#mudgee wine

[definewine]

Mudgee collective created from seven gold medals

This is rare. The finest winemakers and growers from one region, working together to create one great wine.

The latest release of the exclusive Mudgee Gold Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz ($60) captures some of the best fruit from the Mudgee winegrowing region. Seven parcels of regional fruit, made into wine and judged at the Mudgee Wine Show were judiciously blended to create this exceptional Mudgee wine.

The Mudgee Gold concept was developed in 1999. The winemakers of the region sought to blend the Wine Show’s gold medal winning Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon and invest the proceeds from this limited release wine back into the Mudgee region grape growers and winemakers.

This extremely rare 2009 Mudgee Gold is made from the gold medal equivalent wines from the 2009 Mudgee Wine Show*.  The producers selected in this prestigious blend comprise Andrew Harris, Broombee Organic, Burnbrae, Frog Rock, Queens Pinch, Robert Oatley and Robert Stein.

“The 2009 is a blend of 72 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and 28 per cent Shiraz,” commented Mudgee winemaker, Jacob Stein.  “The various components of this wine come from across the whole of the Mudgee region.  The components underwent a broad range of winemaking, including open fermentation, hand plunging and various other techniques and oak regimes.” 

“The parcels of wine were blended in a single 500 litre, two-year-old Demptos French oak puncheon for a further 11 months prior to bottling in order to marry the various components into the finished wine.”

 “The Mudgee Gold is a real expression of the collaboration of the Mudgee wine community,” explained Jacob. “The wine’s fresh and distinctive new livery conveys our rural and community roots.  The old school rosette and hand drawn typography portrays the artisan approach that we’re seeing with many Mudgee wines.”

“We have seen a lot of interest in NSW and Mudgee wines.  The established winegrowers and the new emerging producers are building on the region’s rich winemaking history. It’s fantastic to have the ongoing support of the likes of ARIA Restaurant, Rockpool Bar & Grill and Annandale Cellars to help champion the region.” 

Proceeds from the sale of the 2009 Mudgee Gold Cabernet Shiraz will be invested to help promote the Mudgee wine region.

Pricing: 2009 Mudgee Gold Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 750ml  $60.00

Distribution:       Mudgee Gold is available at ARIA restaurant, Rockpool Bar & Grill, Annandale Cellars and from the Robert Stein Winery & Vineyard Cellar Door.

* Wines are selected from one year old, unfinished wines that are awarded 55.5 points or more in the Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon classes.

For more information or images please visit www.mudgeewine.com.au/pages/Mudgee-Gold or contact:

Jacob Stein at Robert Stein Wines on 02 6373 3991 or [email protected] David Cumming at Define Wine on 0414 736 342 or [email protected]

[definewine]

Mudgee Winemaker set to be Future Leader

Lowe Winemaker Liam Heslop has recently been named one of 15 wine industry professionals to join the 2012 Future Leaders Program hosted by Wine Australia.

Future Leaders is an innovative program jointly initiated by ‘Wine Australia’, the ‘Winemakers’ Federation of Australia’ (WFA), the ‘Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation’ and ‘Wine Grape Growers’ Australia’.

The initiative is designed to provide a valuable conduit for the wine industry veterans to pass on their industry knowledge and wisdom, as well as provide opportunities to develop leadership, networking and collaboration.

Liam, who has worked with Lowe Wines since 2005, is the first Mudgee winemaker to be offered this valuable experience. 

Liam is also the recipient of the Trevor Drayton Scholarship. This is a scholarship put forward by the WFA to honour the lifetime work of Hunter Valley winemaker Trevor Drayton who was a serving WFA Board member at the time of his death. The scholarship covers the travel costs and expenses related to the program.

The 2012 Future Leaders comprise winemakers, marketing and sales managers, viticulturalists, general managers, public relations managers and business owners.  The course will cover a range of topics including personal leadership, tacit leadership, strategic leadership, international leadership and leading change. 

