Winestate Magazine

Launched in 1978, Winestate is one of the world’s longest running wine magazines, featuring over 140 pages on all things vinous from around the globe. Winestate tastes and rates over 10,000 wines a year, making Winestate the leading authority on Australian and New Zealand wines.

Winestate Magazine

editorial

briefs

european report • MAKING SENSE OF THE MADNESS IN PANDEMIC TIMES

wine tutor • BIOSECURITY: BEWARE OF HITCHHIKERS

wine travel • BYRON BAY - BEER, BARS AND TOP CLASS SPIRITS

A NOT-SO-SECRET RECIPE • Take heritage, regional know-how, a good range of varieties, a dedicated team, talented winemakers, add a dash of passion and you have a recipe for success.

THE ARGUMENT FOR OAK!

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS The lure of Alto Adige

FUMÉ BLANC. A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

SETTING A NEW COURSE FOR SUCCESS • Watkins Family Wines launches its own label

brisbane grapevine

sydney grapevine

adelaide grapevine

WHAT’S IT WORTH? • Prices listed are exceptional auction highs and do not include buyer’s premium.

travel briefs • LIMESTONE COAST

LIMESTONE COAST & SURROUNDS • The Limestone Coast involving Coonawarra is one of our great cool climate regions producing some of the finest cabernets and shiraz combining both "power and restraint." But don't disregard the whites from the region with both riesling and chardonnay performing well.

RIESLING • Fresh, vibrant, citrusy or complex aged dried lemon rind style riesling offers a lot more than some people think. As one store owner put it, "don't tell people what it is just put a glass in their hands." Lots to like here across all categories and all styles.

SAUVIGNON BLANC & BLENDS • This is the most out there obvious white variety that also is arguably the most popular quaffer white wine in the market place. However, it should be said that there are also some amazing examples that show how good it can be. And contrary to opinion the best can also age and improve for a few years also.

PINOT GRIS/PINOT GRIGIO • If ever there was a wine for drinking, not thinking it has to be this variety. Nothing wrong with that and for wine makers who leave the fruit alone and allow it to shine there can be some fine examples made. Two styles occur, the clean and lean citrus style and the more savoury complex style.

PINOT NOIR • A great selection of pinots here across all price categories to please the most selective buyer. However, it does seem that you get what you pay for at the pointy end where great winemaking meets great varietal fruit. And nice to see some yardstick Burgundies on display here also.

SEMILLON & BLENDS • Semillon can be a such a contradiction; refreshing and citrus-like when young, but powerful and complex with age with all kinds of toasty layered flavours of lemon and hay!

ROSÉ • An excellent roll up for this popular wine style. It has been a long time coming but we have always said that our climate is most conducive to the bright and breezy style that rosé can produce. The trend fortunately has moved to drier styles rather than the confusing array of various levels of sugary wines of the past. And it is great to see winemakers producing rosé as a designated style rather than an afterthought.

HAWKE'S BAY

HAWKES BAY • Hawke's Bay, New Zealand’s second-largest wine region, produced 10% of the country’s wine in 2020. Seen by most wine lovers as a source of consistently impressive chardonnay, merlot-based reds and syrah, the region also produces memorable wines from many other varieties, such as pinot gris, sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon.

MICHAEL COOPER RECENT RELEASES • This diverse line-up included impressive examples of some famous regional wine...