Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Australian winemaker has the guts to ask "How Do We Dig Our Wine Industry Out Of The Mire?" http://ping.fm/IYHah
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wine Australia is letting Australian wine down: lots of unhappy winemakers. What's your view? Add your comment: http://ping.fm/0uNpA
If Wine Australia sucked any harder, it would be standing on a street corner wearing a leather mini... ouch http://ping.fm/P9pH2
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Heaps of wine news and press releases from Aussie winemakers but nothing from NZ : nothing to say? http://bit.ly/dmvnfT
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wine Making in Bulgaria :: Natural Yeasts by Tim Mortimer at Black Stump Wines down Adelaide way http://ping.fm/PnXwK
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
whisky made from pensioners urine... no, I'm not taking the piss, this is legit http://ping.fm/eke4z
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Kirrihill Wines, Barton Springs Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009 wine review http://ping.fm/qXuQS
Ballandean Estate Wines, Ballandean Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2009 wine review http://ping.fm/OKm16
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Kirrihill Wines, Adelaide Hills Single Vineyard Series Pinot Noir Rose Brut 2008 wine review http://ping.fm/5vuAe
Monday, August 30, 2010
CHINESE WINE PIRATES: Not content with pirating Hollywood blockbusters, designer handbags and iPhones... http://ping.fm/uNwVQ
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
McLaren Vale wine-maker Michael Petrucci, Sabella Vineyards :: In The BoozeMonkey Spotlight http://ping.fm/ZVwN4
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
In The Spotlight :: Gareth Trickey, Warrumbungle Wines, makers of BLOWFLY and BLUEBOTTLE http://ping.fm/y2KrB
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
BoozeMonkey wine reviews averaging 200 hits each :: tasted any good wines recently? http://ping.fm/QPEgb
Friday, August 13, 2010
Broke Estate Shiraz 2003 wine review "a sexy wine... loving handcrafted... magic...†http://ping.fm/so6Bg
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Chain of Ponds, Sunning Hill Sangiovese 2008
“A great value for money example of Australian Sangiovese!†http://ping.fm/UodBf
“A great value for money example of Australian Sangiovese!†http://ping.fm/UodBf
Saturday, August 7, 2010
McLaren Vale Wines - Sabella Vineyards (one of our favourite Shiraz producers...) :: http://ping.fm/14xAy
Friday, August 6, 2010
fantastic feedback on our new Spotlight feature to introduce winemakers :: let me know if you want to be next http://ping.fm/ylOFC
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Blackenbrook Vineyard and Winery 100% Sustainable http://www.boozemonkey.com/blog.php?user=blackenbrook&blogentry_id=960
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
the suggestion that 50% of Australian wine brands need to be trashed still causing irritation among winemakers http://www.boozemonkey.com/blog.php?user=Matt&blogentry_id=829
Monday, August 2, 2010
Rymill Coonawarra, MC2 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc 2006 wine review http://ping.fm/UfMXo
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Philip White pulling no punches on samey wines, James Halliday and new grape varieties http://bit.ly/bxj5n8
Monday, July 26, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Molly Morgan Semillon 2009 wine review :: "a potential Hunter classic in the making" :: http://ping.fm/dljSL
Belgravia The Apex Chardonnay 2009 wine review :: all hail the return of cool climate chardy! http://ping.fm/3CTHH
Ballandean Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2009 wine review :: "tropical and crisp" http://ping.fm/6ASTG
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Kinloch 2010 Unwooded Chardonnay 2009 wine review :: "creamy, nutty, stone fruit & underpriced" http://ping.fm/F2VbF
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Cumulus Wines, Climbing Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
“Top quality Cabernet from NSW†wine review http://ping.fm/HN35N
“Top quality Cabernet from NSW†wine review http://ping.fm/HN35N
WORLD CLASS CHARDONNAY! Shelmerdine, PHI Lusatia Park Vineyard Chardonnay 2008 wine review http://ping.fm/g0A5A
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Pinot Meunier (aka Black Riesling) : one of the three classic French varieties used to make champagne. http://ping.fm/bAKNW
Pinot Meunier (aka Black Riesling) : one of the three classic French varieties used to make champagne. http://ping.fm/KFNUm
Thursday, July 15, 2010
De Bortoli Hunter Valley Winery, Vat 7 Chardonnay 2009 wine review on BoozeMonkey http://ping.fm/d56ER
Schubert Estate going wild with the wine reviews tonight :: sore heads in the morning? http://ping.fm/qm91F
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Cask wine or a bottle? Champagne flute, beaker or an old chipped cup? Does it make a difference? http://ping.fm/4AqGc
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Aussie blokes shoot each other "to see if it hurts" :: imagine my surprise to learn that beer was involved! http://ping.fm/n1U19
