News & Views

The Beauty of Agronomy

2011-12-20T09:44:00.001+10:30

At this time of the season, while wine lovers are getting ready for the holiday season, grapegrowers are busy tending their vineyards.

One of their major concerns is keeping diseases, like powdery and downy mildew at bay and also establishing and training new vineyards.

"Behind the fruitfulness are men of understanding and knowledge,

and skill, men who experiment with seed, endlessly developing the

techniques for greater crops of plants whose roots will resist the

million enemies of the earth: the molds, the insects, the rusts, the

blights. These men work carefully and endlessly to perfect the seed,

the roots. And there are the men of chemistry who spray the trees

against pests, who sulphur the grapes, who cut out disease and rots,

mildews and sicknesses. Doctors of preventive medicine, men at the

borders who look for fruit flies, for Japanese beetle, men who

quarantine the sick trees and root them out and burn them, men of

knowledge. The men who graft the young trees, the little vines, are

the cleverest of all, for theirs is a surgeon's job, as tender and

delicate; and these men must have surgeons' hands and surgeons' hearts

to slit the bark, to place the grafts, to bind the wounds and cover

them from the air. These are great men."

John Steinbeck - The Grapes of Wrath.

Highland Fling Hear Them Sing

2011-12-11T20:00:00.001+10:30

The BordererS @ Cellar Door Sunday, January 8th.

Lazy Ballerina is thrilled to have internationally acclaimed Celtic band The BordererS playing at Lazy Ballerina. $25 tickets. Your ticket also gets you a bbq chicken or lasagna lunch and dessert. Music 1-4pm.

This will sell out. Bookings essential! Phone 08 85 567 085. Check out the BordererS Website - www.theborderers.com.au

Holiday Times, High Times, Tea Times

2011-11-27T11:56:00.001+10:30

Lazy Ballerina is pleased to announce we are offering High Teas all summer. Get a group together and joins us in the magnificent surrrounds of our garden. There is no better way to rest, relax and enjoy your afternoon.

Your menu includes -

Free flowing bubbles and free flowing tea

Sandwiches - ham and cucumber

Mini Quiches or Fritata

Cream choc puff or chocolate brownies

Cupcakes

Scones with Jam and Cream

Custard tarts or Vanilla slice

High Tea is served -

Friday, Saturday, Sundays and Public Holidays. 2-4pm.

$35 per head. Minimum of 6 people. Bookings essential.

Bookings and further information -

Pat Hook 08 85567 085 or email James - james@djsgrowers.com.au

You can't predict the weather.

2011-11-16T17:02:00.001+10:30

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Did you know that the weather when you grow grapes is vitally important?

Each week James checks McLaren Vale's weather data as part of the regions CropWatch programme.

The growth, disese pressure and ripening of McLaren Vale vineyards changes depending on the altitude of the vineyard and its distance from the gulf. Local factors like gully winds also play a large part.

Differences in mesoclimate are reflected in the differences in growth stages (EL stage) between vineyards and when they are harvested.

McLaren Vale has a very good coverage of weather stations which can be accessed by following the link: www.weather-mclarenvale.info

The Bureau of Met’s weather station is at Noarlunga Centre, CropWatch’s Kangarilla site is on Kangarilla Rd, to the west of the township. The McLaren Vale Visitor Centre is located on the Main St at the northern end while the McLaren Vale site is at the southern end near the Salopean Inn. The Willunga site is near the Willunga High School.

McLaren Flat located on the eastern side of the township and Kuitpo which located approximately on the corner of Range Rd and Pennys Hill Rd.

Wedding Season

2011-11-10T10:23:00.001+10:30

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It is wedding season at Lazy Ballerina. Check out the lovely photos from Carly Hack Photography.

Carly was wedding photographer for Jasmine & Blake who had their surprise wedding with us earlier in the month. Look at her website for more lovely pictures and if you are looking at wedding venues - make sure you think of us.

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Surprise arrivals.

2011-10-31T21:00:00.001+10:30

The normally sleepy gardens of the Lazy Ballerina cellar door were shaken by a surprise helicopter arrival. The boys from the Littlehampton restaurant Out of the Pan, Jeremy Matto and Alan Crawford enjoyed the high life with a quick jaunt for a wine tasting.

It was Jeremy's birthday and partner Alan surprised him with the helicopter ride. Jeremy said he did not know where they were going when they set off on the ride and was surprised to pick out Kuitpo Forest from the air and even more surprised to land in the Lazy Ballerina gardens.

Lazy Ballerina is twenty minutes drive south from Mt Barker but the helicopter made the trip in half the time.

Jeremy and Alan completed their adventure, taking some wine it tow with them, by returning for a party at the Nairne indian restaurant Chingari.

Vale Cru Tasting Day.

2011-10-17T15:05:00.001+10:30

On Sunday James joined the Winemakers of Vale Cru on the Victory Hotel lawns to pour and discuss the latest release of Lazy Ballerina wines against the stunning backdrop of Sellicks beach and the Vines of McLaren Vale.

Look out for the next Vale Cru event coming soon!

Emily Davis & Band Live at Lazy Ballerina

2011-10-14T17:43:00.001+10:30

Join us for live music in our garden. Sunday October 30th.

The quintessential singer-songwriter, Davis has spent the past 10 years crafting her narrative into something tactile, visceral and rich in imagery. We can't think of any better place than are garden to enjoy her dreamy music.

$20 lunch and dessert package.

Emily is playing from 1-4pm.

P: 08 85567085

PS. We have a marquee if the weather is poor on the day. We play rain, hail or shine.

Kelly Menhennett plays Lazy Ballerina Oct 9th

2011-09-28T09:04:00.001+09:30

Next weekend!

Lazy Ballerina is pleased to have Kelly Menhennett playing at Lazy Ballerina on Sunday, October the 9th.

Did you know when she is not being one of Australia's best up and coming roots musicians, she is a winemaker! Lazy B's James and Kelly worked together in the Riverland back in the year 2000. That is 11 vintages ago! They both started to work at a young age.

Picnic food is $20 with a pizza or lasagna and dessert. Bring a blanket and sit out on the lawn. We also have our full range of wine available, plus tea, coffee and soft drink. This is family friendly, so bring the kids to kick the footy, or play some Bocce in our backyard.

Check out Kelly's Website - www.kellymenhennett.com

New stock of 2009 Lazy Ballerina

2011-09-19T15:51:00.001+09:30

The new Lazy Ballerina Shiraz & Shiraz Viogniers are out now.

We are proud to introduce and share our latest Shiraz and Shiraz / Viognier.

This is the 6th release of Shiraz and 5th release of Shiraz/Viognier.

We recommend you come up and visit this month to see what we have created for your enjoyment, or for those interstate, we have 20% off dozen and mixed dozen and free shipping.

'New' Folk Concerts - Sundays in October.

2011-09-15T11:28:00.001+09:30

Lazy Ballerina is going cool this October featuring a series garden concerts.

The concert series features an array of new folk artists performing a range of styles—from solo acoustic to progressive — every Sunday afternoon from 1:00pm to 4:30pm at the Lazy Ballerina Gardens, rain or shine.

We kick off with Kelly Menhennet on Sunday October 9th.

Intravenously fed song from the womb, Kelly Menhennett was bound to eventually grace us with her musical talent on stage. Born to a singer mother and a 3rd generation grape growing father, both with an eclectic taste in music, Kelly officially began playing her first instrument, the violin, at the tender age of 4.

Lunch picnic packages are $20 a head with Pizza’s and light food from our kitchen. Our full range of wines is available from cellar door for you to buy. RSVP for more details.james@djsgrowers.com.au

Australia's Open Garden

2011-08-28T17:15:00.004+09:30

This weekend we hosted Australia's Open Gardens. We snapped this photo of the blossom. After hosting 250 garden lovers we are a tired team here at Lazy B... but happy.

We are next featured in August of 2012.

Folk Concert Series

2011-08-11T17:59:00.002+09:30

Lazy Ballerina is going all ‘new folk’ this October featuring a series garden concerts.

The concert series features an array of new folk artists performing a range of styles—from solo acoustic to progressive —every Sunday afternoon from 1:00pm to 4:30pm at the Lazy Ballerina Gardens, Kuitpo Forest near McLaren Vale, rain or shine.

The Series kicks off on Sunday October the 9^th with Kelly Menhennett.

Tickets are $20 with Pizza’s and light food provided. More information will follow.

Grape Debate '04 - Why Winemakers are Gods.

2011-07-28T10:58:00.002+09:30

June 10, 2004

James' speech notes.

"Ladies & Gentlemen, winemakers are the gods of the industry. You know it makes sense.

I was very nervous about speaking today. I couldn't sleep last night. When I finally drifted off, I began to dream.

At the door was a messenger with a beautiful engraved invitation to a wine tasting hosted by God himself…

My company were major sponsors and I was invited.

God had deck out Chapel Hill as if it were the Sea & Vines festival to end all Sea & Vines festivals.

Tables, candles, crystal all in a giant tent.

I walked into the tent and was stunned and the music that was echoing was very familiar. Sure enough, on a giant white piano there was John Lennon playing Imagine -- just with slightly different words.

I found my way to a seat and looked around. I was sitting next to on my right Drew Noon, on my right was Steve Piombo.

Justin Lane, Phil and the garage winery crew, had a Red Heads Studio table and Micheal Fragos was half way through showing them some killer ‘04 barrel samples.

Chester was there sitting up the front chatting to Jesus about the chances of getting in some Marsanne through quarantine a bit quicker.

