There's Gold In Them Hills

"Chardonnay is the ultimate promiscuous wine," declares James Halliday, adding that Australia's most widely planted white grows just about anywhere, alongside any other variety. "It's not at all fussy of the company it keeps." And with Halliday's cheeky opening thus began a recent two-day global tasting of chardonnay, and pinot noir, at Coldstream Hills in the Yarra Valley.

Sense Of Place

In the past few years, Australian chardonnay lovers (contrary to some reports, there are plenty of us out there) have been rejoicing and drinking because, stylistically, there are more outstanding examples being produced. The benchmark is much higher these days. For Voyager Estate's winemaker, Cliff Royle, making wines that express varietal character, including the place where the vines are grown. And he's stoked about the 2005 chardonnay - classic Margaret River.

Vanstone The Best In Show

AT Wednesday's Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Best of the Land dinner at the Opera House, the Prime Minister John Howard awarded the 2007 President's Medal to Eileen Hardy Chardonnay V 2004. (At this news Pat Anderson, wife of the chairman of the RAS Cheese and Dairy produce committee, Gerry, winced.) Amanda Vanstone, who was for many the highlight of the night (she had Ann Lewis and Ian Kortlang laughing), when prompted by broadcaster Simon Marnie to eat the fat-pillowed braised Coorong Angus ...