"life extending substance found in wine" :: make your mind up, boffins! Is wine good for us or not? http://ping.fm/QUG4a
should Aussie winemakers be forced to "dry grow" their vines to fix the cheap wine glut problem? http://ping.fm/t0naF
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Allandale Winery, McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004 wine review :: another good drop from Adelaide way http://ping.fm/Ae478
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
why does Australia boast some of the world’s oldest grape vines? :: tasty wine facts :: http://ping.fm/na4FH
Ever wondered why they plant roses at the end of each row in the vineyard? wine facts http://ping.fm/QqJPO
Sparkling Rhiannon Pinot Noir Chardonnay Viognier :: always nice to know the story behind the name http://ping.fm/dqGFy
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A Soundtrack To Sip To :: free wine-inspired album from Grammy award-winner Mark Isham http://ping.fm/lgrpM
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Flying Fish Cove, Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2008
“Grab and Guzzle - you wont be disappointed!†http://ping.fm/mLSv7
“Grab and Guzzle - you wont be disappointed!†http://ping.fm/mLSv7
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Kinloch Wines releasing 2010 vintages of Unwooded Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc http://ping.fm/pPS4k
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
McLaren Vale winemaker enters the Deaf CanDo Amazing Race :: PLS lend them your support! http://ping.fm/OeE3N
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Better known for his reds, but Ben Riggs makes some amazing whites too :: excellent australian chardonnay http://ping.fm/1yzk1
The Black Chooks in The Deaf CanDo Amazing Race Corporate Challenge -- GIVE THEM YOUR SUPPORT! http://ping.fm/Gw2Sp
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
how can small wine-makers compete with the big players? marketing boutique wineries :: http://ping.fm/RLebl
more comments on the proposed 50% reduction in Australian wine brands http://www.boozemonkey.com/blog.php?user=Matt&blogentry_id=829
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
superb McLaren Vale wine :: Caught REDHANDED, Pinot Gris Sauvignon Blanc 2008 :: http://ping.fm/D2cXU
Monday, May 24, 2010
Martinborough Vineyard Estates just received a Gold at the London International Wine Competition http://ping.fm/Bvro6
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Tom Harvey at Chalk Hill Wines giving us the low-down on yeast :: can't make alcohol without it... http://ping.fm/fLa3q
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Chalk Hill Wines 2008 Barbera has won a silver medal at the 2010 Decanter World Wine awards... YAY! http://ping.fm/En9Jw
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The making of "2 Mates" wine :: final blog entry AND your chance to win a magnum :: http://ping.fm/iw0j4
Monday, May 17, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
ENOUGH DOOM AND GLOOM :: we're looking for POSITIVE WINE INDUSTRY STORIES :: any takers? http://ping.fm/tb1GM
wine review De Bortoli Hunter Valley Winery, The Abbey (Tarrawarra) Pinot Noir 2008 http://ping.fm/V07bB
Friday, May 14, 2010
one of my favourite wines :: Caught RedHanded McLaren Vale Shiraz 2008 :: simply stunning! http://ping.fm/Juo9W
always nice to see the Monkey on top at Alawine :: thanks for your support wine-lovers! http://ping.fm/BrHko
Thursday, May 13, 2010
"Producing Our First Wine Was Like Winning A Grand Final" :: 2 Mates on BoozeMonkey :: http://ping.fm/CaAQk
A half-naked man crushing grapes with his bare feet? It's got to be BoozeMonkey... http://ping.fm/jvqN5
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Support coming in for UK wine community: over 50 people backing us now. We need your vote! http://ping.fm/UTUg9
Monday, May 10, 2010
boosting the UK wine industry and sticking it to the French... gotta love BoozeMonkey! http://ping.fm/JYMwu
please vote for our TAKE ONE SMALL STEP application to help promote English wine :: http://ping.fm/nprPw
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
angry winemakers say government incentives are to blame for Australian wine glut http://ping.fm/yaDwz
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Aussie Wine Industry Must LOSE 50% Of Brands! http://www.boozemonkey.com/blog.php?user=Matt&blogentry_id=829
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Barclays competiton :: we've got 17 votes so far :: would love to break 20 today :: PLEASE VOTE MONKEY! http://ping.fm/3qyTW
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
need your help to put UK wine on the map (no, seriously...) :: BACK THIS IDEA (top right corner) http://ping.fm/OAz4a
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
We've already got a dozen people supporting our bid to put UK wine on the map and WE NEED YOUR VOTE :: http://ping.fm/cLR93
Monday, April 19, 2010
BoozeMonkey Wine Community needs your help to win a business competition :: pretty please... http://ping.fm/c1Yrr
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
two great Aussie wines from McLaren Vale in this video wine review by The Toasted Hostess http://ping.fm/9byK4