So there I was with Steve smiling on my left, Drew on my right, and I let my eyes wander over the other guests. There was the John Glatzer, Simon Parker, Steve Pannel, The team from Wirra.

I can only thank my lucky stars I was invited, Thanks Bryan, but I didn't care as it was just so cool to be here and -- God's wine had to be pretty good

All of a sudden everyone scurried for their seats, and a group the apostles entered the room followed by God himself.

God stood up the front and went into a detailed very nice multimedia PowerPoint presentation of the techniques.

Half way through explaining the distinct soil and microclimate of each vineyard that went made the grade, the presentation went dead… Blank screen, nothing.

Luckly Lucy Hyde was sitting near the front & she sorted it.

After God gave an introduction we all poured the first wine, which was a mighty red, and we all begin to swirl with reverence. I put the wine up to my nose and . . . nothing.

It took me both hands to lift each glass, but I went through tasting each wine with maximum concentration -- although it was hard to ignore the oohhs and aahhs of the assembled angelic palates. My taste buds were in total confusion. Every wine looked and tasted the same. Dark purple, sweet oak, high alcohol, soft well-integrated tannins and . . . well, that was it. I could only think what the heck were you supposed to eat with wines like this?

Then God looked right at me and said, "What are your comments on these wines." Jesus Christ (I really have to stop that) -- Why me? I thought.

"Well," I stuttered, "this intensity is amazing."

"Exactly!" stormed God. "We cut yields to only one grape per vine!"

“Oh my god... God really is a winemaker.”

Winners of the Lazy Ballerina Photo Comp.

2011-07-26T11:17:00.001+09:30

Winner of the "Landscape Category" - Andrew Bull - with his photo of Blewitt Springs.

This nice mobile phone picture by Suzie Newbury of Lyndoch in the Barossa won "Best Mobile Photo".

Congratulations to Tara Kimpton who won the "Winemaker's Choice" in #lazypics. Tara's gallery of work was outstanding and she is a worthy winner. The team at Lazy B are pleased to share what she has done with a wider audience.

Winner of the "Wine Oh" category is Jeanette Stannard with this gem from Sellicks Beach.

Timekeepers - McLaren Vale Pruning Championship

2011-07-24T13:49:00.001+09:30

The DJ's Growers Crew on stopwatch duty, Matthew Wilson, Brad Cameron and Sam Freeman. Brad Cameron, a fifth generation grape grower in McLaren Vale is a more than handy photographer and took official photographs of the day.

McLaren Vale Pruning Championship

2011-07-23T12:25:00.001+09:30

James Hook with the team at DJ's Growers brought back an old event from the past – The Annual Pruning Championship – as a feel good event to reward all of the workers who help produce the regions world famous wines.

Grape pruners raced cutting three panels of vines to see who was the quickest. Their work was then checked for accuracy, and time penalties were given for mistakes. The winner was the competitor with the best adjusted time.

The event was last run c. 1972 and has a long history going back to the 19th Century. Our judges for this years event were Lyndon Elliott & Fred Osmond each with 50 years of experience.

Congratulations to the winner of the McLaren Vale Pruning Championship, Jeremy O'Donald - picture above finishing. Jeremy won, both his heat and the final, with his combination of speed and accuracy.

In a notable effort Dan Wright - pictured above - from Dog Ridge wines and Swell Brewery came third.

Meet the Judges - McLaren Vale Pruning Championship

2011-07-23T09:45:00.006+09:30

Our judges for this years event were Lyndon Elliott (left) & Fred Osmond (centre), shown with Derek Cameron, each with 50 years of experience.

After the pruning competitor completed their work, Fred and Lyndon marked any faults, mistakes or errors in cutting the vine, which added a five second penalty to each competitors time.

Both Lyndon and Fred are multi-generation grape growers from McLaren Flat. Both of their families have produced the grapes behind some of the most famous labels in McLaren Vale, Hardy's Tintara and d'Arenberg.

Fred Osmond farms McLaren Vale oldest grapes, which are thought to date to the 1840's when his farm was first settled - and Lyndon's vineuyard is made into a special single vineyard wine.

McLaren Vale Pruning Comp is back!

2011-07-08T17:21:00.001+09:30

Time	22 July · 15:00 - 18:00

Location	McLaren Vale Visitors Centre Lot 2 Main Rd McLaren Vale, Australia

Created by:	Lazy Ballerina

More info	DJ's Growers are bringing the McLaren Vale Pruning Competition back from the pages of history – (hats were mandatory during the 1895 comp at Auldana!) Gather your best pruners. For a test of pruning speed and accuracy as judged by the ‘Legends of McLaren Vale.’ More info e: james@djsgrowers.com.au p: 08 8323 8339

McLaren Vale Hail Storm

2011-07-04T16:01:00.001+09:30

McLaren Vale was hit by a severe hail storm in the early afternoon of the 4th of July. Large hailstones fell all across the region, with the western edge of the town having very large stones and ice clogging the roads. We feel sorry for the pruners who got smashed by this hail, shown above, on Rivers Lane on the western edge of the township. Luckily it looks like the vineyards were already deserted.

The sound of the hail failing on roof tops sounded like a ship colliding with a jetty, as you would hear in a Hollywood disaster movie. The storm made a sickening groaning sound as it passed. In the wake of the storm ice littered the roadside and the land looked as if snow had fallen.

The hail also continued into the Adelaide Hills Wine Region. This picture by Bec Hardy of the K1 by Geoff Hardy Cellar Door looks as if you could go skiing.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the state can expect to see more wild weather in the coming days and issued a severe weather alert for the Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island, the South East and parts of the Yorke Peninsula. Fortunately vines are dormant at this time of year and are not damaged by hail.

Lazy Ballerina Photo Comp - Get your entries in!

2011-06-09T09:06:00.002+09:30

You can enter the #lazypics comp by posting to our FB site or emailing - james (at) djsgrowers.com.au. Finalists are announced July 4th, so get your pics in!

McLaren Vale Pruning Competition

2011-06-06T08:45:00.001+09:30

Time	08 July · 15:00 - 18:00

Location	McLaren Vale Visitors Centre Lot 2 Main Rd McLaren Vale, Australia

Created by:	Lazy Ballerina

More info	DJ's Growers are bringing the McLaren Vale Pruning Competition back from the pages of history – (hats were mandatory during the 1923 comp at Reynella!) Gather your best pruners. For a test of pruning speed and accuracy as judged by the ‘Legends of McLaren Vale.’ More info e: james@djsgrowers.com.au p: 08 8323 8339

Groundswellsa Launch - Guerilla Gardening

2011-06-03T21:16:00.002+09:30

Time	11 June · 13:00 - 16:00

Location	McLaren Vale Visitors Centre Carpark Main Rd McLaren Vale, Australia

Created by:	WE OPPOSE SEAFORD HEIGHTS

More info	Join us for a protest against the lack of services in the south, urban sprawl and food security. With special guest Nick Xenophon, Independent Senator for South Australia. After gathering at the Visitors Centre, we are traveling to Seaford Heights in convoy to plant a community garden. Bring plant seeds, and tools if you have them. This is the first event for GROUNDSWELLsa - a community group fighting for better intelligence, deeper sensitivity, brighter creativity and serious community involvement in the development and conservation of South Australia. More info? james@djsgrowers.com.au www.groundswellsa.org

Winedup#2

2011-06-01T17:34:00.001+09:30

Organised by ERCmedia, hosted by Homestyle Solutions, WinedUp is a wine-tasting event is put on twice a year for wine enthusiasts who engage in the social media platforms (predominantly Twitter) in Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Lazy Ballerina was proud to support.

WinedUp #2 was held at Homestyle Solutions on Saturday, 28th May 2011.

Our guests tasted some of Yalumba's top wines (Octavius, Signature) as well as the newest beer released by the McLaren Vale Beer Company. Fresh food supplier, Feast Fine Foods, also provided delicious Coorong Angus Beef Salami and Bresaola.

Event organiser Rubina Carlson from ERC Media noted on Twitter, "Indeed @lazyballerina - you had some stellar tweets written about your #Viognier! :) #wine"

You can join in by following James, @lazyballerina and find out what we have planned next.

Seaford Heights - can't see the forest for the trees.

2011-05-26T11:57:00.010+09:30

The Seaford Heights housing development was approved yesterday by planning minister John Rau.

As Philip White noted, Minister Rau made a few quite startling admissions, during the announcement. He suggested that South Australian developers, planners, and architects were so far unprepared to build the sort of higher-rise, more intensive, smaller-footprint village housing that many locals prefer, and indeed his own government insists is ideal for infill in the city of Adelaide proper according to his government’s new 30 Year Plan.

Former McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Chair, Dudley Brown said the decision to allow the development to go ahead at Seaford Heights was rash and ill thought out.

"It does seem to me that the South Australian government does defer on many occasions to the developers and the big end of town," he said in the Australian.

"I fear it's the face of Australia - weak governments and big business."

The compromise treeline, which was one of the changes from the original planning application for the site is shown for the first time below.

SeafordHeights-IndicativeViews1-2&3(18-05-2011)

The Lazy B Photo fest.

2011-05-21T19:20:00.001+09:30

Can you take the ultimate wine photograph?

We are searching through your tops shots to come out with a winner.

The rules are pretty simple.

During June all you need to do is post your pics to our Facebook site. Over the next month we will put a shortlist together and get our fans to vote.

The winner of each category becomes a Lazy B. VIP. You receive our new wines as they are released… for life. That is every new wine we release, for as long as we are in business. Well worth winning.

