stephen blyth’s blog

Sometimes weather forecasters can be wrong, very wrong. Rather than the temperature being a pleasant 30 degrees or so, perfect for hitting the wine trail, it was over 40 degrees. Venturing from the air conditioned Commodore to the tasting room through the blistering, baking heat was an ordeal. Although we did persevere, I didn’t wander the streets of Bendigo. I’ll have to leave taking in the impressive stone buildings, a reminder of the town’s goldmining past, until another time.

Some of the vineyards (such as Conor Park pictured above), looked so dry as to barely support any vegetation, let alone grapes. Those beside the drive-way were looking shrivelled and stressed with little fruit showing. The vines were lucky to have had one water in the past three years. I dared not to ask what affect it had on the vintage, though tasting one or two of the whites suggested high temperatures and white wine don’t mix. It seems to be viticulture very much on the margins. However, the vintners seemed unperturbed by the vagaries of the weather, focusing their attention on grapes that like the heat, ie red varieties. Some grapes, such chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, were sourced from other districts.

It was definitely the red wines that made the biggest impression. Megan, Ros and Megan made a beeline for the reds, snapping up Shiraz (or Syrah for those with an eye turned toward Europe), Merlot, Pinot Noir and Carbernet Sauvignon. Oh yeah, and a wine from the Water Wheel Vineyard called a Memsie. My palate, unaccustomed to the bold, brash Aussie reds, sought refuge in the whites. My single purchase, some lightly oaked Chardonnay from Langanook winery, sited in a little valley below Mt Alexander, will be quaffed on the verandah of my new home in Brunswick.