Monday, April 12, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Quick update :: the first part of the Wine For Haiti auction raised almost $20,000! Pt2 coming soon... http://ping.fm/hh6fI
Working on getting the Monkey back to full strength :: shifting servers is no fun. wine helps though :D http://tinyurl.com/yjqjl6u
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
"Mosel Spatlese: like having sex with a porn star on satin sheets while your wife is out of town..." wine http://ping.fm/gnMle
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Sydney Booze Cruise :: a $7m yacht and more great wine than you can shake a stick at http://ping.fm/Clvyu
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Moorooduc Estate have just donated $750-worth of wine to the Haiti wine auction! You can help too: http://ping.fm/5subl
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
FAKE CHARITY EMAILS :: proof that there is no God, or there would be a hell of a lot more SMITING going on http://ping.fm/a3rMy
Sunday, February 14, 2010
People Dying In Haiti -- Australian Media's Shame
As you know, Sandie, Ross and myself have been working hard to promote the wine auction since news of the earthquake broke last month. The response from the winemakers and from many others in the wine industry has been amazing. Humbling, in fact.However, getting publicity for the WINE FOR HAITI auction in newspapers, magazines, radio and TV has proved very difficult over the past few weeks, even for the professional PR companies who have been helping us.
The problem, we're told, is that "HAITI JUST ISN'T NEWS ANY MORE..."
I think the poor bastards who are now living in tent cities with no food, no water and no sanitation would beg to differ: it's been just four weeks since their lives were decimated, and already they have been consigned to the "no story" pile. I don't know about you, but frankly, that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth...
And classing the disaster as "over" is really turning a blind eye to the horror which is to come.
The earthquake itself was bad enough, but I can promise you that the impending disaster -- the disease, disability and blindness which will spread and become rife through lack of sanitation when the rains come and they're wading knee-deep in a toxic "soup" because there's no sewerage system -- that disaster and the effects it will have on the lives of tens of thousands more people over the coming months (many of them children) is something which they will be dealing with for many years to come.
A million and a half people have been made homeless. And now they're living cheek by jowl under tarpaulins and bits of corrugated iron: precious little food, no running water and not toilet between them. Can you imagine?
And can you imagine how disgusted I am to be informed by news editors (who will remain nameless) that this is a NON-STORY? One of these DOGS even had the temerity to tell me that his BIG STORY for the week was "Sydney bus fares" and that's why he couldn't spare any room on any of his six pages of editorial space. I'm just glad we were talking on the phone and not in the same room -- I don't think I would enjoy prison food.
What's interesting is that the Haiti disaster is still news in the USA (where our friends at PalatePress have had stories published in national daily newspapers and had segments on major radio stations).
It's still news in the UK too.
So why not Australia?
Even the professional charity organisations like the Red Cross and World Vision are having to admit defeat when it comes to getting publicity for the cause and one of their representatives told me that they have given up promoting the Haiti disaster here because they just cannot get anywhere with the press.
But it's not that people don't care -- clearly we do! The response from our winemakers in donating wine to the cause has been nothing short of phenomenal. So what's the deal with the embargo on Haiti news? Personally, I don't think our press have their finger on the pulse if they think we don't care about Haiti. And I'm not keen to have my news dictated to me by news editors who think that the price of local bus fares is more important than people's lives.
Right now we have $65,000-worth of of premium wine in our Sydney warehouse, and try as we might, we just CANNOT get the word out. We've been doing our best -- working 14-hour days to make the auction a success -- but I have to admit that we're struggling.
That's not an admission of defeat, mind you -- we're still kicking and screaming and doing everything we can to tell people about it -- but we need as much help as we can get.
But what can we do about it? What can we try that hasn't already been tried?
Well, you could call your local newspaper for one thing. We have sent numerous press releases and made a lot of phone calls, but we're not prepared to take "no" for an answer.
Another thing you could try is TALK BACK RADIO: phone your local station and tell them about the auction. Or just encourage people to donate to the Red Cross or to World Vision.
It's easy to forget about disasters. It's easy to ignore them.
But we're better than that. Aren't we? We do care. Don't we?
The one thing which has worked best for us in getting the word out so far? The shining light? YOU GUYS! Our faithful monkeys. Where would we be without you? Your support has been overwhelming!