We will sort the photo's into four categories.

1- Historical - Pictures that invoke the history of wine, or the places it is grown and made. Thinks ‘Palms at Seppeltfields.’

2- Landscape – Vineyards are pretty.

3- Wine-Oh! – that stunning wine photo you took. Might be drinking or partying. Use you imagination.

4- Mobile Phone – Anything from your phone or non camera device – we call this the Sam Freeman award.

Winners announced July 4th, 2011.

This is going to be great!

James

Kuitpo Continuous Picnic - Sunday June 12th

2011-05-11T18:52:00.002+09:30

12th June · 11:00 - 17:00

Food from $10. Wines by the glass.

What better way to beat the winter blues. No booking, no tickets. Four venues, one experience.

Lazy Ballerina
Food: An Italian feast with hearty winter pies also on the menu.
Music: Local acoustic trio ‘driftwood’ will be playing chillaxing acoustic music.
Wine: You'll be able to sample the full range of Lazy Ballerina wines by the bottle or glass.

K1 by Geoff Hardy
Food: Winter warming foods inspired by the spices of Morocco including a vegetarian option.Music: We'll have you rocking with Adelaide's leading cover band, Atomic.
Wine: We'll have a range of our white wines open and we'll be releasing the latest vintages of our K1 Shiraz 2008 and K1 Pinot Noir 2009. We'll also be serving our award winning flagship wine, the 2006 Tzimmukin by the glass.

Magpie Springs
Food: Dine on platters of local Bush food.
Music: Chill out to live music and appreciate the work of resident artist Roe Gartelmann in the working Art Studio / Cellar Door.
Wine: The full range of Magpie Springs wines will be available by the bottle or glass.

Brackenwood Vineyards
Food: Winter warming soups with freshly baked breads from Fleurieu food icon, Happy Foods.
Music: Groove the afternoon away with live jazz.
Wine: Brackenwood will be serving their range of bio-dynamic wines.

For further information please feel welcome to email bec@k1.com.au

Yes, we are open this Mothers Day.

2011-05-04T17:44:00.002+09:30

Looking for something to do this Sunday? We have our food and wine menu available all day from 11am.

Cellar Door Open over Easter

2011-04-21T17:11:00.001+09:30

Our opening Hours over Easter are : Friday - 11-5pm, Saturday - 11-5pm, Sunday - 11-5pm, Monday - 12-5pm (Anzac Day), Tuesday 11-5pm.

We have food and wine tastings all. day.

Media Muddle - Is it the Best or Worst Vintage?

2011-04-19T11:09:00.010+09:30

One of my personal pet hates is the constant drone of winery publicity relations proclaiming it to be the best vintage ever. This season we have had also had of chorus of media proclamations stating it is the worst vintage ever.

I am only 31 years old and have a 12 year career in the industry. If I believed the scribes I have worked through 10 of the best vintages in the history of space and time... plus five of the worst.*

Last week I have heard reports of wine industry commentators suggesting the 2011 vintage was a ‘write off’. While it has been an extremely challenging year in McLaren Vale with rain and disease pressures, I have seen many good vineyards and some very good wine.

Philip White from Drinkster dug up some perspective. The summer of 2010-11 was, in fact, the second wettest on record for Australia.

"Nationally we averaged 354.7mm, 70 per cent above normal and second only behind the infamous summer of 1973-74 when 419.8mm was recorded," said Tom Saunders, meteorologist at The Weather Channel.

“Victoria’s had its wettest summer on record,” he continued. “Western Australia recorded its second wettest summer. South Australia recorded its third wettest summer. New South Wales recorded its fifth wettest summer. Queensland recorded its sixth wettest summer. Northern Territory recorded its eighth wettest summer, and Tasmania recorded its seventeenth wettest summer."

Closer to home in McLaren Vale the trend of wet weather continued but it is not all doom and gloom. The areas south of McLaren Vale, through Willunga and down to Sellicks faired quite well. These areas are notoriously windy and this air movement naturally assists in preventing disease.

For most of the season the extra rainfall during summer helped keep vines healthy and most growers were able to keep on top of the summer diseases Powdery Mildew and Downy Mildew. Unfortunately as the time for picking grew near in March we had 80mm of rain at the wrong time.

For growers in the areas south of McLaren Vale, they were able to quickly pick their fruit before Botrytis Bunch Rot set in.

The other end of the scale was Blewitt Springs. Fruit in this region was not ripe and couldn’t be picked immediately. Here the terrain is undulating, with hollows that trap moist air. Blewitt Springs and wet other pockets in McLaren Vale experienced persistent misty rain without sunshine for about four days that resulted in botrytis infections that grew exponentially. There fruit was not ready to immediately harvest. The fruit had to hang, exposing it to

Jock Harvey from Chalk Hill Wines puts it into perceptive, "This was not due in anyway to incompetence, negligence or a lack of commitment," he says. "It was devastating for individual growers and for the wineries who intended to take the fruit."

While it has definitely been a difficult year for many, with varying degrees of quality, there will be outstanding and exciting wines produces from the 2011 vintage. Don't listen to the spin from PR companies.

If you want a reply say the McLaren Vale vintage is the best, worst vintage you are ever likely to see… it all depends on where your vines were and if you were lucky or unlucky with the summer rain.

*Spoiler Alert. If you ask me to list the vintages in order I have done so below from both a winery perspective and a grapegrowers.

Grape Growers & Winemakers

Good years 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010. In 2007 a severe drought made good intense wine but saw most grape growers have the lowest tonnages since 1982. I rate 2007 very highly for wine quality but it was very damaging to the local economy.

Media Release From McLaren Vale Grape, Wine and Tourism

2011-04-17T10:58:00.000+09:30

Vintage 2011 Media

Retro McLaren Vale.

2011-04-16T11:29:00.001+09:30

James has been undertaking a photo project. He is finding old photographs of McLaren Vale and surrounds and retaking them to show how everything looks today.

He has been given pictures by Andrew Tuck from the 1970's & 80's as well as some arhive picturs from the State library of South Australia.

You can view James' work on Lazy's Facebook page.

April 9th, 2011 - Congratulations Rose and Norman Hook - 70th Anniversary.

2011-04-09T14:27:00.001+09:30

Norman and Rose Hook celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary with a party at the Lazy Ballerina Cellar Door. Norman and Rose are Paul's parents and James' grandparents.

Rose, 89 years old and Norman, 90 also this month were married in March 1941.

They have a great, great grandchild in the UK, which means five generations of the family are alive at once.

April 3rd, 2011 - Rick Bakas visits McLaren Vale.

2011-04-04T20:18:00.001+09:30

Rick Bakas is a thought leader in the world of wine and social media - on twitter alone Rick has over 50,000 followers which makes him one of the most influencial social media proponents. Rick was invited to visit McLaren Vale and catch up with leading, local wine social media users. Louise and Joch from Battle of Bosworth joined Janet from Mollydooker and myself for a tasting and conversation with Rick. To make the tasting more pleasant Adam Tripp-Smith hosted Rick at the Salopian Inn and served up a two course meal.

Jeff Wright from the McLaren Vale Beer Company and Luke Tyler from d'Arenberg also tasted through the line up.

Battle of Bosworth's newly released 'Spring Seed Co - Sav Blanc' was served with entree. Over mains we tasted 2007 Lazy Ballerina - Tatachilla Single vineyard Shiraz, 2008 Mollydooker Velvet Glove, 2008 Battle of Bosworth 'White Boar' Shiraz and 2008 Hugh Hamilton Saperavi.

For the rest of 2011, Rick will be traveling the world educating businesses on how to build their brands online. He will be visiting NYC, London, Mexico, Sydney, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Vancouver, Adelaide, Munich, Napa and Perth!

We wish him well on his trip.

April 2nd, 2011 - Vintage Pictures 2-0-1-1

2011-04-04T20:13:00.001+09:30

The beauty of the Kuitpo region of the Adelaide Hills shines in Autumn... Unfortunately while the weather is sunny when this photo series was taken, many other days see the vineyards smothered in cloud.

April 4th, 2011 - Vinteloper Wines makes Best of the Best 2011.

2011-04-04T20:04:00.001+09:30

Congratulations to Vinteloper Wines for making Mike Bennie's Best of the Best List in the April issue of Gourmet Traveller Wine.

Mike says,

"Sourcing regionally works well for winemaker Dave Bowley. Picking and choosing from a variety of vineyard sites has honed his portfolio into a sharp hit list of regional specialties from South Australia, but with an individual flair thanks to his more relaxed approach to winemaking. Bowley’s sauvignon blanc, riesling and pinot gris are orderly, fresh wines with plenty of enjoyment factor. Where it gets real is with his remarkable 2010 Odeon Riesling, Clare Valley (labelled ‘Natural’ this vintage), which eschews normalcy for riesling produced in Australia and tows an unfettered, unadorned line. Textured, alive and brittle with electric personality, Odeon is brilliant white wine. The 2008 McLaren Vale shiraz has plenty of pluck too, and finds a very even keel balancing fruit verity and finesse."

The full best of list is shown on GTW website.

April 4th, 2011 - Lazy Ballerina Website Goes Live

2011-04-04T19:59:00.001+09:30

Today, the new Lazy Ballerina website goes live. Big thanks to Glen Laundy at Tekspec Design for updating our old site to WEB 2.0.

If you are interested in updating your own site contact Glen at glen@tekspec.com.au

Letter to Grape Wine & Tourism members - from Pip Forrester Chair.

