a collection of Gary Vaynerchuk's Australian wine review videos http://ping.fm/uVZgF

The final BoozeMonkey blog of 2009 :: Happy New Year Monkey-Lovers! wine http://ping.fm/uGkrg

... And A Happy New Year!

Well folks, it's the last day of the year, and the last day of "the noughties". Are you glad to see the back of it or are you sad it's over? Was it a good year for you? A good decade? Or are you happy to be rid of it and are now looking forward to... what are we going to call the next decade? The "teens"?

And what will you remember it for? It's the decade which gave us the iPod and the iPhone, USB flash drives (does anyone even remember floppies now?), a shock financial meltdown (the "global financial crisis" or GFC, which will no doubt reverberate for a while longer before we can put it behind us), and it is the decade which saw the birth of reality TV: some things are just unforgiveable...

:: WHAT'S IN STORE FOR 2010?

So what of the coming year? Who knows what will happen? Interest rates will rise and property values will fall. Or will it be the other way around? Fashions will come and fashions will go: personally, I am looking forward to the death of the "pants round my knees, underwear on display" thing which has dragged on for far too long already. But one of the nice things about it is that no-one really knows what's around the corner. It could be good news or it could be bad, but all anyone can guarantee is that it will be a surprise... sometimes a nice one, sometimes a disappointment.

And what of the wine industry? Who will be the big winners and losers of the next few years? France is on the up again, thanks to some great recent vintage years and to new labelling rules in Europe. There are more great wines coming out of other European countries than ever before too, with Spain, Portugal and Chile riding high on the crest of the new decade. And the Kiwis continue to spank the rest of the world with their amazing Sauvignon Blanc story. How much longer will that last before it goes the way of Chardonnay? How long till Oyster Bay is "so last year, dahling" and is about as cool as a Flock-Of-Seagulls haircut? Like I said, fashions come and fashions go... Fortunately, NZ Pinot Noir seems set to step into Sauvignon Blanc's shoes when the time comes.

:: TIME TO GET A GRIP!

And closer to home, what about the Aussie wine industry? What's in store for us, with our overly-strong dollar, our wine glut, our piss-poor grasp of marketing (yes, I said it) and our hideously promoted industry (thank you Wine Australia -- seriously, Regional Heroes? Do me a favour...)?

I don't want to paint too grim a picture, but we need to wise-up and get on top of the situation before it's too late. We need to recognise that we've had a great decade, but that things aren't looking too hot right now, so we need to ACT. Some wineries get it of course: they're the ones who are producing regular press releases for the industry and who are doing what they can to get the message out and to promote their brands. But unfortunately there are still far too many who are producing tasting notes on the back of an envelope and who are content to wait for hoardes of eager punters to beat a path to their door simply because their wine is S-O-O-O good.

NEWS FLASH! You're kidding yourselves... get a grip!

Quality-wise, our boutique wineries wipe the floor with the rest of the world. But getting the message out seems to be a real struggle for many. Don't get me wrong, I'm 100% sympathetic to the problems the little guy faces, but at the same time, I'm very frustrated. It's one thing to have world-beating wines, but (at the risk of sounding like I'm stuck in a groove) if no-one knows about them then you're fighting a losing battle. Because somewhere along the line you need to SELL those great wines. And in the case of the smaller wineries, you guys often need to sell one vintage to pay for the next... am I right? So if the last decade as been the boom time and you're not cashed up and ready to fight for your slice of the pie now that the gloves are off, where will you be in 3-5 years?

Frankly, you're facing a rising tide of low-cost, high-quality producers, costs are up and revenue is down. So it's time to work smart and make the most of your resources: we need to see more boutique wineries banding together to make the most of their limited cash, their skills and their time. Initiatives like the VALE CRU tasting event at Sellicks Hill in the McLaren Vale in the Spring. Brilliant! Let's see more of that. And let's see it promoted better next year so we get journalists and TV involved to shout about the little guys fighting with as much passion as they make their wine. I see everyone fighting for himself and I have just one question: why? For one thing, Regional Associations are spectacularly under-used. What do they do? Shouldn't they be working to promote your interests? Outside of the industry, who really knows much about regional variety? Maybe some will know the Margaret River name is linked with Sauvignon Blanc, that the Hunter has claimed Semillon, and that the Barossa is synonymous with big reds. But who's heard of the Granite Belt? Or the Goulburn Valley? Or Gippsland? I mean ordinary everyday punters. And what are you guys doing about it?

Tell me if you think I'm being unfair, but that's the way I see it. I can't predict the future any better than you can, but I know opportunity when I see it, and I right now I see a lot of opportunity slipping away. Not only here at home, but in the Asian markets too: China, Japan and Korea are all going to be HUGE, but you need to be aiming to get on the bandwagon sooner rather than later. The French are: their industry bodies have been busy tying up trade deals in China and Korea in recent months. Do you see much activity from Australia? No, neither do I. Are you worried by that? You should be. I know I am. So whilst I'm not big on predictions, one of the things I AM confident about is that BoozeMonkey will establish a presence in Asia in 2010. You heard it here first folks. Well, someone has to take the initiative...

Hey, here's an idea... why not come along for the ride?

:: 2010 ARSE-KICKERS

2009 has been a fantastic year for us here at BoozeMonkey and we want to thank you all -- each and every one of you -- for making it so much fun. This time last year, BoozeMonkey didn't even exist, and now we're a PR5 website (for the geeks) and pulling down 12,000+ page views per day. At the risk of blowing our own trumpet, that's pretty damn good.

And while we're patting ourselves on the back (it's some of the rare physical contact we get, so we're making the most of it), we want YOU to tell us who you think deserves a mention for their input and spirit in 2009. Seriously, it's time for some audience participation. Who were the movers and shakers in the past 12 months? Who was making waves and kicking arse?

And while we are on the topic - who will stand out in 2010? Who will be the new leaders taking the initiative and driving the industry forward? I've got a couple of dozen favourite winemakers at the moment (many of the names you will know from reading my regular blog and my wine reviews) but one of my personal "ones to watch" for this year is Michael Pettrucci from Sabella who recently kicked Penfolds off the top spot by winning this year's coveted George Mackey Trophy for Australia's most outstanding export wine. Michael has a wise head on some young shoulders (and a great big handle-bar moustache).

So who will you nominate? Who do you think deserves a mention for the outstanding work they did in 2009? And who are your "ones to watch" for 2010? We're looking for industry champions -- people who you think will be instrumental in driving the industry forward. 

:: RIESLING FREAKS

Are you a Riesling Freak? You are? Well LongLunch has set up a group just for you if you're lover of this slim-bottled beauty: Riesling Freaks Anonymous. So don't be shy. Come out of the cellar and proudly join the rest of us freaks, and tell us about your favourites. I'm actually drinking a NZ Riesling as I write, from Ant Moore. Pretty damn good too. I'm not convinced it will last till midnight though, so I may have to throw another one in the chiller.
:: SYDNEY TO BE BOOZE-FREE ON NYE?!

I don't know what's going on with the rest of the country, but here in Sydney they've decided to make all public venues in sight of the Harbour Bridge fireworks alcohol-free. That's alcohol-free, not free alcohol... BIG difference.

Personally I think that's verging on "un-Australian" and smacks of Big Brother watching over us a little too carefully. When you're not even allowed to open a bottle of fizz to celebrate New Year's Eve, that sounds to me like the nanny state turning into a dictator. And why would the police want to control a crowd of almost 2 million when it would be so much easier to control a handful of over-excited revellers? They'll be there anyway...

But what do I know?

Wherever you are and however you intend to celebrate this evening, I wish you all the best for 2010 -- as much health, wealth and happiness as you can manage without bursting. And I will raise a glass to you at midnight and toast the beginning of another new and exciting year.

Cheers!

Matt
http://www.BoozeMonkey.com

Capercaillie's startling "The Ghillie" Hunter Valley Shiraz 2006 wine review :: http://ping.fm/gvMXu

Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz 2006 :: MASSIVE WINE http://ping.fm/6K1de

Bunnamagoo Estate, Kids Earth Fund Autumn Semillon 2006 :: a remarkable dessert wine http://ping.fm/krHlT

New European Wine Labelling Rules :: wine http://ping.fm/LfGMw

Thank you Monkey-lovers! We love being on top... http://ping.fm/N0sFD

Hey wine fans! Can I squeeze you for some yuletide Monkey love? Pretty please...? http://ping.fm/wbInd

Sydney to be an alcohol-free zone on New Year's Eve? Are you kidding?! What do you think? http://ping.fm/P9pHO

Zema Estate Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 wine review Australia http://ping.fm/eaJYk

Just reviewed Kirrihill Wines Slate Creek Vineyard Riesling 2009 http://ping.fm/ZX40d

2007 Five Geese Shiraz and the 2007 Marius Shiraz Mourvedre wine video http://ping.fm/ZLvbG

Wishing you a very Merry Xmas from BoozeMonkey :: our last newsletter before Santa arrives http://ping.fm/WQmhU

A Very Merry Xmas From BoozeMonkey!

