baconmaster

Hi, I like a drink, wine, beer, vodka, not massive a mount but a glass or two every now and again is good. I was recently in Melbourne and sampled some very tasty red wines. I recognised one or two of the vineyards as those available in the UK so I made a note of the wine (boring git I know). Upon returning home I managed to buy a couple of the wines from a supermarket, When I tried themthey tasted no better than the £3.49 supermarket own brands I usually buy.


Is it that the wines don't travel, or do Ozzies just pour the dregs into the bottles and ship them off to the UK. The vintage on at least one of the bottles was the same so it can't be that.

The red wines went especially well with the thai red curry (with coconut) at the Thai restaurant on Toorak Road in South Yarra - some of the best non bacon foods that I have tasted. When that visa eventually come through that's where me and Mrs Bacon will be having our first celevratory night out!

blossom

I used to enjoy a good red back in Oz, but must admit since being back in the UK have hardly touched a drop. For me I think it must be the temperature - to cold here for a red - even with the central heating on full blast the wine never rises to the occasion.

Definitely can't wait to get back and have another go at the red vino.

Blossom

baconmaster

rubbish isn't it, when alcohol is the only way to get through another cold damp winter as the wind whips across the north sea, even the booze lets you down.

HiddenPaw

Was it the same grape variety and region? Some producers will offer a variety of grapes, a variety of regions, all in the same year - but these can vary drastically in quality

worzel

The boom in Aussie wines in the UK recently has been attributed to us getting fed up with the French shipping us their cast offs. I don't know if that is true or if the Aussies are doing the same thing.

Another possible explanation is that your state of mind / ambience was better when you were glugging it in Australia.

I find the preparation is vital to enjoying a red to its best. Ideally open it 24 hours before you intend to drink it (preferably decant it) and put it somewhere warm like near a radiator or cooker but not too hot.

Brissiegirl

maybe the wine was heat damaged from being shipped over? I find wines here don't keep very well, especially if they come from a heated supermarket/off licence, the temerpature seems to stuff up the wine...

ABCDiamond

I reckon this comment may have a lot to do with it. I buy my wine by the case (12), and the bottles can taste very different, depending on the circumstances when I am drinking it.

It always tastes better in good company with good food

gogdownunder

Did you recognise the vineyard or the brand? I noticed that in the UK a lot of Oz wine was labelled as being from "Southeast Australia" which could mean anything.

It isn't a region, just a geographical description. So grapes from the worst areas in Southeast Australia can be bought by a top vineyard in a completely different region, but still in the SE, & the resultant wine is still true to label(in the UK)

Its a con, but it happens in Australia too. Wineries often use grapes from inferior contract growers to mix in with their own premium grapes

bridiej

I've found a lovely Ozzie Red - Woolpunda, it was on special offer at Morrisons a few weeks ago £3.99 a bottle.

Lovely!