyards, Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Establishing a new winery in such a remote location was a bit of a challenge but the first vintage went off without a hitch.

The operation was established by Jacques Lurton, meeting his ideal of bringing together old world vineyard and wine handling techniques with the freedoms of planting allowed in the new world. He has brought together Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Shiraz, Grenache, Viognier and Semillon unheard of (and downright illegal) in traditional European viticultural areas.

Tuscany

Vintage at Luigi Checci et Figli looking at Sangiovese. Vineyard management and views on different clones were highlights. Also found the indigenous varieties such as Vernaccia interesting.

The Islander Estate Vineyards, Kangaroo Island, South Australia

The second vintage on the island gave us more time to look at the vineyard and start the slow process of trying to define a style. We were surprised at the levels of maturity attained given the milder maritime climate.