Well, Xmas is finally upon us. I've been predicting this for months now. It had to happen.

Are you still working like me, or have you already finished for the holidays? If you're already in holiday mode -- whether you're shivering in bed in the northern hemisphere (hi to all our friends in the UK and the USA) or relaxing in a hammock by the beach with us here down under -- then I hope you're enjoying yourself. Wherever you may be, Xmas is a time for friends and families, and I hope you have yours around you this year.

:: THE BEST WINES OF 2009
Since  we started reviewing wine on BoozeMonkey just six months ago, we have tried more good wine than is strictly legal: we almost feel guilty about it. If someone tips off the booze police then we're in big trouble...

We can't name all the great wines we've tried because the list would enormous, but a few names stick out in our minds which we all agree are something really special. Among them are SABELLA (amazing Shiraz), SYLVAN SPRINGS (Cyril's Reserve), SINGLEFILE (Reserve Chardonnay), MOOROOROO PARK (Silentium Sparkling Shiraz), CAUGHT REDHANDED (2008 Shiraz and Fortified), BLOWFLY (the legendary Maelstrom), CAPPA STONE (Moscato), and PENNY'S HILL (pretty much anything Ben Riggs puts into a bottle).

There are plenty more of course: Anderson, Zema, Kirrihill, 2 Mates, Neagles Rock, Glencari... and I personally guarantee that you won't be disappointed by any of the wines you try from these remarkable winemakers.

And that's one thing which makes the current downturn in the fortunes of the Australian wine industry so frustrating -- we produce some world-beating wines, but the majority of our amazing winemakers are so small that they don't have the cash to promote their wine properly. Which is why BoozeMonkey was born of course: with 10,000 ~ 12,000 page views per day, we are the busiest wine community in the southern hemisphere, drawing wine-lovers from around the globe and providing our miracle-working grape-stompers with a platform to shout about their work.

:: LOOKING FORWARD TO 2010
This year has been an exciting one for us, launching BoozeMonkey and watching it grow from strength to strength, month by month.

We are very grateful for all your help: we couldn't have achieved all the things we have without your continued support.

We are already planning big things for 2010 -- we will be re-vamping the website, adding new features and promoting events -- and we really hope you will join us for the ride, and that you will invite some friends along too. The more the merrier.

So please stop by and say hello over the holidays, make a few new friends, chat to the winemakers... and if you're lucky enough to try a good bottle or two, please tell us about it: you can review wines alongside the pros and tell us what it really tastes like.

:: AND A VERY MERRY XMAS TO YOU ALL!
Quite honestly, this year has been the greatest pleasure, and it's largely down to all the great people we have had the chance to meet and to chat with on BoozeMonkey. You guys rock!
I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2010.

Enjoy the holidays, enjoy each others company and smile.

Cheers!

Matt
www.BoozeMonkey.com

Just reviewed Sylvan Springs Cyril's Reserve Shiraz 2006 http://ping.fm/MjGF9

Cheap NZ imports spark a wine war in the West http://ping.fm/ECM4a

Questions about wine-making? I've got just what you're looking for... http://ping.fm/gdgpo

Revisit Chardonnay! http://ping.fm/J61m1

Freerange Gallery wine tasting in McLaren Vale http://ping.fm/gV67w

Lucky 7 Wines - Tasting Notes http://ping.fm/5fzI2

Aussie Lucky 7 Wines hits the USA market http://ping.fm/f5Rf6

Oh yeah! The Monkey's getting love from USA, UK, Philippines and Puerto Rico this morning :: love wine http://ping.fm/Sn2jA

Stand up for Chardonnay! wine wine wine http://ping.fm/lSpRC

Tim Adams Semillon 2007 : fleeting honey overtones followed quickly by sharp, tangy berry & orange flavours http://ping.fm/CkV3e

Cheap NZ imports spark a wine war in the West http://ping.fm/mObt2

scuba diving this weekend -- hope the weather's a bit warmer than it was today

Eight more sleeps till Christmas. I love it that we count the days down like that here in Oz... http://ping.fm/akpMM

I've just noticed that FaceBook now has a KamaSutra app :: I doubt I'm the first to chuckle at the POKE function... :D

Can't believe no-one's complimented me on the new monkey... bah, humbug!

Australian wine Heartland Wines Stickleback Red 2008 http://ping.fm/7Fjtt

BoozeMonkey goes all Santa on your ass :: wine Australia FIGJAM :: http://ping.fm/3gVrm

BoozeNews... BoozeNews... BoozeNews... wine Australia Sydney Adelaide http://ping.fm/QqFIN

Eight more sleeps till Christmas.

I love it that we count the days down like that here in Oz. It reminds you of when you were a kid and the excitement of going to bed because when you wake up it will be another day closer. I don't know of anywhere else in the world where they count "sleeps" instead of days... do you?


:: GREAT WINE REVIEWS
We've had some impressive wines reviewed recently, in particular Mitolo's Jester Shiraz 2007 by Hana in Holland, Pepper Tree's 14 Shores Wrattonbully Merlot 2006 by Ryan, and Fox Creek's Vixen Sparkling Shiraz, reviewed by Marc (which has earned it a spot on the short-list for the Booze Cruise next month).

Talking of the Booze Cruise, the response from the wineries has been overwhelming, with superb wines coming in from all over the country and from across the Tasman too. We've really got our work cut out for us to select the best of the best, and it will be interesting to see which wines are selected for the event. We will post the results for you when the decision has been made.


:: BOOZEMONKEY COMPETITIONS 
You may have noticed that we haven't run any competitions for the past couple of weeks: we know you're too busy partying and doing your last minute shopping right now. But rest assured we'll be back in January with lots of new competitions and new opportunities to win some superb prizes. We already have a handful of wineries lined up. Any other winemakers who are interested, please drop us a line at comps@boozemonkey.com

:: KARRIBINDI SPECIAL
KarriBindi sponsored our last competition and you will see their ad banner proudly flashing at the top of each page. And they had such a great response from you guys that they want to give something back, so Kris and his team are running a special promotion on the site: CLICK HERE for details.

:: CAUGHT REDHANDED HITS SYDNEY
Just to let you know, the details for the Caught Redhanded Sydney event have now been finalized and tickets are selling fast: the venue is Chinta Ria at Darling Harbour and it's set to be a LONG 5-course lunch (accompanied by copious quantities of CRH wines) and hosted by winemaker Phil Rogers on 9th Jan.

Put a note in your diary, click the link for details and phone Phil now to book your table.

Okay, I'm off to do some last-minute shopping myself (don't tell the boss -- he doesn't even like it when I take a coffee break).

Enjoy the rest of the week, have a great weekend, and Santa will be here before you know it.


Cheers!

Matt

Australian Wine Reviews :: Mitolo Wines Jester Shiraz 2007 http://ping.fm/3RxQg

wine by brad Rosé 2009 “Floral with strawberry and cherry on the palate. Easy-drinking summer wine.” http://ping.fm/1Sy1f

Nintingbool Pinot Noir 2007 wine review http://ping.fm/3vA9G

Heartland Wines Stickleback Red 2008 "spicy and sweet" BoozeMonkey wine review :: http://ping.fm/fv3US

Mitolo Wines Jester Shiraz 2007 wine review http://ping.fm/ykGnP

KarriBindi Christmas Monkey Wine Special :: Xmas discount on multi-award-winning Sauvignon Blanc :: http://ping.fm/I0d18

Caught Redhanded Adelaide winemaker organising a great food and wine event in Sydney http://ping.fm/O9sM3

Sydney Caught REDHANDED / Chinta Ria Wine and Food Show :: http://ping.fm/rJAiC

The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz :: great value bubbles! wine http://ping.fm/JGNkF

Belgravia Gewurztraminer :: floral, citrus orange and ginger. A very more-ish wine http://ping.fm/JGgj5

Fox Creek Wines Vixen Sparkling Shiraz wine review http://ping.fm/sv3eD

wine by brad Rosé 2009 :: Australian wine review :: http://ping.fm/JUFtl

Kingston Estate Wines Limestone Coast / Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 wine review http://ping.fm/hRQmN

Woop Woop The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz wine Australian shiraz :: http://ping.fm/99KoQ

Belgravia Gewurztraminer 2009 wine review Australia :: http://ping.fm/GuKzQ

Satisfy your love of wine whilst helping kids and families living with cancer :: http://ping.fm/S13RV

in support of Yellow Tail wine :: blog comments http://ping.fm/OiTur

Kingston Estate Wines Limestone Coast / Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 wine http://ping.fm/DHtJA

Booze News :: Sabella rocks :: Yellow Tail sucks :: Roll Dave, roll! :: wine http://ping.fm/Vq7Za

KarriBindi Shiraz 2007 :: wine :: A lovely, sophisticated Shiraz, juicy, layered flavours and very smooth. http://ping.fm/7dRMv

Layers of coffee, black fruits with a fine spray of pepper. Bright and clean. Classic McLaren Vale wine http://ping.fm/cAzt4

hot off the press, the latest BOOZE NEWS :: wine BoozeMonkey http://ping.fm/GC8Yr

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat... you don't see many geese around at this time of year, do you? Keeping their heads down till the danger's passed, I should think.

