Australia showcases best of Oz

Australia’s most valuable and historic wines were presented this week at the Landmark Australia Tutorial.

In one masterclass alone, A$40,000 worth of wines were presented to 14 guests at an event in Yarra Valley.

Guests at the week-long event include some of the world’s leading wine educators and media, such as freelance wine writer Sarah Ahmed, Hong Kong-based wine journalist Simon Tam and buying manager for Direct Wines, Thomas Woolrych.

The wines, kept secret until they were unveiled on the day, covered an “extraordinary and historical line-up of Australia’s best, across a range of vintages and releases”.

They included 2002 Charles Melton Nine Popes, 1990 d’Arenberg d’Arry’s, 1975 Penfolds Bin 389 and 1966 Saltram Bin 42.

The whole event seeks to cover Australia’s wine development through a series of tastings and masterclasses over five days.

More than 230 wines will be presented in 16 themed sessions, covering topics such as regional classics, Semillon, Shiraz, Riesling and Chardonnay, with talks by leading Australian wine industry figures including Michael Hall-Smith MW, Jeffrey Grosset and James Halliday among others.

Wine Australia general manager for market and development, Paul Henry, said: “The Landmark Australia Tutorial was held for the first time last year and it served to positively engage a new generation of international wine influencers, and certainly provoked new opinions about Australian wine.

“This year we have an expanded group of participants from our key markets of the UK, Europe and US, as well as several guests from key emerging markets such as China, and two home-grown talents from Australia.

“This event is a substantial and vital investment in reshaping the way the world views Australia’s fine wines.”

The tutorial will come to a close on 24 September.

Rupert Millar, 22.09.2010