Canobolas-Smith Vineyard - Orange, NSW

There are easily more than a few dozen vineyards in the Orange District of New South Wales. Apart from its other reputation as the food basket of the state, its viticulture traditions and output are spread out along Pinnacle Road ( mountain topography, as with Ross Hill estate); Cargo Road in Lidster; the Escort Way (also known as the Borenore Trail, with names like Philip Shaw and Barton Creek); the Canowindra Trail; and the Eastern Heritage Trail. It was along Cargo Road that I enjoyed discovering the Canobolas-Smith Cellar Door, Winery and vineyards. This is a mature establishment since 1986 and significantly dry-grown area, which specialises in the Alchemy Cabernet blend. William Rikard-Bell and Murray Smith run the operations here.

We met Murray, an easy going and down to earth fella, patient at letting us explore our palate, starting with the sublime and moving us on the path  towards the Alchemy. Alchemy is a combination of the very best in Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz.

French oak is utilised in the casking and Murray emphasises the artisan approach in the wine making here, preferring the practice of small batches to allow as much as possible the outcome of the house's unique and natural flavours.  Interesting enough, all fruits are hand pruned and picked.  The six hectares planted lie on the northern slopes of Mount Canobolas. 

 

The Canobolas-Smith bottle label stands out bright blue, centring on a representation of the cheery sun with the crescent moon, and was designed by Orange artist Tim Winters.  The ladies in my group enjoyed their adventures with the Chardonnay produced here, whilst I reserved my tastings to the heavier reds which caught my eye, though I skipped the Shiraz on its own.  Commencing with the Semillon/ Sauvignon Blanc, I was heightened in interest with the Pinot Noir and was sold in conviction with my tasting of the Cabernet Sauvignon. I highly recommend the Alchemy.

The neighbouring Gordon Hills Estate in comparison is relatively new, established in 1999 and run initially as Burke and Hills until 2008.  The distinctive feature of the Gordon Hills is the elevation of the grown vines at around 900 metres above sea level and thus it benefits from such a cool climate in its output.

Yarra Valley, Victoria - Chandon Estate

Above, the approach to Chandon Estate on an early autumn Sunday.

Above foreground, a preserved timber and metal contraption used in the estate location before it was managed by Moet-Hennessy.

Above, a background poster just recalls all those foot squashing pictures from European vineyard festivals, where lots of splattery mesh and juice result from the grapes being stomped upon by human feet. At the Chandon Estate, this is done by very well thought of and complied procedures and processes by human beings (aka employees) using the aid of a specialised tool.

Above, a view from the inside of the on-site restaurant, the Greenpoint Brasserie, which adjoins the vineyards and stroll gardens. Below, the welcome inside the immaculate and well designed showroom, which echoes French savvy, elegance and feel.

In the dark room, above, for riddling - or remuage in French - only after aging for up to three and a half years. Riddling is required to consolidate the lees, or sediment, for removal. The bottles are first placed on special racks (pupitres) at a 45 degree angle with the cork pointed down. They then undergo an involved process of slightly shaking and turning them so that by eight weeks, each bottle is pointed straight down, with sediment in the neck of the bottle.

Visitors can relax on the well manicured lawns and footpaths, take in the March sunshine of the southern atmosphere or sip samples from wine tasting.

Above image, credit to Mr Yeap Kim Leong

The chateau surroundings (above) blend in well with the changing colours of the vineyards (below).

Visitors are advised to be on site at the estate by 11am on weekends for the guided tour, which is conducted in English and which I found very informative. Wine tasting costs AUD5, which is refundable when you make a purchase. What also caught my eye are the lifestyle accessories like speakers and IPod holders in a Chandon cooling bag. There are a few other vineyards nestled around the Yarra Valley which can be covered within a day.

My Wine List for the Holidays

In The Barossa

The Lifestyle, South Australia October 2009


Contraption and Natural at Grant Burge Showroom


Arrival from Faraway - German Immigration to South Australia


Entrance to the Chateau Dorrien


Misty Memory of a Family Settling On a New Land