Come to think of it, have you ever tried goose? Duck, pigeon, quail, pheasant, grouse... sure, but I don't think I've ever had goose.

Anyone tried it? What's it like?


:: SABELLA TAKES MAJOR WINE AWARD

Big news of the day is that Sabella Vineyards, the McLaren Vale winery run by Michael Petrucci (who's a super-nice guy), has won this year's coveted George Mackey Trophy for Australia's most outstanding export wine of the past year.

Good on ya, Michael! That's phenomenal!

Not only did Sabella's 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon win the trophy, but it broke a three-year trophy-winning streak by Penfolds.

In claiming the prize, Michael said his wine's win was "an honour for the McLaren Vale region". 

I told you he was a nice guy, didn't I?

"Joe, my father, has spent 35 years in the region and I am committed to honouring his tradition and encouraging greater recognition of Australia's fine wines," he said.

We haven't had the pleasure of trying the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon yet (must rectify that...), but we are in love with the Sabella 2004 Reserve Shiraz and I have a sneaking feeling that it may feature on our winelist for the up-coming Booze Cruise.

Talking of which...


:: PREMIUM WINES FLOODING BOOZEMONKEY CASTLE

DHL and Australia Post have been wearing a regular path to our door in recent days with more and more bottle-shaped parcels (well boxes actually, but I thought the "bottle-shaped" description was a bit more poetic...): tasting samples for the Booze Cruise. And I know you'll hate me when I tell you this, but it really IS going to be tough to choose winners from all the fantastic wines which are being submitted for review. So far McLaren Vale is topping the charts but we have wines coming in from all over the country and even a couple of NZ wines too. Keep 'em coming guys!


:: YELLOW TAIL ARE ASKING FOR IT

In the same vein as the Vegemite iSnack 2.0 naming fiasco, Yellow Tail have decided to use crowd-sourcing to name their new wine. For anyone who doesn't know, crowd-sourcing is where they ask the public for suggestions : it's good to engage your customers. It has been used to good effect on occasion, but it can backfire too.

Yellow Tail's "sunshine in a bottle" marketing campaign has been hugely successful around the world of course, particularly in America, and whilst that has been good for the Casella Group (who own Yellow Tail), the downside is that the Australian wine industry has largely been tarred with a "cheap and cheerful" tag abroad, making life very difficult for our quality winemakers to sell their premium wines. And it will take time, money and a LOT of effort to shake that negative image. Which is a real shame because we have, without a doubt, some of the world's very best wines here in Oz.

Now I could be wrong, but personally I think Yellow Tail are asking for trouble with this move. There are a lot of people who will be only too happy to tell them what they really think of Yellow Tail's flavourless, characterless plonk, and it may not be the sort of feedback the company wants. And I've spoken to a couple of winemakers who had less-than-charitable suggestions for the new name. In fact, one of them was so graphic that I can't even repeat it in this newsletter...

So I want to know what YOU think: what do YOU think the new Yellow Tail wine should be called?

Don't hold back now. Comments below, please...


:: THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US

Parents across the country are now girding their loins in readiness for eight weeks of having their kids at home... the summer holidays are upon us. And how long before we hear the dreaded words "I'm bored..."? It's bad enough that they've got almost 2 months to themselves (who wouldn't give their right arm for a 2-month holiday right now?), but when they have the gall to abuse the privilege by complaining, you just want to choke the life out of them, don't you? (Please don't bother calling Child Services: they're already aware of me.)

Actually, #1 son got into trouble yesterday, the last day of term, and came home feeling very hard done to. It appears that in Science class they were told to come up with new laboratory warning signs for things like FLAMMABLE and CORROSIVE liquids. I believe the phrase the teacher used was "use your imagination, boys..."

So he did.

But apparently his teacher didn't appreciate the little fella's FLAMMABLE sign, which was a lab technician running around screaming with his white coat on fire, while his assistant shouted "Roll Dave! Roll!"

Personally, I see a spark of genius...

I hope you have a great week.

Cheers!

Matt

drinking Fox Creek Wines Vixen :: excellent sparkling Shiraz with great fruit flavour http://ping.fm/IjPLx

It's Friday... What's HOT?! wine http://ping.fm/jWDEc

Okay, it didn't happen *quite* in the blink of an eye (as I have been claiming since June), but December is here at last and the fat man is upon us. And apparently he's making a list and checking it twice... who knew Santa had OCD? Are you looking forward to Christmas as much as I am? You'd better not shout, you'd better not cry...

So once again, it's Friday... What's HOT?!

You really wanna know? Okay, I'll tell you what's hot...

:: FREE ADVERTISING IS HOT!

Free advertising? Well, 'tis the season to be jolly, so this week we're running a special offer to put a smile on the faces of our winemakers: if you take out an advertising banner on BoozeMonkey this month, we will run it next month too FOR FREE. Better be quick if you want in though... the offer is limited to the first dozen ads (the boss mumbled something about the twelve days of Xmas and then wandered out of the room again... looks like he's hit the sherry early today). And our regular FREE ARTWORK offer still applies too.

:: THE BOOZE CRUISE IS HOT!

I mentioned the Sydney Harbour "Booze Cruise" event last week, and now the date has been finalised: 22nd January. Preparations are well underway and we are already receiving wines for the tasting panel later this month. Whites, reds, roses... not many stickies and fortifieds yet, but we're working on it.

:: THE KARRIBINDI COMPETITION WINNERS ARE HOT!

The winners of last week's KarriBindi competition (and the answers to the questions) are RIGHT HERE IN KARRIBINDI'S BLOG. Well done guys, and congratulations. The competition was a great success and had over 130 entries.

:: THE CAUGHT REDHANDED 07 SHIRAZ IS HOT!

Another 90+ point review for the Caught Redhanded 07 Shiraz: Phil Rogers, the winemaker, is on FIRE! And for all those who haven't been lucky enough to try the 08 Shiraz (as I have... jealous?!) it's EVEN BETTER. No kidding, it's ridiculously good.

So in case you missed it last week, Phil is organising a Food & Wine Extravaganza in Sydney early in the New Year, and along with five course meal, there will be wines to match. Tickets are selling fast so you'd better book now while there are still tables available.

Okay, You guys have a great weekend, enjoy the sun, enjoy the beach if you get the chance, and most of all, enjoy each other. I will leave you with just one thought today: what's the funniest thing you have ever seen at Christmas? Anything at all. Mine is from a trip to Japan where I saw Santa nailed to a cross in a shop window. To this day I'm not sure if it was a very bitter shop-keeper who had run out of Christmas spirit or just utter confusion about the relationship between Santa and Christianity.

Cheers!

Matt
www.BoozeMonkey.com

Free advertising :: Karribindi wine winners :: Sydney Booze Cruise :: another 90pt+ review for CRH http://ping.fm/d3GyJ

Aussie wine review :: Booths Taminick Cellars Premium Shiraz 2005 :: http://ping.fm/0RTCh

KarriBindi Shiraz 2007 wine review BoozeMonkey :: http://ping.fm/Cc4WX

KarriBindi Competition Winners wine :: http://ping.fm/5VmG1

BoozeMonkey back in business :: apologies for maintenance downtime earlierr but we're back up and running now :: http://ping.fm/UDq9z

Yering Station Vineyard Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2006 wine review :: http://ping.fm/4uT56

Roscoe Halligan takes "A Quick Trip To The Mornington Peninsula" wine http://ping.fm/SGsyB

another 90pt-plus wine review for the Caught REDHANDED McLaren Vale Shiraz 2007 :: http://ping.fm/SqnUQ

The Egg Leaving Incident, or where not to eat in Manly :: food foodies http://ping.fm/7q94a

McLaren Vale wine - Madeleines :: http://ping.fm/Kmck5

Can I hit you up for a little monkey love?! wine http://ping.fm/jIHjR

Amazing Italian wine :: Illuminati Montepulciano D'Abruzzo :: http://ping.fm/7cKsu

Australian wine review :: Majella Wines Coonawarra, The Musician 2008 http://ping.fm/eyK3b

It's Friday! What's HOT?!