“This is a fantastic opportunity for me and a great chance to involve the Mudgee region with a broad range of wine industry professionals,” said Liam.  “Mudgee is making world class wines which I am looking forward to sharing with people from other Australian wine regions.”

“This is a very well regarded program within the industry. It will give me further leadership skills to help not only the industry, but our region. I am looking forward to the challenges that the course will throw at me and the opportunity to be involved at a higher level within the leadership of the industry.”

“This is fantastic opportunity for Liam,” explained Lowe Wines owner David Lowe. “Liam is an impressive winemaker and is heavily involved in Mudgee’s wine industry. I’m sure that he will gain valuable knowledge and networks from this industry program which will in turn benefit the Mudgee region.”

For further information about Lowe Wines visit www.lowewine.com.au 

For more information, interviews and images please contact: 

David Lowe at Lowe Wines:   02 6372 0800 or [email protected]

Liam Heslop at Lowe Wines:  02 6372 0800 or [email protected]

David Cumming at Define Wine:  0414 736 342 or [email protected]

Lowe Wine was established in Mudgee in 1987 by David Lowe and now comprises the Lowe, Louee and Tinja brands. The winery and vineyards gained organic accreditation 2004.  David Lowe is a high profile proponent of NSW regional wines and a key advocate in re-establishing NSW wines as the wines of choice with consumers in Australia.  David is also a leading advocate of organic winemaking, sustainable farming and regionalism, with a focus on the Mudgee and the Central Ranges.

[definewine]

New whites showcase Mudgee’s cool heights

Mudgee’s Lowe Wines has recently released two new 2011 vintage wines, the 2011 Louee Chardonnay ($25) and 2011 Louee Riesling ($25).  Both these wines are from Mudgee’s highest vineyard, Nullo Mountain that sits at an impressive elevation of 1100 metres.

The new vintage wines form part of Lowe’s single vineyard Louee Range.  The Louee vineyard is located at Rylstone, on the south eastern boundary of the Mudgee GI, a genuine sub region of Mudgee.

“No where in Mudgee can produce wines of this style,” explained Lowe Winemaker and owner David Lowe.  “The elevation of the vineyard and its subsequent high sunshine hours offers the vines increased ultra-violet light which can increase the levels of phenolics that build flavour and mouth feel.”

“What we can therefore achieve with this vineyard is lovely flavour and ripeness at lower baumé and subsequently lower alcohol levels.”

This is something that, as Vice President of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, I recognise that we need; to progress wines of lower alcohol.  We like the taste of wine, and if we can have wine with a good taste and lower alcohol it is all the better for our community and our social responsibility.”

“The key is to use the correct sites and clones to ensure that the wines produced show the terroir and not just a featureless expression of the variety.  We believe that the wines from Nullo Mountain achieve this, as well as showing exceptional longevity.”

“Our older vintages, such as the 2003 Riesling, are drinking really well, showing how the natural, cool climate acidity maintains the wine structure over time.” 

The new vintage Louee wines join the other Louee wines including the Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Late Picked Riesling, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

Price & distribution: The 2011 Louee Chardonnay $25.00 and Riesling $25.00 are distributed by Vines to Venues and via the Lowe website, www.lowewine.com.au

  For more information, samples and images please contact: 

David Cumming at Define Wine:   [phone] or [email protected] David Lowe at Lowe Wine:   [phone] or [email protected]

Further information about Lowe Wines visit www.lowewine.com.au

Lowe Wine was established in Mudgee in 1987 by David Lowe and now comprises the Lowe, Louee and Tinja brands. The winery and vineyards gained organic accreditation 2004.  David Lowe is a high profile proponent of NSW regional wines and a key advocate in re-establishing NSW wines as the wines of choice with consumers in Australia.  David is also a leading advocate of organic winemaking, sustainable farming and regionalism, with a focus on the Mudgee and the Central Ranges.