2011-03-29T09:08:00.002+10:30

Hello Everyone,

This email is to let you know that our discussions and resistance to the
development of Seaford Heights continues and to advise you of the
details for this year's BankSA Sea and Vines festival.

The Association, The Board and I, as Chair, persist in our engagement in
discussions and negotiations with the other stakeholders; The Southern
Community Coalition, The Friends of Willunga Basin and with The City of
Onkaparinga.

The latest development in the process is the City of Onkaparinga's
response to a letter from the Minister for Planning (Minister Holloway)
which advised of the Minister's amendments to the Seaford Heights
Development Plan Application (DPA) resulting from the consultation
process with numerous community groups, including the McLaren Vale
Grape, Wine and Tourism Association and various government departments.

At its meeting on 15th March the Council resolved as detailed in the
attached letter from Mayor Rosenberg to Minster Rau. In summary the
decision was;

1) That the Council restates its wish for the land to be rezoned 'rural'

2) If rezoning is not approved, the Minister be requested to convene a
'round table' to include all those who had been involved
in previous consultations to consider an alternative development
policy for Seaford Heights appropriate to a transition to
the Willunga Basin and rural areas.

3) That the Minister take note and take action on the responses to the
proposed changes to the Seaford Heights. DPA

4) In the event that the Minister does not approve the request to rezone
the land to rural, the Mayor and CEO of the
City of Onkaparinga express their concern in relation to the Seaford
Heights DPA to the Development Policy Advisory Committee
and to the Environment Resources and Development Committee of
Parliament.

For details on point 3) please see the attached letter to Minister Rau.

This resolution, in large part, reflected the wishes of the three key
community groups; McLaren Vale Grape, Wine and Tourism Association, The
Southern Community Coalition and the Friends of Willunga Basin who as a
result of discussion were in agreement on their position.

Your Association Board, at its recent meeting, has also reiterated that
it's first preference is for the land to be rezoned 'rural' and it's
second preference is for the consultative process to be recommenced.

I will keep you informed about the Minister's response to the Council's
resolution when it is received.

With respect to BankSA Sea and Vines, please also note the attached
summary of the details for the event this year. As those of you who are
involved are aware, we are in the process of evolving this event and as
a result have had numerous meetings leading to several alterations to
the delivery model to meet the needs of all the businesses wishing to
participate as can be seen from the attached summary.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has put in
time and effort to come up with the present solution, especially
Elizabeth Tasker and her team.

The BankSA bookings open on Monday 11th April and all bookings on 14th
April. We anticipate that the brochure will be available by then and the
details will be on the website in the next 10 days.

Best wishes

Pip Forrester
Chair
McLaren Vale Grape, Wine and Tourism

From the vineyards up...

2011-03-26T10:11:00.000+10:30

by PHILIP WHITE
This was first published in The Independent Weekly in August 2008.

“Mr. White, I’m not like you”, James Hook said as I settled in his ute. “I am a scientist.” He then took me to show me a thing or two about McLaren Vale, where he worked for the Grape, Wine and Tourism Association.

In this business, you don’t meet many so certain about their roles and their determination to fulfil them. Ian Hickinbotham spoke in such a manner when first introduced some thirty years ago; his son Stephen, was another. Ray Beckwith, too, now in his mid-nineties, is still similarly precise. Probably no other Australians have had such influence on wine as Hick Snr., and Beckwith, with their ground-breaking work on pH and malo-lactic fermentation, now taken for granted by winemakers the whole world over. Had Stephen not been killed in a plane crash, I’m sure he would have gone on to show us another thing or two.

So here was your writer, suss that we’d run out of such people of serious category, and jaundiced by the thousands of cocksure pretenders and self-promoters who fill the vast gaps between. “Their obituaries describe these people as successful businessmen and they pass promptly into oblivion” wrote Walter James of this mob in 1970. I don’t think this will be said of James Hook.

I’d seen Hook the scientist at work when he’d been called in to make an independent judgement on a grape crop. With another viticultural scientist, Derek Cameron, they succinctly disproved an allegation that the crop was diseased. The brewery which had tried to evade its purchasing contract was forced to keep its bargain, and the conscientious, terrified grower stayed in business.

And now in McLaren Vale, Hook gradually unfolded a severe arsenal of knowledge and attitude. Not only did he show a rare savvy about vine husbandry, but his deep appreciation of the folly of greed and environmental destruction left most of the wine business for dead.

Then he sent me some shiraz: an understated bottle, displaying a dancer resting on a chair, named Lazy Ballerina after a canopy management where the vine’s canes were organized to resemble the dress of a ballerina. That wine, and another release since, with a little viognier, impressed me very deeply, with its intensity of character, gastronomic intelligence, and promise for the future.

With his parents, James has purchased an unusual, if run-down, European garden on the big bend at the south end of the Kuitpo forest. A new tasting room is nearing completion; the garden is gradually regathering its beauty, its silver birches and healthy river red gums standing in bright contrast to the wall of pines opposite, a carpet of winter blooms spread beneath. A peacock admired himself in the reflecting door as we nudged the glasses last week.

James, the viticulturer, had planned four shiraz wines and managed their vines accordingly. Two were from vineyards he considers sufficiently distinctive and suitable to be released as single vineyard wines, to offer numerous points of difference for discussion about the nature of McLaren Vale shiraz. Another is a cross-vineyard blend, designed to follow the style of his earlier releases; the fourth is a shiraz viognier.

“I have planned these from the vineyards up”, he said, introducing a string of barrel samples. “This exercise is to test my plan, to ensure the wines are sound and true to my original goal, or if any of them require tweaking or blending.”

The wines from Dudley Brown’s Inkwell vineyard, near the Gulf on California Road, was tighter than most shiraz, reflecting an uncommonly dense grape cell structure: elegant, but highly focused and intense. No changes required. Next was the contrasting monster from the piedmont of Sellicks Hill, from the vines of Paul Petagna. Whilst closer to typical Vales shiraz, with its cuddly big chocolate and licorice, this, too, was tight with mighty tannins, and ever so gradually tapered off into a tail uncommonly elegant and refined after such an opening. Right on the knocker.

The blended wine, from various sources, followed closely the earlier Lazy Ballerina style – read masterly - and the last, the shiraz viognier, is a lesson to those who mindlessly blend these varieties in the name of fashion alone. No peach syrup in this baby. Uh-huh. It had all the austere acid and tannin elegance of the first three wines, but with the added tannic finesse that only tiny additions of early-picked, cool-climate, co-fermented viognier have to offer.

Only one barrel was faintly suss, still showing a little lazy malo-lactic ticking away. It’ll be fine when the Lazy Ballerina tasting room opens in the spring. Which is something worth waiting for, given the maker’s success in defining the flavours of his finished wines in advance, then selecting and managing the vineyards to achieve his goal. We have a new benchmark forming up, there in the forest. I’m hooked.

Kuitop Weather.... March 17th.

2011-03-17T11:51:00.005+10:30

Kuitpo Year To Date.

Average rainfall to Mar: 77.2mm 22.7 day(s)
Total for 2011: 120.8mm 16 day(s)
Total to this day 2010: 39.6mm 14 day(s)
Wettest day: 46.6mm Feb 19
Lowest temperature: 7.7°C Mar 2
Highest temperature: 39.4°C Jan 31

McLaren Valley name change proposal.

2011-03-02T21:34:00.009+10:30

McLaren Valley name change proposal.
‎
An article from the Southern Times Messenger has sparked debate on the Lazy Ballerina Facebook page.

Here are some of the comments -

WBM magazine says - I like McNaren Vale as I heard a Hong Kong VIP call it. The only thing that should be changed is politicans with stupid ideas.

Steve Lindner says - Always a worry when a polly is suggesting change, I've always loved the name, don't change!!

Jessie Morris says - Fair call. I like the fact that McLaren Vale is so different to the Barossa...I don't think SA needs two wine 'valleys'!

Jet Robins says - Not a fan Mr Hook. It's the Vale (plus the Flat). Plus, linguistically I find McLaren Vale easier to reel off.

Chris Dix says - Obviously none of you or politicians are aware of Clare Valley, a historic winemaking region just 120km north of Adelaide....

Laura Jackson says - MacLaren Vale - I'm lovin' it. TM

Margot King says - I live in the Barossa and used to live near McLaren Vale. There is no need to change the names. Why do people with nothing better to do think that changing a place name will in any way benefit those who live and work in the region?

Lara Winsor says - It doesn't work, just confuses people more and dilutes the message.

The Atherton Tablelands in North QLD changed it's name to The Cairns Highlands by pollies & tourism 'experts' a few years ago. The locals still call it Tablelands, tourist...s know it as Highlands and confusion abounds! I suggest anyone who gets confused that a town & region have the same name aren't the sort to appreciate to difference between a Cab Sav and a Sav Blanc.

Lazy Ballerina says Coonawarra Valley - just like the Barossa but with more Cabernet.

Rymill Winery says via twitter - Coonawarra Valley? Just like the Barossa? <- Requires one very large iron there, more germans here.

Tim Hardy says - Took the words right out of my mouth Chris and lets not forget Eden Valley. valley count so far 4!!!

Ashley Coats says - Valley Ale?!? Sounds like something teenage girls in the 80's would drink.

Trudi Duffield says - Sounds like a lolly?

Shane Barker says - Just what we need - more confusion!

Yvonne Arnold says - Nah, we've got used to it being a Vale, and its known world wide as McLaren Vale via the wine industry.

Susan Read says - An Italian backpacker friend of mine is still convinced it's called McClaren Valley also my phone's predictive text won't allow the word "Vale".