:: FRIENDS AND TANK RATS ARE HOT!
Self-confessed Kiwi tank rat Lar works at the Bendigo Tafe and is looking for buddies on BoozeMonkey. She's surprised that we're not a friendlier bunch. And to be honest, that surprises me too. Sure, we all love a few glasses of wine, and we love knowing what our mates are drinking, but BoozeMonkey is about MORE than just wine. It's about making friends and getting to know each other. Isn't it? So that's your homework for the weekend... pick three people at random from the site and make friends with them. Just add them to your friends list and leave a comment on their profile page. Just about anything seems fine to open a conversation these days, but I've found "I'm Matt, what are you wearing?" still doesn't get me very far.

So today's question is about chat-up lines. I'm not suggesting you start getting frisky with each other on BoozeMonkey (although don't let me stop you if you find each other irresistible), but I would like to know what are your best (or your worst) chat-up lines. How do you break the ice at the bar? Do you go for the cheesy "heaven must be missing an angel..."? Or are you more direct? "Hi, I'm Matt. Get your coat, you've pulled..."


:: THE KARRIBINDI WINE COMPETITION IS HOT!
Last chance! All aboard the Karribindi Express! The Karribindi New-Release Wines competition ends on Sunday, so if you haven't entered yet, DO IT NOW! Two lucky winners will each receive a three-pack of the new releases, and all for telling us what the Karribindi name means...


:: THE BOOZE CRUISE IS HOT!
I mentioned it earlier this week and there has been lots of interest in the Booze Cruise we're helping to organise. Beautiful boat, beautiful wine, and a large group of journos, celebs and influential types. If you're interested in show-casing your wines, just let me know and I will send you further details. We will be selecting the wines during the first couple of weeks in December so we need to hear from you soon.

And there has also been a load of interest from our regular monkey crowd, wanting to know how THEY can get in on the act. Well, unfortunately this one is just for the industry guys, but if there is sufficient interest then I don't see why we shouldn't organise a similar event for everyone else. Imagine a boatful of monkeys and limitless booze...

Have a great weekend!

Matt
BoozeMonkey ¦ Australian Wine ¦ NZ Wine ¦ Wine Reviews

Australian Wine Reviews :: Creed Wines Eden Valley Riesling 2009 http://ping.fm/oA18I

Friends & tank rats, FREE wine and the Sydney Booze Cruise... IT'S FRIDAY! WHAT'S HOT?! http://ping.fm/zA3H5

Pepper Tree Wines 14 Shores Wrattonbully Merlot 2006 wine http://ping.fm/Bx97x

KarriBindi Competition wine http://ping.fm/p2xVG

Australian Wine Review :: Evans & Tate Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2007 :: http://ping.fm/gTLXq

Another powerful, big fruit wine from Henry's Drive. They don't do delicate: just big, juicy, flavour-bombs. http://ping.fm/ujuB9

Zema Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 wine review :: http://ping.fm/AddDb

MadFish Wines partners up with Australia's Qantas Airlines. http://ping.fm/KKvB0

Six bottles of new-release wine up for grabs from Margaret River winemaker Karribindi :: http://ping.fm/K4Eh8

wine review Hunter River Wine Company, Reserve Shiraz Durif 2007 http://ping.fm/xr6EU

FROG ROCK ROSÉ A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP AWAY :: wine http://ping.fm/uXpQY

Nangkita Viognier 2008 and Nangkita Shiraz 2007 video wine review :: http://ping.fm/fgrsl

Caught Redhanded in Sydney :: wine food and a night to remember :: http://ping.fm/JOiB3

wine Galafrey Wines Muller 2005 :: http://ping.fm/3M9S3

Henry's Drive Vignerons Padthaway Shiraz 2006 :: Bloody ripper! :: http://ping.fm/rg01m

Australian Wine Reviews :: Fox Creek Wines Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre 2007 http://ping.fm/bkTJM

Booze Cruise :: Karribindi wine competition :: Matt singing Jingle Bells dressed as a reindeer (maybe) http://ping.fm/ShAWn

So what have you got planned for Xmas? Are you going away somewhere? It always surprises me that anyone would want to leave Australia when we've got the best weather in the world (if El Nino will sort itself out) over the summer period, but it seems prime time to go exploring, so what do you have in mind? Visiting rellies abroad? Maybe skiing in Hokkaido? I hear Paris is nice in December...

Me? Well, I'll be making the most of things here in Sydney I think, but that's by choice. I love summer. Winter? Well that's a different story altogether. That's when I would love to jet off to Tuscany or Provence and spend a few months in a private villa with the pool. Where would you live if money was no object?

:: KARRIBINDI WINE COMPETITION

This weeks' competition is sponsored by Margaret River wine producers Karribindi, famous for their award-winning whites (although they have a Shiraz which has bling too). TWO lucky BoozeMonkeys will win their three-pack this week, and all you have to do is answer ONE SIMPLE QUESTION. Honestly, our winemakers make it TOO EASY for you guys.

>>> CLICK HERE TO ENTER! <<<

:: BOOZE CRUISE

An afternoon on the water in Sydney Harbour sounds like fun, doesn't it? Man, I wish I could invite you along too, but this one is strictly industry-only I'm afraid. The Kimberley Quest, a beautiful boat which normally cruises the Kimberley Coast, is coming to Sydney for a couple of months. A PR shindig is being organised to fill it full of travel, food and wine writers and we're looking for sponsors :: WINEMAKERS, THIS MEANS YOU! We plan to have about 80 journalists and editors from the dailies, the glossies and online media, so this is a perfect opportunity to get your wine down their necks and to angle for a review or a write-up.

Anyone interested in helping sponsor the event should email me matt@boozemonkey.com

Short and sweet today, so I'll love you and leave you.

Have a great week,

Matt
Australian Wine :: New Zealand Wine :: BoozeMonkey

Karribindi, Margaret River :: win a 3-pack of their newly-released wine http://ping.fm/KlRGq

Graham Stevens Wines cellar door in McLaren Vale video wine review http://ping.fm/0xwBv

wine by brad Cabernet Merlot 2007 :: juicy, fruity cab merlot with good balance and length http://ping.fm/BYcxn

Sandhurst Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 2007 wine review http://ping.fm/EdNWP

Galafrey Wines Unoaked Chardonnay 2008 :: Melon, peach and nectarine palate. Good with seafood and sushi :: http://ping.fm/UaBRd

Caught REDHANDED Cabernet Rosé 2009 :: perfect with spicy foods and tomato dishes :: Australian wine :: http://ping.fm/ZqvYM

Galafrey Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2006 :: clean, fresh, light and grassy :: http://ping.fm/AgZLk

They came, they saw, they ate... and boy did they drink! http://ping.fm/F6VYH

Shaw Vineyard Estate Laughter Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 wine review :: http://ping.fm/l9tzR

Penny's Hill McLaren Vale Cabernet 2007 :: another ripper -- big, bold and fruity :: http://ping.fm/INgLe

wine by brad Cabernet Merlot 2007 :: http://ping.fm/foJhZ

Caught REDHANDED Cabernet Rosé 2009 wine review :: http://ping.fm/YrFqU

BoozeMonkey wine review Booths Taminick Cellars Chardonnay 2008 :: http://ping.fm/fXZzi

Galafrey Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2006 :: Super-easy-drinking... grassy, lemon & tropical fruit flavours... http://ping.fm/AVN25

Penny's Hill McLaren Vale Cabernet 2007 wine Australia :: http://ping.fm/gpqFU

ADELAIDE ASIAN FUSION WINE EXTRAVAGANZA :: http://ping.fm/nKY3g

Another hot and sticky afternoon in Sydney: it's about now that I usually start wishing we had a pool at Castle BoozeMonkey. And air-conditioning. Looks like I'll have to make do with few chilled whites over the weekend.

:: ASIAN FUSION NIGHT IN ADELAIDE

There are still a couple of tickets left for the Caught Redhanded Asian Fusion night at T-Chow in Adelaide this weekend, so if you're in the mood for a top feed and if you would like to try some of Phil Rogers' new release wines (as well as some old favourites) then call him NOW (0419 252 967): the new Shiraz alone is worth the ticket price!
Click here for the full menu and the winelist.

