"Five Stars" -
Winestate Magazine

The Marquise
Mt Gambier Chardonnay - $21.95
Tempting wines

 “4 ½ Stars” -
Winestate Magazine (next month's issue)

Be quick - last stocks
Order HERE

Got right into it this harvest


Me in the bins: "I found three snails" joked our winemaker after the grapes were pressed. "I bet you didn't." I replied.


Our marketing manager Berenice Axisa giving a hand during vintage - and braving huge rain moths landing on her.
 

VINTAGE OVER: Here at Koonara we are serious about making the perfect wine, and to do this we made sure that the grapes picked are pristine. And this means standing in the bin with duck waders on and taking out every last bit of debris so the flavours are perfect. No leaves, stems, snails or green grapes get past us.

A challenging vintage with rain has seen us still going organic on our Ambriel's Gift Vineyard. Very low tonnes this year on all the wines made, with many not made instead of reducing our quality.

Koonara Starlit Vintage @ Vintage
Vintage Cafe put on a magical 5 course feast for Koonara, with us opening museum wines, as well as unreleased wines. It was a late night, so must have been good...

Brian Carey and "Trouble & Strife" Nicole Reschke (my wife, not Brians)


a feast to be had: Beef eye fillet, caramelised onion, deseree and sweet potato gratin
accompanied by zucchini with pea and mascarpone puree.


Koonara guests Georgie and Jess

Koonara girls - Peta, Berenice, and Justine

After Dark Festival: Once again a great after dark festival, with record number still coming to Coonawarra to enjoy all the events available.

Maestro of managing Coonawarra - Lisa, Hoillick winemaker Joe, and Guru nurse Anita
 

Pete making friends


CLICK ABOVE FOR MORE PHOTOS
 

Chip of the ol'block
     
I found this old photo of Dad the other day, and it was amazing to see the similarities in Alice, his grand-daughter he never met. Gone but still with us...
 

WINE OFFER: Winter Red deal:

1 x Ambriel's Gift 2004 (last stocks)
1 x Ezra's Gift Shiraz 2006
1 x Seductress Shiraz 2006
1 x Temptress Cab Sav 2006 4 ½ Stars(last stocks)
2 x Angel's Peak Cab Sav 2006 (last stocks)
2 X Angels Peak Shiraz 2006
1 x Bay of Apostles Cab 2006 - 5 Stars (last stocks)
1 x Bay of Apostles Shiraz 2008
1 x Bay of Apostles Pinot Noir 2009
1 x Belle Amie Pinot Noir 2009

FREE "Magic Decanter" wine aerator valued at $70 for every order of 12 bottles.

 

Click here to make your purchase.

 

Cooking with MacGyver: All meat should rest before serving

If given the time to rest the meat will loose less juice when you cut it and when you eat it the meat will be juicier and tastier. The time taken to rest will depend on its size, a roast is best rested for 10 to 20 minutes before craving. Steaks or chops should stand for at least 2 to 3 minutes before serving.

Joke of the month:
Will you come home with me


 

A man was walking through a rather seedy section of town, when a bum walked up to him and asked the man for two dollars.

The man asked, "Will you buy booze?"

The bum replied, "No."

Then the man asked, "Will you gamble it away?"

The bum said, "No."

Then the man asked the bum, "Will you come home with me so my wife can see what happens to a man who doesn't drink or gamble?"

Events of the Month:

This Weekend:
The Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival, now in its 20th year, has grown to become one of regional Australia's leading arts festivals.

The festival celebrates the literary and arts heritage of Penola, the fine wines of Coonawarra and our premium regional produce. We invite you to come join us May 12-22, 2011.

http://www.artsfestival.com.au/


 

The Body Art Challenge Unveiling and Auction - All the entries are in and can be found here:

body art challenge

Like one of these pieces? Email us on cellardoor@koonara.com  before the end of work on Friday a price you would like to pay (no matter how small - you'd be surprised!), and we'll put down your silent bid.
Or for live auction, email through your mobile, and we will ring you at 4:30pm Saturday, so you can put through your bids as it happens, and we'll send it to you for just $10 freight.

All proceeds go to the Penola Kids Library.

http://www.koonara.com/2011_body_art_challenge.html

Curly Flat Pinot Noir 2006 - $46.99

A really interesting Pinot Noir complex on both nose and palate. Multi-layered nose with gamey notes opening up to dark plums and  leather nuances. Soft tannins supported with good acidity. Fine and elegant palate. 

www.curlyflat.com
 

Pipers Brook Pinot Gris 2008 - $27.50

Lovely fragrant aromas. A broad palate with honey and apple fruit with a dry crisp finish. Acidity balancing perfectly the luscious fruit character of this wine.

www.kreglingerwineestates.com  

Serves:
2 as a main

Ingredients
2 duck breasts
2 large waxy potatoes, grated
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 tsp plain flour
Salt and pepper
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil
1 bunch English spinach leaves
1 tsp olive oil
50g white sugar
300ml Pinot or other good red wine

Method
Sear breasts in a hot pan until brown on both sides and place in a hot oven for 12 minutes. Once cooked set aside to rest in a warm place.

Squeeze grated potato to remove most of the liquid. Place in a bowl, add onion, flour salt and pepper. Heat oil and butter in a pan and add about 3 tablespoons of potato. Flatten and cook on both sides until golden and crisp. Drain all cakes on paper towel and keep warm.

Wash spinach several times in cold water. Add olive oil to pan and sauté until just wilted. Keep warm.

Add sugar to a saucepan and caramelise over a high heat. Pour the wine carefully into pan. Be careful because this will bubble up. Stir until sugar dissolves and simmer until the sauce reduces by half.

On a warmed plate place a cake in middle, top with spinach, then another cake with more spinach. Place several slices on breast on top and drizzle sauce around plate.

 Music to match your dinner:

After Dinner:

Wasting Light - Foo Fighters

One of the best rock albums so far this year. Foo Fighters are still the same band making the same kind of rock.   Wasting Light is more after dinner material when in a mood for some quality rock moments and a glass of red.