Karra Yerta Wines says - I'm still trying to process the woman with the chair - :) Can we slow all these changes down a lil bit?:)

Douglas Colin Tapfield says - This is retarded. Is he proposing to keep the the town named McLaren Vale but rename the area McLaren Valley? It's already more confusing.

Matthew Stuckey says - My branding advice would be exactly the contrary. By trying to piggy back on the Barossa's name, the Vale would only lose brand recognition and always come off as the lesser of the two. From a tourism aspect I much prefer McLaren Vale to the Barossa exactly because it is more compact and therefore scenic, you can see most of the vale from up on the hill which is great for touristy wine region photos.

Is this "confusion about the broad area it covers" keeping people awake a night? Why change to pander to the lowest common denominator (people who get confused by the word 'vale' in the obvious context of a valley?

Annika Berlingieri says - McLaren Valley - Where one Valley leads to the Vale???

Dan Procter says - Vale Ale's in trouble, would it be called Valley Ale?

Keith Rutherford says - Don't be ridiculous!!! McLaren Vale is what is has always been known as, don't mess with the brand!!! Change Barossa Valley to Barossa Vale instead!!!

Keith Rutherford says - It is the start of March, not the 1st of April, by the way.... Someone is a bit early for April Fools Day!!!

Lazy Ballerina says - McLaren Valley? Secret valley?

Travis William Armener says -Considering, geographically, that McLaren Vale isn't actually a valley, it seems a bit stupid. Changing the name "just because" seems pointless, and we will just be tagged as, "riding the coat tails" of the Barossa. I think politicians should concentrate on more important issues, like saving McLaren Vale from urban sprawl. Stopping Seaford Heights seems like a much more important issue to be working on!

John Maddock says -It's all about the brand!

Need to be careful about messing with the brand. McLaren Vale is now an international brand that has a high value. It is a given that the brand encompasses more than the people, produce and experiences of a town. One... of the strengths of a vale is that it extends into the hills and valleys that surround it.

King Island is a stunning success of a brand but it has come to mean much more than just the richness and purity of its dairy produce. Tasmania's north and north/west has particularly benefited from strength and drawing power of the brand.

What about Clare Valley .... mmm riesling:)

Sandra Sharp says -Think Mr Bignell needs to find something else to do with his time. Surely his energy could be better spent in lobbying for McLaren Vale to be recognised as a region (as the Barossa is) and then we would get better funding instead of being lumped in with the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Lazy wedding hire information.

2011-02-27T14:21:00.000+10:30

WeddingsandPartyHire

Thunderheads over the Adelaide Hills.

2011-02-16T20:48:00.006+10:30

ABC NEWS - FEB 16th

A clean-up is underway in the Barossa Valley and other parts of South Australia after fierce thunderstorms.

The downpour and strong wind gusts brought down trees and led to flash flooding late on Tuesday.

Emergency crews rescued a woman at Eudunda after her car got swept along a flooded road.

Swan Reach recorded nearly 70 millimetres of rain.

Nuriootpa and Kapunda had readings of more than 40 millimetres.

Lazy February Special

2011-02-16T20:27:00.002+10:30

Lazy Ballerina - Two for one special on Shiraz / Viognier and Viognier. Buy the red, get the white free!

Lazy Ballerina - Two One Special

Winemaking behind the scenes... Botrytis

2011-02-15T17:59:00.009+10:30

NOBEL ROT IN SEMILLON GRAPES IN FRANCE.

Botrytis cinerea is a bunch rot of grapes and is one of the most important fungal diseases of grapes worldwide. You see it mentioned on wine labels - but in truth it is a grapevine disease that most growers frown upon.

The fungus causes two different kinds of infections on grapes. The first, grey rot, is the result of consistently wet or humid conditions, and results in the loss of the affected bunches. Yucky.

The second, noble rot, occurs when drier conditions follow wetter, and can result in distinctive sweet dessert wines.

The 'bad' Botrytis happens when vineyards get heavy rain before harvest and is most severe where excessive nitrogen has been used, where air circulation is poor, or where an insect pest called Light Brown Apple Moth or other factors have damaged bunches. Rotted berries typically have a grey cast of the fungal growth and spore-bearing structures which gives the disease its common name - grey rot.

2010 White Wine Deal...

2011-02-13T22:33:00.003+10:30

$120 per dozen delivered!

Lazy Ballerina Order Form Whites

Crush 2010 - Kuitpo Cluster.

2011-01-31T15:02:00.013+10:30

K1 by Geoff Hardy were thrilled to be a first-time host venue for Crush 2011 joined by Lazy Ballerina, d'Arenberg and Griffin Wines.

Richard (top and above) and Nathan (above) manned the K1 by Geoff Hardy stand. K1 2010 Sauvignon Blanc and 2010 Arneis were a big sellers on the day as the temperatures rose.

Sydney Harbour

2011-01-13T13:53:00.008+10:30

Photo series by James.

Rare Lizard seen in McLaren Vale - James' scoop find.

2010-12-17T12:40:00.008+10:30

Amazingly these photos of this lizard in McLaren Vale have caused a stir.

I took them on Tuesday and posted them to Facebook. From the pictures I took I have been contacted by the SA museum who wants to find this specimen. They believe it might well be a Lace Monitor - "Bells Form" Varanus varius... Read more.

It seems to be a rare find and has been believed to be extinct in South Australia. The museum doesn't believe that there are any Lace Monitors in the Adelaide Hills, or specifically any "Bells Form Monitors" in SA.

I look forward to crossing paths with Mr Lizard again - and that is an exciting find indeed!

My Top 5 - Interweb Joys.

2010-12-14T09:34:00.018+10:30

My list journey continues. Music is the food of the soul - and my pop culture of choice. Here are the favourite things technology has given me this year...

2010 Favourite Things Online.

#1 - Slates Cultural Gabfest- A podcast fresh from New York City's - Slate Magazine. This is THE SHOW about the week in pop-culture. I have enjoyed many hours walking with the Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens and Julia Turner keeping me up to date with the latest in movies, various musics and literature.

Yes, I admit it has one weakness, as the US is a little bit ahead of Australia sometimes you have no idea what they are talking about because often movies/products are released stateside first before the rest of the world, but they put in 'spoiler alerts' if you don't want to find out the details of the latest Matt Damon think piece.

I recommend you subscribe to the weekly Culture Gabfest podcast feed via iTunes.

#2 - Boing Boing Blog; I love the way it mixes humour with science and technology news. It is also no slouch in reporting on the political arena either.

Above - This pair of early rescue masks, shown above, dates from between the mid-1800s and World War I. They look a bit familiar, right? Almost a 100 years before Darth Vader and 3-CPO hit the big screen in "Star Wars" in 1977, these two smoke helmets were worn by firefighters carrying our rescues in smoke-logged buildings.

I can't really explain more. Just visit and explore.

#3 - Near Map. Near Map makes Google Earth look myopic. Near Map's provides an amazing level of detail because imagery is actually taken from an aircraft, and is higher res than a satellite.

#4 - Drinkster - Philip White's wine blog. This year Whitey covered geology, history, urban planning, water rights and Krug.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: DRINKSTER WORLD’S 2ND BEST WINE SITE!

“ ... irreverent, guffaw provoking blog ... perfect for when the wine world gets too depressing ... knits solid news and events to titles like Paris Dumps Jugs For Cans in Top Blomo ... irresistible ... ” WSJ’s wine expert, Alice Feiring

PHILIP WHITE AND GEOLOGIST JEFF OLLIVER WORKING ON THE SA GOVERNMENT'S McLAREN VALE GEOLOGY MAP - photo KATE ELMES

#5 Hootsuite - Social Media Dashboard. I am disorganised at the best of times and Hootsuite is a great tool for keeping track of everything I like online. It is not sexy, but it is practical.

Summer Storm over McLaren Vale.

2010-12-08T13:29:00.013+10:30

The build up.

The thunder storm wave. Photo by Peter Kennedy.

The wind did howl, and the wind did moan.

The hot road steams after the first storm passes.

The vine canopies drip wet.

The second thundercell passes over Paxton Vineyards Thomas block.

The third wave storm over the bones of the ol' Tatachilla winery.

Discount Kingz

2010-12-06T08:42:00.003+10:30

My sister Sarah-Jane snapped this picture when our tour in the Barossa.

Wine Specials.

2010-12-05T09:05:00.002+10:30

Please see following order form.

Lazy Ballerina Order Form Whites

Vintage Motorbike Fest!

2010-11-21T10:40:00.020+10:30

The weather was fine, the day clear, then the rumble came. A dud groan echoed in the Kuitpo Valley. The smell of 2-stoke and 4-stoke lingered in the normally pristine pine forest air.

These pics taken during the visit by the southern area's Vintage Motorbike clubs to our cellar door. The group brought near fifty, fine pieces of machinery.

The boys from Scarpantoni were in fine form. No plants were harmed during the day, but carbon was burnt in the name of vintage horsepower.

My pick of the day was a 1956 Matchless Scrambler.

My Dad told me a story about when his brother, my Uncle, raced a car in a Matchless Scrambler and my Dad was the pinion passenger.

The two of them hit a bump going over a bridge. My Dad nearly fell off, going about 90mph and just caught the fender over the back wheel. He says it was the closest he ever got to instant death.

Kids, present day Motocross was an evolution of the British off-road event called scrambling and scrambling bikes were the first type of dirt bike.

I am sure they didn't have Hi-Vis when these motorbikes were built.