:: WIN A CHANCE TO WORK VINTAGE 2010 WITH KIRRIHILL

Many wine-lovers harbour a hidden dream of giving up their day-jobs and moving to one of Australia’s most picturesque wine regions to make a living hand-crafting stunning wines... what could be better than stomping your own grapes and helping make wine with one of the country's top winemakers? Well here's your chance! Kirrihill are running a competition to join them for vintage. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

:: NZ WINE ONLINE COMPETITION WINNER

A little late (my fault) but we can announce the winner of our NZ Wine Online competition: David Curran, come on down! Congratulations David, you win six bottles of New Zealand wine and we look forward to reading your reviews on the site when you have tried them. I would like to tell you what's in the box, but apparently it's a secret... surprise us!

:: THE FRIDAY CHUCKLE

Sandie sent me this earlier and now I know why I keep waking up with a headache. If you're a cat-lover, you'll love this.



Have a great weekend.

Cheers!

Matt

Asian Fusion wine extravaganza :: Work a vintage with Kirrihill :: NZ wine winner :: It's Friday! What's HOT?! http://ping.fm/TPEr6

wine Australia Tom Carson, King of the Yarra Valley Wine Show :: http://ping.fm/Vt6QN

wine Win a chance to join Kirrihill Wines for vintage! http://ping.fm/UoTfE

Santa dancing the Macarena? It's got to be BoozeMonkey... http://ping.fm/GvPIx

Blackenbrook Sauvignon Blanc 2009, NZ wine review :: http://ping.fm/9HUES

wine King of the Yarra Valley Wine Show :: http://ping.fm/8K0TW

Hi Monkeys,

Our illustrious leader or Alpha-Monkey as he likes to be called (…seriously, it is just creepy) has managed to damage himself in a bizarre accident he refuses to discuss when there are children around, so I have grabbed the throne and am penning this week’s Newsletter.
 
Ever since July, when the Xmas decorations started appearing in my local shopping centre, I’ve been thinking about what joys this year will bring... hot weather, odd relatives, and that person in the bad wig no-one really understands how he is even related and where he knows to go each year.

I admit to being one of the many people who suffer Xmas day through gritted teeth and eat all the good prawns before the guests arrive. At least I am home when they get there. A few years ago there was a perfect swell and time just got away from us... left my lunch guests milling around the front door for about 30 minutes before we rolled up with salty hair and surfboards. So, I have at least made the effort to turn up in subsequent years.

Anyway, every Xmas we do the family thing – everyone pretends to like each other, we all wear paper hats and feed bad stuff to the dog.
However, Boxing Day is a HUGE event. All our friends come over armed with leftovers, a bottle of good wine and an unholy urge to dance badly and sing Reggae.

Our tradition is to get everyone to create their perfect Boxing Day playlist – then we pull it together and each year we generate the Boxing Day Soundtrack – usually a random, bizarre and completely perfect musical summary of our group, our lives and where we are in the world.

So, BoozeMonkeys – it’s time to create the perfect Monkey Playlist – your selection of non-Christmas-Carolly tunes. What makes you sing at the top of your voice? Crack out the air-guitar or shake the booty? What is going to shake the tree on your Boxing Day?

We want you to tell us! And we want to share it with the monkey world!

:: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONKEY PAPA!
It never takes much to persuade us to stop work and start partying here at Castle BoozeMonkey, but today we have a particularly good reason to celebrate because Marc’s dad turns 60 today – Happy Birthday!!
We will open a bottle of something fantastic to toast you with tonight.

:: HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE How To Videos YET?
The Big Banana himself is looking for any excuse to get back in front of the camera so let us know what YOU want to see... we are happy to tackle any topic, so tell us what you would like to see next… (and yes, I have already suggested a paper bag).


Do you have a video? Send it to us and we’ll help spread the word.

:: MARKETING GROUP

Thanks to everyone who is participating in the Monkey Marketing Mojo Group – great feedback and I appreciate everyone’s energy and passion.

Let us know what topic you would like covered next – we can throw a blog together on popular topics, or if you are feeling shy and a little awkward, email just email me: sandie@boozemonkey.com


:: ASIAN FUSION WINE EXTRAVAGANZA
I don't know what you've got planned this weekend, but if you're anywhere near Adelaide you should seriously think about the Caught Redhanded Asian Fusion Night at T-Chow on Saturday night. 

Phil Rogers, the winemaker at Caught Redhanded, has put together a food and wine-pairing to drool over (full details of the menu and the wines here!) and amongst other things you will be treated to his 2008 Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc (which was recently scored 92pts by James Halliday), his silver-medal-winning 2007 McLaren Vale Shiraz, the new 2008 Shiraz (which hasn't even been bottled yet, but is already creating quite a stir) and one of our favourites, the Non-Vintage Fortified. 

Phil will be there too, to talk you through the wines and answer any questions, and it promises to be a night to remember. There are only a few tickets left, so don't miss out!

Well, that’s all from me. 

Have a fantastic week and I'll see you on BoozeMonkey!

Cheers!

BoozeMonkey Booze News :: a new format and everything wine http://ping.fm/SbRJ5

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." Steven Wright

ADELAIDE ASIAN FUSION WINE EXTRAVAGANZA :: Adelaide wine http://ping.fm/aroz2

wine Superb Shiraz! :: http://ping.fm/csFuS

Caught REDHANDED McLaren Vale Shiraz 2008 wine review :: http://ping.fm/cRU6d

Australian Wine Reviews :: Deep Woods Estate Ebony Cabernet Shiraz 2008 http://ping.fm/s9F62

Australian wine reviews :: McLaren Vale Wine - Olivers Taranga Vineyards http://ping.fm/OOuX2

Murdoch James Estate, New Zealand wine, Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2008 http://ping.fm/nn6EL

Woop Woop Verdelho 2009 wine : Ideal for a weekend BBQ or as a sundowner after a long day on the beach http://ping.fm/vCK81

wine Barwick Wines, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 http://ping.fm/Tx5iP

Fox Creek Wines, Shadow's run Sauvignon Blanc 2009 wine http://ping.fm/MPHOq

What wine to have with a thick oxtail stew (on the bone)? Any suggestions?

Celebrating the weekend early with some high-class Burgundies and special brew beers wine beer http://ping.fm/0p5nn

Burgundy and Beer :: Roscoe Halligan wine http://ping.fm/eEINK

What IS going on with this weather? Seriously... a few short years ago you could pretty much guarantee warm sunny weather all through Spring. But a couple of weeks ago it was miserable and rainy, then we had a sudden heat-wave and now we seemed to have hit another cool patch. Someone explain this global warming thing to me again because I'm just not getting it. Or is this the work of El Nino? Anyone?

Whatever it is, our grape-growers can't be having an easy time of it. It's good news in the UK though, where there are now apparently 400 vineyards, with new ones springing up at a rate of one a week. There are also (unconfirmed) reports that the French are buying up land on the South coast to migrate their vines to when the climate prevents them from making wine back home... some say as little as 10 years from now!

Anyway, with the weather running hot and cold as it is, I find I'm still craving winter food to keep me warm instead of hitting the salad as I usually do at this time of year. And so tonight we're having oxtail soup: not the flavourless gunk you find in a can, but the real deal -- a full ox tail, braised with onions, potatoes & carrots, then slow-cooked in beef stock for 5 hours till the meat is melting off the bone... good soup is a thing of the gods. The problem is, what to drink with it? Pinot Noir, maybe? I'm open to suggestion. Phil? Roscoe? Ryan? Don't let me down, guys.

At the end of every week we ask the same question :: IT'S FRIDAY! WHAT'S HOT?!

:: NZ WINE ONLINE COMPETITION

Six bottles of premium New Zealand wine are on offer in this week's competition which ends on Sunday: enter now before you forget! All you need to do is answer ONE question (yes, only ONE... mad, isn't it?) to get your name in the hat. You'd be crazy not to...

:: "HOW TO..." VIDEOS

With eleven videos under his belt and another one bubbling under the surface for this weekend ("wine reviews") Marc is positively enjoying his new-found fame. He's still waiting to mobbed Beatle-like in the street by screaming girls (don't hold your breath buddy) but comments from well-wishers about his twitch, his cone-shaped head and his speech impediment are keeping his spirits high.

Here is the list so far: let him know if you have any requests (and please, try to keep them clean).

:: BLOG OF THE WEEK

Blog of the week goes to Roscoe for Yarra Valley Legends: can you believe it's not even a year since the fires? I wonder how the Yarra Valley is faring now?

:: FRIDAY CHUCKLE

No jokes today, just a link to a phenomenal website: I discovered it today via one of our new members and it is almost as amazing as it is digusting. THIS IS WHY YOU'RE FAT is simply a collection of food photographs, but food which seems to have been designed with heart-attack in mind. I think my favourite has to be "Deep Fried Chocolate Cake"... ewww!

