They Come From The Lands Down Under

I’ve always been a bit fascinated by Australia and New Zealand.  I’m not sure if it’s the opposite seasons or the cool accents but I would LOVE to travel to both places one day.  Since a trip like that is not in the budget right now, I have to settle for drinking their fabulous wines.  There is a plethora of affordable wines out there from both countries and I am having a lot of fun trying them all.

Last weekend I was on the prowl for some new Down Under wines.  I was shopping at my local ABC rather than Total Wine so the selection wasn’t quite as good but I did manage to find three that fit my budget.  I couldn’t wait to go home and try them.

I picked up two varieties from the Nugan Estate Winery in Australia.  Nugan is one of Australia’s Top 20 wine exporters and they are the 18^th largest vineyard holders in Australia…certainly nothing to sneeze at!  They have been in business for more than 65 years so they are obviously doing something right.  I picked two varieties from their Vision label which is their second estate label.  Both bottles cost $10.99.  The first variety I tried was the 2009 Chardonnay.  I had a friend sample it with me and we drank it by itself.  The color was a lovely light yellow with an almost green tint.  I detected the aroma of peaches and spice with a hint of vanilla.  The peach carried over to the flavor.  It was slightly acidic with a dry finish.  I think it would go well with seafood so I think when I buy it again, I’ll try that pairing.

The second variety tried was the 2009 Shiraz.  It was a lovely deep red color with hints of chocolate and spice in the aroma.  The taste was full-bodied with hints of mocha and spice.  My husband and I tried it alone at first and we both agreed it was very good.  We also had a glass with our pasta and meatballs one night and I thought it went well with it.  I think it would also go well with red meat dishes and anything a bit spicy.  We’ll definitely be buying it again.

The third wine I picked up was from Smythe & Renfield in Marlborough, New Zealand.  I tried the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc and like the other two bottles, it cost $10.99.  Upon pouring I noticed the hint of citrus and tropical fruit which carried over to the flavor which was very crisp.  I still have some left and I plan on trying it with some grilled seafood later this week.  I think the two would pair well.

As I continue to sample new wines from the lands down under, I’ll daydream of the day when I can actually drink the wines while in their country of origin.  Maybe some day….