I can only take pictures... the sound and the smell was something else.

Transcription of Minister Holloway on ABC radio 891.

2010-11-04T09:12:00.000+10:30

PAUL HOLLOWAY ON ABC RADIO 891 MORNINGS
WITH DAVID BEVAN AND MATTHEW ABRAHAM

01NOV10

DAVID BEVAN: Good morning, Minister.

PAUL HOLLOWAY: Good morning David.

DB: Well are you going to cut a special deal for Leon Bignell and the people down at McLaren Vale, and not one for the people at Mount Barker?

PH: Well look, it’s not a question of special deals. What happened was when we went through the Thirty Year Plan we set aside, we picked out the important horticultural areas of the state, which is the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale and er the key watershed parts of the Adelaide Hills for example.

But this government has not added any land in the southern parts of Adelaide to the urban boundary other than Bowering Hill and as Leon’s just mentioned to you we we we’ve changed our policy on that in relation to uh keeping that for for tourism purposes.

This particular land at Seaford Heights has been zoned residential for twenty years and it was er in the urban boundary for, ever since we’ve had an urban boundary.

Now what we, what we –

DB: So how many houses are you determined to see down at McLaren Vale? How many extra houses?

PH: Well it isn’t McLaren Vale. It’s, it’s not at McLaren Vale. There’s there’s been no change to the boundary in that, in that er –

DB: But hang on - [confused jumble of voices]

PH: We’re talking about Seaford Heights. Seaford Heights is not McLaren Vale. It, it’s it’s adjacent ... but the area we’re talking about is adjacent to the current developments … it’s it’s in between Seaford –

DB: You’re not suggesting the protesters should buy themselves a street directory; they’re not wasting their time are they?

PH: Well, no, no, well I think there is … it’s a key point if you’re talking about saving the McLaren Vale wine district, um, you know we’re very concerned about the entrance to McLaren Vale and Leon’s made that point strongly and we we agree with him and there does need to be a proper buffer on that road, that once you get out of Noarlunga and you head up into the top of the hill and then down into the the Willunga Basin there into McLaren Vale, you do need to have some protection from urban growth and that’s, I believe it was part of the original plan and we’re certainly we’re certainly we’ll certainly be looking at that and the LMC –

MATTHEW ABRAHAM: Paul Holloway will you be taking a more, would you be taking a more, would you be taking a more elastic approach to the Mount Barker protesters if it was a marginal seat, it they had a Leon Bignell um going in to bat for them?

PH: Look it’s not a question of of elastic policies, look we had a Thirty Year Plan and and we had all the discussion then about where the growth should be. As a result of the feedback in Mount Barker we did make changes: we did put more houses in Murray Bridge as a result of that rather than Mount Barker so we had that debate you know more than twelve months ago before the last election –

MA: But but you did sign off on –

PH: Hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on Matthew, before the last election we actually um released the Thirty year Plan. It officially became policy back in February this year. There was plenty of time to debate it before the election, and that, that, that’s what set aside the various land, it set out all the maps, and with all the land that would be used for future growth –

MA: And was Buckland Park in that Thirty year Plan?

PH: Of course, yes of course –

MA: Initially?

PH: Aaah, yes –

MA: I thought you had to make an exception for Buckland Park for the Thirty Year Plan –

PH: No, no, no, no Buckland Park was done as a major project because it was some time back. We’re talking two or three years back –

MA: It was approved shortly before the election was it not?

PH: Well, well it was the subject of, well I think well before actually. Um it’s just going through a Development Plan now but the original Major Project -

PH: Oh the Major Project, the Major Project decision was made was was was announced well before: well, well, well before the election –

DB: But the approval was right on the eve of the election –

PH: Well as soon as the Thirty Year Plan came out and Buckland Park yes because it’s been through a very lengthy process as a Major Project; it’s taken something like twelve months or more to go through but it now has to go through the re-zoning process as do all these other bits of land.

But look, look, that debate we we had and I, contrary to what’s been said, I attended public meetings at Mount Barker and so on when we had that debate.

But in relation to McLaren Vale, it’s always been Labor government policy that we would preserve the the Willunga Basin and we intend to do so in a stronger way as Leon’s just mentioned.

MA: Um, Minister thankyou. We do thank you Paul Holloway, Minister for Urban Development and Planning and also for hanging on and listening to the various views there from both McLaren Vale and Mount Barker and Leon Bignell.

Tractor Action grinds McLaren Vale to a halt.

2010-11-02T22:08:00.005+10:30

THE ABC REPORTED ON COMMUNITY OUTRAGE OVER PLANS TO SUBDIVIDE PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND.

Communities directly affected by the South Australian Government's development plans have rallied against housing proposals.

But SA Planning Minister Paul Holloway says they will have to wear population increases to help cater for Adelaide's expansion.

Some were angered by a planned housing estate at Seaford Heights.

"Change the face of McLaren Vale [and it] won't have the appeal for tourists that'll want to come here and spend their dollar here, said one.

The protesters brought McLaren Vale to a standstill as they made clear their views.

Their convoy travelled to a Seaford Heights winery, just metres from where more than 1,000 homes are to be built.

Mount Barker residents are also keeping up the pressure against Government plans to rezone Adelaide Hills farmland for housing.

Opponent Ian Grosser vowed the fight would continue.

"We'll maintain the rage yes. Unfortunately the Planning Minister, despite the opposition, shows no sign of backing down," he said.

Mr Holloway defended expansion plans.

"What we're trying to do is to say 'Well look, if we're going to have the growth, let's try and contain it to a few centres, let's try and make that efficient so that we can provide the infrastructure that's necessary'," he said.

The Minister said the land at Seaford was earmarked for development two decades ago.

Above: The 'cat pumpkin' at the Paxton's rally. Below: The crowd packed into the Paxton's Shearing Shed for speeches by Robert Brokenshire MLC and James himself.

Tractor Action - I have 35 Tractors - I need more!!!

2010-10-26T21:43:00.000+10:30

Dear Friends and Collegues,

Do you have a road registered vehicle? Car, ute, tractor, anything that is registered for the road.

You can help Sunday with Tractor Action.

Why?

The protest on Sunday the 31st of October isn't really about Seaford Heights.

It is about the flood of housing that will follow. Moana linking with Aldinga, McLaren Flat bursting out of it's town boundary and McLaren Vale doing the same and linking up with Seaford and later Willunga.

Unfortunately, over the next 15 years the government is likely to let this happen because of the money it will make them.

Unfortunately, this money will go to the few, and will permanently cover the region in cement.

Think this isn't going to happen? The State government has dismissed the Onkaparinga Council and taken full planning control of the region. Some say they want more houses - the council and the tourism industry doesn't - which is why they have pushed them out of the process.

Unfortunately, it takes 15 to 20 years to get services for all of these new houses. So if they get build don't expect a hospital anytime soon.

Am I wrong to be scared? Maybe I am wrong to worry that the State government is going to take the money and run. Maybe I am wrong to feel that the basin deserves better than unplanned, adhoc, urban sprawl. Maybe I am wrong to think that McLaren Vale in the 2010's and 20's will go the way of Morphett Vale in the 1970's and 80's. Maybe history doesn't repeat?

Does this scare you too?

So far 35 people are scared enough to gather there tractors and cars at the McLaren Vale Oval from 9:30am to do a run down the main street of McLaren Vale at 10:30am. We are traveling in procession up to Paxton wines where there is a party, with wine and live music in the afternoon.

Can you help? If you have a car, and can put a sign on it... You can.

To RSVP please reply to james@djsgrowers.com.au and I will include you.

Thanks,

James Hook

Of sunsets and rural views...

2010-10-25T21:13:00.005+10:30

Meanwhile in the vineyard...

2010-10-22T19:44:00.008+10:30

In spring, we see the first shoots appearing on the vines, and they curl to catch the sun.

With the wet conditions we have had there is an even and strong budburst. Many vines are actually pushing extra buds from thier cordons. We call these watershoots, or non-count shoots. The 'jargon' term watershoots is due to the thought that wet weather promotes these shoots, the scientific term non-count shoots relates to the fact the pruner 'didn't count on them bursting!'

McLaren Vale has been having a 'typical spring' where the region has warm and fine weather, interrupted by periods of rainfall. Both rain and shine are welcomed by the vines (and the locals.)

Seaford Rise Protest Photos.

2010-10-20T07:07:00.010+10:30

The Seaford Heights development is located at the entrance to the gateways to the tourism regions of McLaren Vale, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. The land adjoins the beginning of the vineyards of the town of McLaren Vale on the Victor Harbor Road and the open spaces of South Road.

"It is the point where suburbia fades away and the holiday experience begins for more people than any other region in South Australia," says wine writer Phillip White.

"Urban sprawl is a worldwide disease, and Australia should be able to manage it far better than it does. Too many wine regions with high quality wines and tourism/lifestyle opportunities fall to ticky-tacky houses and shopping malls. Southern Vales has gone this way. It would be a travesty for the few undeveloped but high quality vineyard areas in McLaren Vale to follow suit," says wine scribe James Halliday.

Back in the swing of it... Rocks ain't rocks.

2010-10-14T16:04:00.004+10:30

So far so good! Lovely strong growth on the vineyard. The vines are enjoying the moisture from the wettest winter we have had in a long time.

Today I have been out digging in the vineyards of the Sellicks foothills.

Sellicks is farthest point south of the region directly overlooking the ocean beaches - think the Victory Hotel and you understand where I mean.

These foothills extend the length of the base of the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges.