And with that in mind, I'm off to tend to my soup/stew.

Enjoy the weekend.

Cheers!

Matt
http://www.BoozeMonkey.com
Follow us on TWITTER!
BoozeMonkey Wine Review RSS Feed
BoozeMonkey Blog RSS Feed
BoozeMonkey Video RSS Feed

IT'S FRIDAY! WHAT'S HOT?! food "This is why you're FAT" - NZ wine competition - Yarra Valley Legends blog http://ping.fm/8teh8

Almost 12 months on from the devastating fires, Roscoe Halligan takes a look at some Yarra Valley Wine Legends http://ping.fm/MSeT0

St Hallett Wines Faith Shiraz 2007 Australian wine review http://ping.fm/C9gIS

Eleven "how to..." videos now on BoozeMonkey :: need your ideas for more :: wine video BoozeMonkey http://ping.fm/Fj1jS

video wine making friends on the BoozeMonkey social network :: http://ping.fm/EMgg4

Finding People And Wineries On BoozeMonkey :: The Wine Social Network http://ping.fm/ttEsQ

Just 3 days left to secure the chance-in-a-lifetime table at El Bulli with Jules foodie wine http://ping.fm/VEYqR

Yarra Valley Legends :: Roscoe Halligan http://ping.fm/p2GSK

NZ Wine Online is running a competition to win six bottles of top Kiwi wine :: it closes this weekend http://ping.fm/96mL3

Fox Creek wine video-tasting http://ping.fm/in48z

Tuesday's BoozeNews, hot off the press :: wine BoozeMonkey http://ping.fm/dF7mn

BoozeNews

A scorcher today. Beautiful! Time to break out the white and the rose at last...

:: NZ WINE ONLINE COMPETITION
Win six bottles of top New Zealand wine in this week's competition. Answering a single question (yes, just ONE) will guarantee your name goes in the hat, so what are you waiting for?!

:: "HOW TO..." VIDEOS
As I mentioned last week, on the right-hand side of the homepage (under the New Members section) there is a link to "BOOZEMONKEY 101 VIDEOS". BIG NOSE has been at it again (fortunately you don't need to look at his ugly mug this time, just listen to the incessant, irritating nasal whine of his voice) and he's recorded a couple more "HOW TO..." videos which will be uploaded later this afternoon. Please take a look... I'm the one who gets it in the neck if he doesn't get any hits.

:: CALLING ALL WINERIES!
Talking of videos, The Corkscrew Diary is a US film production company (and a good friend to BoozeMonkey) and they are aiming to travel to Oz and NZ next year to do a series of promotional films at "destination wineries", with a view to syndicating the programs and promoting Australian and and New Zealand wines throughout the USA. If you're interested (and I can't think why you wouldn't be: that's the sort of publicity to you'd sell your kids for... well, the spotty one with the greasy hair anyway...), you should contact Jeffry Gordon. I know he is keen to hear from anyone who wants in on the idea.

:: A TICKET TO EL BULLI
This is a great story which caught my eye: Jules Clancy is a Sydney girl who loves her food, and she was delighted when she managed to book a table at El Bulli, "the world's best restaurant". Apparently no-one complains that they call it that because everyone agrees that it's true. Anyway, Jules booked the table last year (they only take bookings on one day each year!) but just recently she split up with her boyfriend, and rather than let the once-in-a-lifetime El Bulli opportunity slip away, she's decided to run a competition-cum-blind-date for someone to join her. Which I think is VERY cool. And if I thought Mrs Monkey would still be here when I got back, I might throw my own hat in the ring (but she would leave me and take all the furniture too).

What do you think? Do you know any die-hard foodies who would tear off their right arm (and saute it with shallots and wild mushrooms) to win the chance to eat at El Bulli? I think it's a great idea.

Okay, that's me for today. As usual, I hope you all have a great week, and if you have the good fortune to snag a good bottle of wine, let us know in the wine reviews section.

Actually, (talking of good bottles of wine) we've just received a bottle of Caught Redhanded's new Rose in the mail, so that's going in the chiller for later: by all accounts it's a ripper, so I'm really looking forward to trying it. And I believe it's one of the wines which winemaker Phil Rogers will be showcasing at his Asian Fusion Wine Extravaganza on 21st November. Check out the Events listings for further details.

Cheers!

Matt
http://www.BoozeMonkey.com
Follow us on TWITTER!
BoozeMonkey Wine Review RSS Feed
BoozeMonkey Blog RSS Feed

Score a table at El Bulli : wine and foodie paradise. Free ticket... no bull! http://ping.fm/f9pxi

Adelaide Review Hot 100 Results Announced http://ping.fm/0aIER

Eden Springs High Eden Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Boozemonkey wine review http://ping.fm/M70e0

Booths Taminick Cellars Generations IV Shiraz 2008 http://ping.fm/m4q4c

Booths Taminick Cellars Merlot 2008 http://ping.fm/AfWwc

Booths Taminick Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 wine review http://ping.fm/SAtIB

subscribe to the BoozeMonkey RSS feed get all the latest wine reviews from Australia and NZ http://ping.fm/FkCsU

Mission Estate Reserve Syrah 2007 NZ wine review http://ping.fm/Pn589

Escarpment Vineyard Martinborough Pinot Gris 2007 NZ wine review :: http://ping.fm/X1xZb

Greystone Gewurztraminer 2008 Australian wine review :: stunning value, spices, aromatic http://ping.fm/IJajb

A Blind Date At El Bulli : your chance to dine at the world's best restaurant this December wine food http://ping.fm/ZyLx9

Old Arse French Vines wine http://ping.fm/ryi4n

McLaren Vale Asian fusion wine extravaganza :: tender duck and Pinot Noir 09 barrel samples. Quack! http://ping.fm/Vbpn3

2009 Milldale Viognier "this wine is sooo good I think I probably will not sell it" http://ping.fm/xqYbh

It's Friday! What's HOT?! on the BoozeMonkey wine social network http://ping.fm/oBOic

Battle of Bosworth Wines & Spring Seed Wine Company, McLaren Vale wine http://ping.fm/qdaYT

new BoozeMonkey "how to..." video wine http://ping.fm/cf4lm

Joining BoozeMonkey Wine Social Network http://ping.fm/q2n21

Booths Taminick Cellars 1919 Series Trebbiano 2008 wine review :: http://ping.fm/FqOcZ

#wine :: Booze News :: videos :: wine reviews :: http://ping.fm/XvpaG

I can't believe it's Wednesday afternoon already! Normally I'm looking forward to weekend about now, but I'm up to my eyes in work, my desk is piled high and there's no sign of things slowing down. I need a Girl Friday... any takers?

:: BIG NOSE IS BACK!
Our esteemed leader decided that it would be a good idea to do some video walk-throughs of the BoozeMonkey features to guide people through: the question we get asked most is "how do I...?" so it makes sense to show you rather than to write it down and ask you to follow the instructions. We're in the digital age, after all.

But with me working flat out on other things, he somehow got it into his head that he should have a crack at the videos himself. Fair play to him for trying of course, but if ever a bloke had a face for radio... and whoever stole his eyebrows, if you could just stuff them in an envelope and mail them back to him here at BoozeMonkey HQ, I know he would be grateful.

Anyway, you will notice on the right hand side of the homepage (under the New Members section) there is a link to "BOOZEMONKEY 101 VIDEOS". There's another link in the maroon bar at the top of the page too.

I'm told that more videos will follow later this week (oooh, the excitement!) but it would be great to get some feedback on the current ones (be blunt, he's got a thick skin). And if you have any ideas for NEW videos you would like to see, please let us know: you can leave comments here.

:: WINE SAMPLES FOR VIDEO REVIEWS
Talking of videos, we're working on video wine reviews with a Sommelier here in Sydney (you will meet him soon), so we're putting the call out to all our wineries for samples: if you would like us to review your wine then please forward your samples to:

BoozeMonkey HQ
21 Fallon Drive
Dural, NSW 2158

:: NZ WINE ONLINE COMPETITION
There's no competition this week, but I'm giving you a heads-up for next week because NZ Wine Online will be our competition sponsor. I will let you know the prize details next Tuesday, but if you take a look at their website, you will see that it's jam-packed with over 200 great Kiwi wines. I wouldn't mind winning some of that myself. Maybe they won't recognise me if I wear a hat...

Okay, that's all from me for today. I hope that you enjoy what's left of the week, and that you manage to squeeze some fun out of Thursday & Friday.

Cheers!

