Château Tanunda release three new wines under the Grand Barossa Banner

A reputation for providing exceptional fruit, varietal definition and regional typicity is what the Barossa is famed for, but fulfilling all this at an enviable price point is what has made the GRAND BAROSSA the brand it is today.

Having gained its international reputation and considerable commercial success in Switzerland and Germany over the last eight years, the GRAND BAROSSA brand has recently expanded its range.

‘Last year we decided to concentrate on the Australian market with the Grand Barossa Shiraz and it’s been such a success with our sales team , that we’ve decided to introduce two new wines to the brand.’ Said John Geber, Château Tanunda proprietor.

The GRAND BAROSSA Cabernet Sauvignon from selected parcels of premium Cabernet fruit and a Classic Crisp Dry White to join the highly successful Shiraz.

Great specials on Home Winemaster 2008, Winestate Magazine and Tasting Notes. View details

GRAND BAROSSA   ‘CLASSIC CRISP DRY WHITE’ 2007  - RRP  $18
The classic Crisp Dry White follows the need of our consumers who have been asking us for a lower alcohol style wine for some time. At the recent ‘Restaurant 2008’ event in Sydney the most popular wine by far was the ‘Classic Crisp Dry White’. Lighter in alcohol at 10.5 % by volume yet still retaining that refreshing fruit vibrancy this style of wine is perfectly suited to our modern day living.

Bottled with a hint of spritz the primary fruit flavours are gently accentuated whilst the delicate blend of fruit and refreshing acidity make this a wine to savour.

GRAND BAROSSA   SHIRAZ  2006  - RRP  $28
The 2006 blend was carefully put together from selected parcels on the Valley floor along with a portion of fruit from Eden Valley giving the wine a subtle feel of finesse and elegance which sets it apart from the average Shiraz.

‘Some of the fruit we used could easily have made it on its own as a single vineyard wine but we felt that we wanted to make a statement by over delivering on price.’ Said Tim Smith, Château Tanunda winemaker.

GRAND BAROSSA   CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 - RRP  $28
Small parcels of hand selected Cabernet Sauvignon fruit which have been meticulously aged in older French and American oak barrels to preserve the delicate blackcurrant and mint characters that the variety is associated with.

Again small parcels of Eden Valley fruit have given the wine lifted aromatics as well as an elegance in the mid palate which cooler climate Cabernet is famed for.

Clare riesling triumphs in Australasia wine awards

A Clare Valley riesling has been named Australasian Wine of the Year after a blind taste-off involving top-rating Australian and New Zealand wines.

The Penna Lane Wines 2004 Riesling is the first white wine to take out the major prize in the 11-year history of the Winestate awards.

It’s a fairy tale success for joint owners Ray and Lynette Klavins / Stephen and Stacy Stafford-Brookes who established their winery at an old derelict farm south of Clare in the mid 1990s.

More than 10,000 wines have been tasted by Winestate judges over the past 12 months in the largest competition of its kind involving Australian and New Zealand wines. Only those rated with 4.5 or five stars went into the final taste-off.

Winestate publisher Peter Simic said the 2004 Penna Lane riesling nudged out Kaesler’s The Bogan 2005 Shiraz for the top award.

“It’s no easy task nominating one wine above so many others, but the judges were unanimous in declaring this a superb example of a world class riesling,” Mr Simic said.

“Significantly, all five top rieslings came from the Clare Valley and nearby Eden Valley regions of South Australia.”

Regional strengths also shone through for several other varietals, with the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale dominating the shiraz category, the Hunter Valley semillon, while New Zealand was again the stand out for sauvignon blanc and pinot noir.

In the fortified category, Morris Wines of Rutherglen won all top five placings in an unprecedented performance that firmly stamps its position as Australia’s leading fortified producer. The Victorian winery has now won the title eight times in the past 10 years.

Chairman of judges, winemaker Stephen John, said the merlot category was the biggest disappointment with only two wines winning the qualifying 4.5 or five stars.

“Have we totally lost direction with this variety? It’s difficult to comment any further,” Mr John said.

Kevin Glastonbury, the senior red winemaker at Yalumba Wines in the Barossa Valley was named Australian Winemaker of the Year for his consistency in achieving the largest number of high ranking wines during the tasting period.

Yalumba Wines also took the title of Wine Company of the Year for best overall performance.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
Australasian Wine of the Year:  Penna Lane Wines Clare Valley Riesling 2004 (SA)
Runner-up:  Kaesler The Bogan 2005 (Barossa Valley, SA)

Australian Winemaker of the Year:  Kevin Glastonbury, Yalumba Wines (Barossa Valley, SA)
New Zealand Winemaker of the Year:  George Geris, Villa Maria

Australian Wine Company of the Year:  Yalumba Wines (Barossa Valley, SA)
New Zealand Wine Company of the Year:  Villa Maria

Australasian category winners
Sparkling:                     No 1 Family Estate No 1 Cuvee Blanc de Blancs NV (Marlborough, NZ)
Sauvignon Blanc:          Eradus Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (NZ)
Riesling:                        Penna Lane Wines Clare Valley Riesling 2004 (SA)
Semillon:                       Pokolbin Estate Hunter Valley Semillon 2000 (NSW)
Chardonnay:                 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Margaret River Chardonnay 2005 (WA)
Pinot Noir:                    Olssens Slapjack Creek Central Otago Pinot Noir 2005 (NZ)
Merlot:                         Protero Gumeracha Merlot 2005 (Adelaide Hills, SA)
Cabernet Sauvignon:     Fernando The First Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (SA)
Shiraz:                          Kaesler The Bogan 2005 (Barossa Valley, SA)
Sweet whites:               McGuigan Wines Personal Reserve Botrytis Semillon 2005 (Hunter Valley, NSW)
Fortifieds:                     Morris of Rutherglen Cellar Release Muscat NV (Vic)

Contact:          Peter Simic, Winestate
Tel. (08) 8357 9277