The strip of soil here, mostly red loam, has been eroded from these ranges and has pieces of rock mixed into the soil. These rock shards are limestone and dolomite from the Normanville Group of Cambrian Age geology (520 million years old) and older Neoproterozoic Wilpena Group (600 million years old) which is mainly sandstone and quartzite.

This means the area has thin soil and old rocks, which are conducive to small grape crops. The higher the vineyard on the hills the thinner the soil and the harder the vines have to work to produce their crop.

The old rocks also make digging a bit harder.

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Tractor Action - 31st of October.

2010-10-14T10:41:00.000+10:30

Dear friends and collegues,

McLaren Vale is at risk of being swallowed up by the suburbs of Adelaide our
food and wine culture is threatened.

The council has said no to Seaford Heights, but the state government is
indifferent to our concerns and there are plans for more subdivision at
Bowering Hill / Maslins Beach in the future.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! Our region needs proper planning, not a
system of sprawl out and build services later.

A community event is being planned for Sunday the 31st of October - 'Tractor
Action'. This is a tractor rally down the main street of McLaren Vale -
culminatating in a party at Paxton's Cellar Door.

I believe this is a good way for your voice to be heard I have put up my
hand to help organise.

Do you know someone who can be part of the tractor rally?

We are assembling at 9:30 - 10:00am at the McLaren Vale Oval before
traveling to Paxton's cellar door.

Invitations are for licensed tractors only. We will be working with the
Police on the day to make this a safe event.

Can you help?

To RSVP your road licensed tractor please reply to james@djsgrowers.com.au and I will
let you know more details.

Adelaide’s first #flashmob Wine Dinner

2010-09-28T12:27:00.002+09:30

McLaren Vale wine producer, Lazy Ballerina, and Adelaide Hills producer, K1 by Geoff Hardy, are to come together at 6.30pm on Friday 1 October to hold Adelaide’s and, possibly Australia’s, first #flashmob wine dinner.

The event, to be held at a secret Adelaide location and limited to just 20 guests, will be heavily promoted through Social Media sites Twitter and Facebook just 24 hours prior to the event.

“It’s a new innovative idea to promote our wine brands by leveraging the massive impact that the social media revolution is having on the South Australian wine community”, said Bec Hardy, co-conspiritor.

“It won’t be your normal stuffy wine dinner but a more relaxed and social event, more reflective of the spontaneity and social aspects of the media we will use to promote the event.”

“It’s really hard to gauge what the reaction will be as this is a first as far as we are aware. We might just end up having dinner alone with 18 spaces at the table – who knows!”

Lazy Ballerina and K1 by Geoff Hardy will provide a range of wines on the night, with guests meeting the cost of a tapas set menu at $60 per person. Bookings are essential and can be made by emailing wine@k1.com.au

I oppose Seaford Heights

2010-09-27T17:29:00.002+09:30

CommuntyLetter27092010

Night Terrors - Images of the twilight in Kuitpo Forest

2010-09-27T12:17:00.009+09:30

Forest floor - Kuitpo. The twilight gives the puddles a silver finish. 26/9/2010.

Darkness falls and the night terrors (with reference to Ms Laura Marling).

Adam Liaw, Masterchef winner, to appear at ‘CRUSH 11’

2010-09-24T14:36:00.002+09:30

The Adelaide Hills Wine Festival Crush committee is excited to welcome Adam Liaw,
Masterchef 2010 winner, as he joins local producers, winemakers and Adelaide Hills
personalities in celebrating everything vibrant the character‐driven region has to offer at Crush 2011.

The strategic move to raise the national profile of Crush 2011 to food and wine loving consumers around Australia comes as Crush celebrates its eighth year in January.

“Each year sees Crush grow just that little bit more and with increasing popularity comes the necessary strategic approach to growing the event to be bigger and better than ever!” Executive President, Ms Sue Bell, says.

“A relationship with Adam and an appearance by him on the day will build on the
foundations we’ve established in the past seven years and help us achieve our goal of
reaching a national audience to increase interstate visitors and a broader audience to the event,” Ms Bell says.

The region is encouraged to get behind the fresh approach. “The chance to meet the winner of 2010 Masterchef and hear, in person, what he loves most about the Adelaide Hills will be a unique opportunity for the public” Ms Bell says.

Crush wine festival will run from the 24th until the 30th of January 2011.

Lazy Ballerina is joining with d'Arenberg and K1 by Geoff Hardy to host a Crush Event this January. Will Adam visit us? Watch this space.

Vale Cru tasting at the Victory Hotel

2010-09-21T17:03:00.010+09:30

Sarah-Jane and Nina manned the Lazy Ballerina tasting. They looked glamourous as always.

I dressed up as a failed french art school dropout. I did do the signs for the event, though.

Dudley Brown from Inkwell Wines had his inaugural 2009 Two Acre Despot Primitivo. He sold out his show stock and had to take manual orders.

Don't you think Inkwell's lables look fantastic? They really stand out in a photograph.

Louise from Battle of Bosworth (left) and co. A great day was had by all and many thanks to Doug for having us and all the organization by Sally Imray, Gill G-G from Fall from Grace and Paul Petagna from Petagna wines.

Seaford Heights

2010-09-16T12:16:00.003+09:30

This land has become a hot cake.

Meadows Creek in full flood - Part 3!!!

2010-09-14T08:48:00.008+09:30

Rainfall overnight on the 14th of September caused Meadows Creek to burst its banks and flood 'Dingabledinga' - showing why it was named 'the place of much water' by the original Kaurna People. The region received 30mm.

This is a magnificent sight. The water soaks deep into the ground and helps sustain the River Red Gum trees through the long, hot summer that will follow.

Grenache Launch

2010-09-13T16:17:00.019+09:30

The action from the Lot 13 Grenache launch. Fifty peeps were our guests to look at the new 2007 Lot 13 Grenache and the 2006 Fortified Vintage Grenache. Our guest included Richard and Bec from K1 by Geoff Hardy.

James from Lazy B and Marie Linke from Karra Yerta Wines. It was great to see Marie who is a passionate advocate for South Australian wine.

Kirsten Harvey, Inara, Renae Hirsh and Derek Fitzgerald.

Anne and Bill Binns, in the foreground, with fellow McLaren Vale grape grower Edd Perkins.

Spring in the Lazy Ballerina Vineyards

2010-09-10T13:16:00.004+09:30

Open for business

2010-09-10T11:54:00.004+09:30

Saturday and Sunday.

We have Grenache, Shiraz, Rose and Viognier on the pour this weekend at cellar door Get out and see our gardens and Kuitpo Forest too.

Letter to the City of Onkaparinga - RE: Seaford Heights

2010-09-09T15:30:00.002+09:30

Dear Councillor,

I wish to show my personal support of the City of Onkaparinga in regards to the proposed Seaford Heights development.

I am not anti-development, far from it. Development means employment and progress; my Mother and Father ran Southern Drainage for 35 years. Housing development gave my family the dollars and cents (also pounds and pence!) and helped me get to where I am today.

In the city I want to be part of we develop in a smart way. We don’t except old practices and we think outside the box to create places for people to live a good lifestyle. I think Adelaide needs to build smart best practice 21st century, not build in a sprawling , mid 20th century style.

I feel proud of the City of Onkaparinga for sharing that vision with their decision regarding Seaford Heights.

I applaud the decision by the City of Onkaparinga to recommend that the State Government re-zone Seaford Heights from residential to rural – keeping it as buffer space.
In an ideal world development policy needs to be - infrastructure first... then housing.

Unfortunately, I have been worried that we are getting good at creating car transport dependent housing. Suburbs where you have no choice but to commute by car to your work, to your doctor, to shops like Marion. We are in real terms a CO2 city. We are ruled by the car and the commute.

However I see hope, for example, we have a huge amount of land at Christies Beach / Downs that is slowly being turned in to very good, seaside, medium density housing.

In this area, with good planning and investment a great suburbs could be created near existing train line, shops, and hospitals. Currently the area still has run down 1950's, 1960's and 1970’s housing - often still on 1/2 acre blocks, ripe for medium density development such as what was proposed at Seaford Heights.

My first house was in this area, and it was a great place to live. I could walk to the beach, or shops, or train service or a local doctor, or even the Noarlunga hospital as I needed. I had a reasonably short car ride to McLaren Vale where I worked. It represented a good lifestyle.

Can you do this from Seaford Rise? Or the proposed Seaford Heights? Other than the short car ride to McLaren Vale, it does not have the same advantages. In fact I would go as far to say those in the Seaford area are disadvantaged in comparison to those nearer supporting infrastructure. I feel you can't live without a heavily car based lifestyle in the new sprawling suburbs.

Meanwhile, Christies Beach is slowly changing into a very livable location. This is happening organically due to natural market forces e.g. private land developers. Unfortunately the large developers don't buy up areas like this because they like virgin land, which is much cheaper and easier. Under this development model we sprawl to the outskirts of Adelaide and leave areas like Christies Downs to stagnate, when in fact a renovated suburb, with a combination of medium density, rentals and small houses would be a great place to live.

I hope in the battle between mid 20th century style, cheap, virgin land developing versus infill 21st century best practice, we remain creative and don’t settle for second best.

That is my view and those who share in it will have my support.

Thanks for all your hard work on the communities behalf.

Regards,

James Hook.

2010-09-05T15:44:00.002+09:30

The Advertiser - Thursday October 17th, 1912

NEW. POLLING-PLACE AT DINGABLEDINGA.