Matt
http://www.BoozeMonkey.com
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
BoozeMonkey Wine Review RSS Feed
BoozeMonkey Blog RSS Feed

BoozeMonkey Booze News wine http://ping.fm/cr6UL

Coriole cellar door wine-tasting video http://ping.fm/zEE1B

New School Chateau wine video http://ping.fm/mPBZK

Cataracts, specs and contacts :: http://ping.fm/h7MZf

Excited to discover BoozeMonkey is now ranked PR5 by Google PageRank wine socialnetwork http://ping.fm/LfbDb

Lonely Grape TV :: BoozeMonkey wine-tasting video http://ping.fm/niqtM

Marschall Groom Barossa Valley Shiraz 2007 Australia wine http://ping.fm/NqCyJ

Champas, The Serious Stuff :-) wine BoozeMonkey http://ping.fm/ZkgOL

McLaren Vale Wines - Genders McLaren Park http://ping.fm/I5Alt

Booze News :: for anyone who missed the BoozeMonkey wine update yesterday http://ping.fm/iKbpe

RSS feed for BM wine blogs :: http://ping.fm/G1bcx

Booze News :: It's Friday! What's Hot?!

Hah! I should have kept my mouth shut last week. All that talk of "fantastic weather" and "aren't you jealous?" must have jinxed it, because by the time Sunday came around (when I was planning to hit the beach) it was raining and we were back to winter temperatures again. That'll teach me!

At the end of every week we ask the same question :: It's Friday! What's Hot?!

:: THE PELICAN'S LANDING COMPETITION WINNER IS HOT!
Alex was the winner of our Pelican's Landing Maritime Wines competition last week. Congratulations Alex! Your prize is on its way and we look forward to reading your reviews on the site when you have had the chance to sample your Pelicans.

:: TOAST TO THE COAST IS HOT!
Please don't forget that the Toast To The Coast wine and food festival is on in Geelong this weekend, so if you're in the area, make sure you drop in to sample some great wine. Turn up early, pace yourself and make a day of it!

:: OUR ADVERTISERS ARE HOT!
We love our advertisers because they're the ones helping to keep BoozeMonkey afloat till we win the lotto. So please show them some love and click on the banners dotted around the site when one catches your eye:

New Zealand Wine Online
Pelican's Landing Maritime Wines
Toast To The Coast
Wine Maps
Jamabro
Caught Redhanded
The Essential Wine-Tasting Guide

:: RSS FEEDS ARE HOT
If you want to be kept up with all the latest news from BoozeMonkey, we have set up two RSS feeds for you to subscribe to: one for Blogs, and the other for Wine Reviews. That means YOUR blogs and YOUR wine reviews will enter the feed too, so get writing!

BoozeMonkey Wine Review RSS Feed
BoozeMonkey Blog RSS Feed

:: THE FRIDAY CHUCKLE
This week we've got a blonde joke, but in the interests of fairness, please feel free to change "blonde" to any particular nationality or stereotype which takes your fancy: fat people, thin people, mothers-in-law, rednecks... let's discriminate fairly, okay?

Three blondes were out for a walk when one of them stopped and called the others over.

"Look!" she said excitedly, "DEER tracks..."

The second blonde looked at the tracks and said, "No, those are MOOSE tracks!"

But the third blonde disagreed: "You're both wrong, those are ELK tracks!"

The three women were still arguing when the train hit them.


Okay, that's all from me. Enjoy the Halloween weekend, and please leave your comments here, even if you just want to verbally abuse me for the hideous joke... I'm a big boy, I can take it.

And while you're at it, why not leave your own Friday Chuckle? What's the funniest joke you've heard all week?

Cheers!

Matt
http://www.BoozeMonkey.com
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
BoozeMonkey Wine Review RSS Feed
BoozeMonkey Blog RSS Feed

Booze News :: It's Friday! What's Hot?! :: wine BoozeMonkey http://ping.fm/6XVvE

Taminick Durif 2006 wine review : a dark-alley mugger of a wine. Pair with spit roast grizzly bear http://ping.fm/gpFyV

Bodacious Bordeaux Wine Slide Show :: http://ping.fm/YNMtx

Hey! Can I get some cheeky BoozeMonkey wine love? http://ping.fm/9GZYx

Moorooroo Park Vineyards Lotties Shiraz 2004 :: BoozeMonkey wine review http://ping.fm/bnXjz

Henry's Drive "The Trial of John Montford" Cabernet Sauvignon 2006: these guys don't know how to make bad wine. http://ping.fm/XZGsN

Fresh Spring Whites from France, Italy and Australia video wine-tasting http://ping.fm/PcTHj

set up an RSS feed for wine reviews :: FIGJAM http://ping.fm/ETpaz

Backyard BBQ :: new wine-tasting video on BoozeMonkey wine http://ping.fm/lhd4p

BoozeMonkey | Australian Wine Social Network | New Zealand Wine Community | Online Wine Reviews | Wine Tasting | Competitions | Blogs | Videos | Groups | Events ( http://ping.fm/sJQjw )

Recording a series of videos for BoozeMonkey today :: http://ping.fm/AVahC

I don't want to risk upsetting our European, Canadian and American friends, but I can't help gloating a bit as your clocks go forward and the nights draw in and get colder... we've had temperatures in the 30s this week and it's still only spring. Gotta love Oz!

At the end of every week we ask the same question :: It's Friday! What's Hot?!

:: THE PELICAN'S LANDING COMPETITION IS HOT!
Last chance to grab a fistful of Pelicans... the Pelican's Landing Maritime Wines competition closes at midnight on Sunday.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER and win their full range of wines by answering just three easy questions.

:: BLUE TONGUES ARE HOT!
I mention blue tongues from time to time, and whenever I do I always get asked what they are by our non-Aussie members.

So here's a photograph of a couple of babies nestling in a cardboard tube. Aren't they beautiful? I love 'em!

:: THE FRIDAY CHUCKLE
We got lots of comments about the Panda video we posted last week, so today we have a new one for you. This is Nat, a Sydney student who has turned herself into something of a phenomenon on YouTube, and it's easy to see why.

Today she's a large dancing monkey :: I think I'm in love...

My only gripe is that apparently she doesn't drink. What, not even Moscato? Sorry Nat, it would never work between us...

Going back to gloating again, I think we'll head off to the beach this weekend: Palm Beach (about an hour out of Sydney) is a beautiful spot and is never crowded. What are your plans for the weekend? Maybe we'll see you there?

Leave your comments here... no, seriously, leave a comment. One day somebody will if I bang on about it long enough. Maybe.

Cheers!

Matt
http://www.BoozeMonkey.com
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!

Okay, NOW it's starting to feel like spring is here! Bright, sunny mornings, cockatoos squawking in the trees, lizards scuttling into the undergrowth and perched on every wall... seriously, who would want to live anywhere else?!

IT'S THE BOOZEMONKEY WEEKLY UPDATE :: WHAT'S THE BOOZE NEWS?

:: PELICAN'S LANDING MARITIME WINES COMPETITION
This week's competition is sponsored by Pelican's Landing Maritime Wines. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS of how to win a bottle of each of the four different varieites they produce.

:: BOOZEMONKEY VIDEO COMPETITION WINNER
Well, it was a slow start, but our video competition was a success in the end. We enjoyed watching your entries (well, MOST of them...). And our winner is...

:: BOOZEMONKEY WINE REVIEWS
Our wine reviewers have been busy recently, with over 25 new wines reviewed in the past week alone. Get in on the action: reviewing your favourite wine is really easy and your review will sit up there alongside the pros. CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED!

:: FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
If you use Twitter, please don't forget that you can LINK YOUR BOOZEMONKEY PROFILE TO YOUR TWITTER ACCOUNT. Your friends will appear on your BoozeMonkey profile and you can follow the whole twitting world from the comfort of your BoozeMonkey armchair.

That's all from me for today. Have a great week and enjoy the sunshine.

Cheers!

Matt
Australian Wine on BoozeMonkey

PS -- please feel free to leave your comments here.
PPS -- FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!

The end of another week: I don't know about you but I NEED this weekend. Why is it some weeks just start out busy and never stop?

It's Friday! What's Hot?!

:: THE BOOZEMONKEY VIDEO COMPETITION IS HOT!
It seems that our Monkey brethren are a little camera shy... as of Friday afternoon we have had NO entries for our video competition. Zip. Zilch. Nada. None. Shall I lower the bar for you? Make it a bit easier? How about this... a video wine review? Open a bottle of wine, switch the camera on, taste it and tell us what you think. It couldn't be easier. We've got a signed copy of Matt Skinner's "The Juice 2009" for the winner.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS <<< .

:: A THIRD GALAFREY GENERATION IS HOT!
Without a doubt, my favourite news of the week is that top Mt Barker winery Galafrey is due to see the arrival of a third generation of winemakers this summer. Ian Tyrer founded the winery with wife Linda in 1977, their daughter Kim came into the business in 2003 and now Kim has a pud in the oven. Congratulations Kim! I'm already drawing up a winelist to celebrate.

:: THE FRIDAY CHUCKLE
Today's Friday Chuckle isn't a joke, it's a video. You may have seen this one before, but if not, it's a screamer: Panda Sneeze.

I hope you all have a great weekend, and wherever you are, I hope the sun is shining on you.

Cheers!

Matt

PS -- please feel free to leave any comments here.

Well, this is a big day in the Monkey family calendar: our son became a teenager today. Happy Birthday, Myles! If that's not cause for celebration, I don't know what is. It's amazing to think that it's 13 years ago to the day since that mad dash to the hospital in our old beat-up Ford... red lights and road signs didn't exist that day, and I think we were pretty close to breaking the sound barrier as I rounded the last corner. 1996... the time has really flown by. And he didn't cry when popped out and opened his eyes for the first time: he just scowled and looked a bit confused. And that's pretty much the way it's been ever since.

So we'll be breaking out the bubbly this evening, celebrating with a nice dinner and rounding it off with a good bottle of fortified: a Caught Redhanded if we could lay our hands on a bottle, but that stuff is rare as hen's teeth so we'll have to find a substitute... any good suggestions? Please leave them here.

:: TOAST TO THE COAST COMPETITION
Our competition this week is sponsored by Toast To The Coast, Geelong's Wine and Food Festival which takes place over the Melbourne Cup Long Weekend at the end of this month. We have 10 double tickets to give away and winning couldn't be easier: CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

:: VW MAPS COMPETITION WINNERS
Congratulations to our VW MAPS Competition winners: Phil, Jules, Alex, Margie and KangaRue. We had an extra winner too -- Cleo scored herself a prize for suggesting that the next map should cover "the state of inebriation, because many people have been lost there."

:: COOBARA WINE WINNER
Congratulations also to our Coobara Wine competition winner, Kate Writer from Rutherford. Not only did Kate come up with the correct answer (a blue wren), but she impressed the judges by doing her homework and pointing out that there are many different types of Blue Wrens and that the label features the Superb Blue Wren. She also mentioned that the first Coobara Cab/Merlot release in 2004 featured the Diamond Tail Finch. Excellent work, Kate. And well won. We hope you enjoy your prize.

:: SOPHIA SPAM MESSAGE
Thanks to everyone who reported the message they received at the weekend from "SOPHIA": as you rightly pointed out, it was a spam message and you were right to just ignore it. We do our best to make sure you receive as few of these messages as possible (and more often than not, we manage to identify the spammer accounts within half an hour of being set up and delete them) but inevitably some of them will get through from time to time. Because the spammers are persistent.

Unsolicited messages are irritating, but please be aware that they are not a threat to you. If you are interested in finding out more, there is plenty of information on the internet about these kinds of spam messages if you care to search for it, but as a basic rule whether it is "I am a lonely, pretty girl looking for love" or "you have won $10 zillion in the Zimbabwe national lottery", it's a scam from a gang working out of the Ivory Coast.

We know you're not the type to be taken in by this sort of thing of course, but you would be amazed how many people fall for it every day. So if you get an offer which sounds too good to be true, just delete it, pour yourself another glass of Shiraz and thank your lucky stars you have more sense than the average Joe.

:: BEER ON BOOZEMONKEY
We love wine of course, but we love variety too, and Roscoe pointed out recently that life wouldn't be the same without good beer. So we set up a new area on the forum for BEER ON BOOZEMONKEY. If you love suds, check it out! And if you have any suggestions for other things you would like to see ANYWHERE on the site, just let us know -- BoozeMonkey is YOUR website, and you can help us by telling us how you want to see it develop.

:: WINE QUESTIONS
Just a quick reminder that our winemakers are keen to answer your wine questions and all you need to do is ask... CLICK HERE and check out our experts.

That's all for today folks. I have a birthday dinner to prepare so I'm taking the rest of the afternoon off and working up a storm in the kitchen.

Have a great week.

Cheers!

Matt
http://www.BoozeMonkey.com

PS -- please feel free to leave any comments here.

BoozeMonkey Weekly (29th September 2009)

Remember I told you I was going away for the weekend? Abseiling, rock-climbing, mountain biking... I suppose I should have known better, but THANKS for not warning me that I would be in serious pain after all that. Does no-one care? Joan, I thought you might have said something... When I woke up on Monday morning and had pain in places I'd only read about in books. Have you tried jumping backwards off a cliff recently and dangling by your nether regions till you hit terra firma? And apparently some people do this for fun...

I have to admit I enjoyed it though (well, before the spasms kicked in) and on the Saturday night we all had a few drinks and told lots of stories round the fire (because it was cold up in the mountains). Only one thing marred the evening, and that was a particularly militant god-botherer who made it his business to convert me to his particular brand of "thrash me with nettles and chains, I'm a sinner" bible-bashing. Clearly religion and alcohol don't mix (well, not in his case anyway) and I after an hour of his fire and brimstone and "what is written in a man's heart?" I can well understand why so many missionaries were eaten by cannibals... maybe it was the only way they could get them to shut up.

But I digress. What have we got for you this week?

:: THE VW MAPS COMPETITION
Maps? What's that got to do with wine? WINE COUNTRY MAPS!! vW Maps make maps of wine country and they are offering five lucky winners the chance to wine one of their fantastic maps covering Tasmania or Victoria. Click here to link to the competition page.

:: THE ZEMA WINE COMPETITION WINNER
Congratulations to Kristy Annetts from Nunawading, the winner of our Zema wine competition! Kirsty is the lucky winner of six bottles of Zema red which the hard-working BoozeMonkey staff haven't even sampled yet (hint hint Zema!). We know you will enjoy them and we hope you will review them on the site when you have tried them. Cheers!

:: WINEMAKERS -- STICKIES AND BUBBLES
We've had quite a few requests for reviews of stickies and fizz recently, so if any of our illustrious wine-makers are interested, we will be doing some comparative tastings soon. You know where to send samples if you would like us to review your wines on the site (and if you don't, you can ask). And as always, everything that comes through the door will find its way onto the pages of BoozeMonkey, guaranteed.

Short and sweet this week, Monkeys. Just like my missus.

Enjoy the lead-up to October... I know, it catches up with you, doesn't it?

Cheers!

Matt

BOOZEMONKEY :: FOR THE VERY BEST IN AUSTRALIAN WINE!

IT'S FRIDAY! WHAT'S HOT?!

Friday again! Another one bites the dust.

At the end of every week we ask the same question: IT'S FRIDAY! WHAT'S HOT?!

:: THE ZEMA ESTATE WINE COMPETITION IS HOT!
Zema EstateLast chance... don't say I didn't warn you. This is by far the easiest competition we've ever had, and you'll kick yourself if you miss out (or I might send someone round to do it for you). Coonawarra winemaker Zema Estate is offering a mixed case of some of their lovely reds and you only need to answer ONE QUESTION to be in the running... ONE QUESTION! You'd be NUTS not to enter: here's the link to the competition page.

:: BRIGHT ORANGE SYDNEY WAS HOT!
orangeIf you weren't here to witness it first hand, you missed the closest thing to the red weed from War Of The Worlds descending on Sydney earlier this week. Here are a few pictures. It was quite remarkable, but by lunchtime it was all over and we could see blue skies again. Fun while it lasted though...

:: ASK THE EXPERTS IS HOT!
We've had some great questions on the ASK THE EXPERTS forum, and some great answers too... who knew that putting bubbles in sparkling wine was so complicated? I certainly didn't. And what about the difference between French and American oak? Check out the forum post, then bore thrill your friends with your superior wine knowledge at the weekend BBQ. I certainly intend to...

:: THE VALE CRU EVENT WAS HOT!
altThe Vale Cru event at Sellicks Hill was apparently a raging success, so no doubt it will become a regular fixture from now on. If anyone has photographs, why not post some here on BoozeMonkey so we can pretend we were there with you? Don't leave us out in the cold, McLaren Vale or we won't love you no more (though we may still sneak a few bottles of your gorgeous wine when you're not looking).


Well, that's all from me for this week. I'm off to Port Hacking for a bit of outward-bound R&R : some climbing, a bit of mountain biking, maybe some canoeing... I don't want to tempt fate by taking my guitar in case I come across a toothless kid playng the banjo... we all know how badly that ends. And anyway, I don't look anything like Burt .

Have a great weekend, whatever you're up to.

Cheers!

Matt

BOOZEMONKEY :: FOR THE VERY BEST IN AUSTRALIAN WINE