The Hon. AI VON DOUSSA moved "That an address "be presented,to the Govenor, praying his Excel-ney' to issue a proclamation declaring Dingabledinga a polling-place for the electoral district of Alexandra." The new polling-place would prove a great convenience to a considarable number of peoples who had to travel a long way to vote at the nearest polling-place.

Vale Cru Tasting - 19th of September

2010-09-02T10:49:00.005+09:30

Vale Cru tasting - September 19th at the Victory Hotel, with Drew Noon giving a masterclass on the geology of McLaren Vale.

You can order your tickets online from - http://mybookingmanager.com/valecru.

Some say Lazy Ballerina is a unicorn, super magic fairy world.

2010-09-01T11:48:00.005+09:30

Photos from the 2010 Open Garden Scheme launch - 27th and 28th of August. Two fine winter days where we shared our garden with 370 guests.

Meadows Creek in winter flood.

2010-08-28T09:27:00.005+09:30

The Meadows Creek is one of the headwaters of the Finniss River which flows out into
Lake Alexandrina near Goolwa. The creek runs past the Lazy Ballerina gardens. This winter has been wetter than average and the creek has burst its banks and is in full flood.

New Wine Releases... 2007 Lot 13 Grenache!

2010-08-10T09:20:00.003+09:30

Join us on Saturday September 11th, from 6:30 - 7.00pm for the launch of the 2007 Lot 13 Grenache and its companion vintage fortified.

For those who have visited our cellar door - you know the Lot 13 Grenache is our most popular wine. Ironically this wine is a co-production between the McMillan Family and Paul Petagna, and it outsells James' Lazy Ballerina Shiraz!!!

Tickets are $20 and include your food and wine for the night. RSVP to james@djsgrowers.com.au

For anyone who can't get to our launch you can order the 2007 Grenache and / or its companion fortified are now available to our mail order customers.

Order Form New Releases

Paul and Pat Hook's Mixty Mirthday

2010-08-09T21:01:00.008+09:30

Paul and Pat Hook celebrated their 60th birthday surrounded by family and friends this week. The cellar door was shut in celebration.
James Hook and Elizabeth Turnbull. All of the wine was Lazy Ballerina of course, much to James' disgust, 'we all know what that tastes like,' he was heard to say.
Sarah-Jane and Elizabeth Hook. Paul and Pat's daughters.

James Hook - A year of change.

2010-07-19T16:42:00.005+09:30

My sister, Sarah-Jane Hook and myself on the 4th of July 2009 & 2010 respectively.

To celebrate I am running the City to Bay for the HeartKids SA charity - http://www.everydayhero.com.au/james__hook - Sponsor me for a great cause!

Winter Sunsets, McLaren Vale

2010-07-17T09:45:00.005+09:30

Kuitpo Photography by Paul Hook

2010-07-09T20:43:00.006+09:30

Brookman Rd - Kuitpo Forest

Autumn in Kuitpo Forest

2010-06-03T09:22:00.007+09:30

Pictures by Paul Hook.
Leaf fall on the Range by James Hook.

Vale Cru Video - Filmed at Lazy Ballerina.

2010-05-17T11:39:00.000+09:30

Shrinking James.

2010-04-06T17:02:00.018+09:30

Many of the visitors to the Lazy Ballerina cellar door have been confused lately by my change in appearance... I keeps getting mistaken for my younger brother (who doesn't exist).

James in pictures.

March 2009. (Healthy Weight + 50kg)

September 2009. (Healthy Weight +32kg - 102cm jeans.)

November 2009. (Healthy +20kg; 97cm pants.)

January 2010. (Healthy +10kg; 92cm jeans.)

March 2010. (Healthy weight +3kg; 87cm jeans.)

April 2010 (Healthy weight & Premiership Winner.)

How?

For the first five months I was on a very low calorie diet. Very low calorie diets (VLCD) are defined medically as a diet of 800 kilocalories per day or less.

I increased my exercise as I got thinner and fitter. Currently I aim to do five sessions in the gym a week, plus two sessions of training for the McLaren Districts Soccer team. Also I aim to do light weights, yoga and stretching before I go to bed at night. Just 10-20mins seems to help.

After completing the Very Low Calorie Diet I progressed to a Low Calorie Diet. I watch what I eat and aim to have 1500 calories per day.

And yes, I still drink wine and beer!

Wine Fight Club June 09 - James' revisits

2010-03-29T10:50:00.002+10:30

Wine Fight Club June 09

Footballers Wines

2010-03-26T15:03:00.003+10:30

What the world needs more of - celebrity wines!!!

This time Liverpool midfielder Jamie Carragher goes 'all foreign' with Rioja sourced wines.

James says - 'Please stop the ride I want to get off.'

CropWatch Adelaide Hills - words and photography by James

2010-03-16T13:00:00.000+10:30

Adelaide Hills Crop Watch 120310

Harvest Day 15 - Pinot Pick

2010-03-15T12:10:00.003+10:30

Botrytis has been triggered by rain event from Saturday to Monday.

2010-03-09T13:42:00.001+10:30

Vintage Sunset

2010-03-04T16:23:00.004+10:30

Picking - D-Day Hour 1

2010-02-27T21:20:00.009+10:30

Picking in the chill of the morning. This keeps the temperature of the fruit low and stops any oxidation.The lightening sky heralds dawn. The sunlight reaches the quartz in the hills above the McLaren Region.

Inkwell Block 3 Shiraz - SAVII 19 clone Shiraz, 2 tonne to the acre.

D-Day Minus Two (Don't judge a book by its cover)

2010-02-24T13:46:00.010+10:30

Shiraz is nearly ready to pick. I have always found it is an 'ugly' grape. In the last week before picking it often loses 10-15% of its weight and begins to shrivel up like a raison. In this photo (above) you can just see the first signs of shrivel.

The weather in the last month has been ideal for ripening, the vine canopies are still in good condition. They are healthy and better still the grapes are in good condition too.

Note the 'weeds' under the vines. This Shiraz vineyard is running by organic principles and doesn't use herbicide (below).

Look after your tribe

2010-02-22T16:56:00.001+10:30

Since Winston Churchill used the phrase Black Dog to describe the bouts of sadness he experienced for much of his life, it has become the shorthand for the crippling disease we call depression.

Depression is a dog that can bite at anybody’s heels. These thoughts are to bring that hidden beast of a disease into the open.

Australian rural communities are losing too many people to this preventable sickness, and our beautiful district is never immune. Capable people are being laid low, or lost forever.

Every day a person loses to depression is a loss to our whole community.

Since the economics of the wine industry have become depressed, all of us who work in it can feel alone and marginalised through the intense stress it brings. We are all under enormous pressure which can make our problems seem insurmountable.

Ordinarily happy folks suddenly become easy targets for the Black Dog.

Unfortunately I know this feeling, as do many of my friends and colleagues. There have been times in our lives where things have seemed too hard and the future looks too narrow. The feeling is like a crushing weight on your chest.

We must be very careful to look after each other, learn to watch out for symptoms, and stick together.

It's important to know that depression is a common illness which affects roughly 1 in every 5 people. Good treatments are available through your family doctor and, with treatment, sufferers should fully recover.

Beyond Blue is a good start for specific information. Its experts provide information especially tuned for people in rural and remote communities.

It's not always easy to help someone who may be experiencing depression. It can be hard to know what to say or do.

When you feel concern for a friend you think may be depressed, encourage them gently to talk about how they feel. Listen patiently: sometimes, when somebody needs to talk, they might not seek advice, but just feel like talking it through. Sometimes they may be vague about their concerns.

Gentle open-ended questions like "So tell me about...?", open the door for an answer bigger than 'yes' or 'no'. This is often a good way to start a conversation. If conversation becomes difficult or your friend gets angry, stay calm, be firm, fair and consistent and don't lose control.

Simply spending time with a depressed friend lets them know someone cares and understands them. Encourage them to seek professional help from their family doctor or at least get online and look at information themselves.

We need to watch out for the Black Dog now more than ever. Our tribe needs to stick together. As an industry, a community, and as individuals, we need to 'walk the walk.' Actions speak louder than words. So please look after your mates. Make a call. Go visit.

Renovations - Garden Picnic area

2010-02-15T20:50:00.012+10:30

Under the Chinese Elm, no grass grows. Time for a revamp.

Gravel!!!

Vintage bricks.

Sweeping in paving sand. Thomas the dog helps.

Finished. Just add friends.

Lazy Australia Day!

2010-01-27T20:40:00.008+10:30

Food, Wine, Triple J's Hottest 100...

Fast becoming a tradition! Bocce in the garden.

Renovations - James' house.

2010-01-18T14:32:00.012+10:30

Step 1 - Let the grass die. In Adelaide during summer this is not very hard.

Step 2 - Bring in lots of gravel as a base.

Step 3 - Level and pave.

Step 4 - Landscape.

When in doubt launch a wine label...

2010-01-17T10:28:00.001+10:30

Now it's the 'Glitter' singers turn...

Mariah Carey dreams of her own Champagne brand.

English Catch Aussie Disease.

2010-01-08T12:49:00.002+10:30

English winemakers hail 'best ever' vintage (UK)

English winemakers are hailing the 2009 vintage as 'one of the best ever', despite mixed weather conditions during a typical UK summer. Wet weather in July, particularly in the south-west, failed to dampen optimism for the harvest, which winemakers said was rescued by a long, warm autumn.

I say, "I have worked through five best vintages ever according to PR spin merchants in the Australian Wine Industry."

Lonely Grape TV visits the Free Range Gallery.

2009-11-03T22:27:00.002+10:30