Here is a list of some of the websites who are displaying a WINE FOR HAITI BANNER like the one at the top of this blog (GET YOURS HERE!) to help spread the word:
- JESTER HILL WINES
- LONELY GRAPE
- OLIVER HILL
- WINE COMPANION
- WINE INDUSTRY JOBS
- WINE INDUSTRY CLASSIFIEDS
- EMPIRE AUCTIONS
- MILLDALE ESTATE
- WINDOWS ESTATE
- GLAM ADELAIDE
- NEAGLES ROCK
- PALATE PRESS
- WINELIBRARY TV
- ZOQY.NET
Cheers!
Matt
Saturday, February 13, 2010
CAN YOUR BELIEVE THAT HAITI ISN'T NEWS ANY MORE? THE AUSTRALIAN PRESS ARE DOGS! WineForHaiti wine http://ping.fm/uqvxk
Thursday, February 11, 2010
James Halliday supports BoozeMonkey's $100k Wine For Haiti appeal wine WineForHaiti http://ping.fm/Speir
Kirrihill Wines, Barton Springs Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009 wine review :: http://ping.fm/sIUFu
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Australian wine review :: Barristers Block Premium Wines, Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 http://ping.fm/ulLOG
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
What's in your glass this evening? Bubbles? Pinot? Shiraz? Riesling? Come and review it on BoozeMonkey http://ping.fm/srn54
signed 2004 Penfolds Grange magnum, less than half price right now at the WineForHaiti Auction http://ping.fm/WKHU5
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
hoping someone will go balls-out for a magnum of 2004 Grange signed by Peter Gago... http://ping.fm/XBCuW
Peter Gago donates a SIGNED magnum of 2004 Penfolds Grange to the WineForHaiti appeal :: get on board! http://ping.fm/iHgDP
Saturday, January 30, 2010
we're all over the WineForHaiti wine auction :: you won't find a tastier way to save lives http://ping.fm/j9Hfs
Friday, January 29, 2010
LOVE AN AUSSIE DROP? Rare and impossible-to-find wines at the WineForHaiti wine auction :: http://ping.fm/aQ2rV
The Toasted Hostess on WineForHaiti :: rare and impossible-to-find wine up for auction http://ping.fm/lTXnu
Would you take a look at some of the generous Aussie wine donations for the WineForHaiti auction?! http://tinyURL.com/WineForHaitiAuction
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Join Shane Barker trying 2 Nebbiolo wines from a micro producer in McLaren Vale wine video http://ping.fm/mis28
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
More great wine donations to the WineForHaiti auction today -- check it out http://tinyURL.com/WineForHaiti
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Aussie winemakers receive MEDALS FOR OUTSTANDING GENEROSITY on BoozeMonkey wine network :: http://tinyURL.com/WineForHaiti
Aussie winemakers receiving MEDALS FOR OUTSTANDING GENEROSITY on BoozeMonkey wine network :: http://tinyURL.com/WineForHaiti
Monday, January 25, 2010
fine wine donations flooding in to WineForHaiti charity auction, even on Australia Day :: http://ping.fm/hDNxQ
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
"getting free booze from reps is like prying a half eaten furry animal from the jaws of a salivating rottweiler" http://ping.fm/D0ru0
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
need to plug WineForHaiti on Aussie TV to raise $100k for disaster relief http://bit.ly/6sXDZG <<< can you help?
More fantastic donations to the WineForHaiti appeal from Olsen, Glaetzer and Beckett's Flat http://ping.fm/6kvgu
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
over 1000 hits on the WINE FOR HAITI blog and over $10k in donations :: PLEASE GET INVOLVED http://ping.fm/6VM83
How can I get WINE FOR HAITI on TV? People are dying and we can save lives. PLS HELP! http://ping.fm/51JtP
Trying to persuade @GaryVee to shout about WineForHaiti :: raising funds for the Haiti relief effort. PLS HELP! http://ping.fm/H3oEX
Monday, January 18, 2010
thousands of dollars-worth of wine being donated to WineForHaiti charity auction for Haiti :: http://ping.fm/uga0T
NEED YOUR HELP! Please support Wine For Haiti disaster relief :: post a banner on your blog http://ping.fm/hjPS2
Wine for Haiti banner ads :: please support fund-raising efforts by posting one on your website or blog http://ping.fm/akosC
Sunday, January 17, 2010
WINE FOR HAITI :: Twitter it, Digg it, Stumble it, Mixx it -- please just get involved :: http://tinyurl.com/yeo6o54
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Aussie wine makers raising funds for Haiti :: PLEASE get involved and please RT http://ping.fm/br1Ke
Kirrihill Wines, Adelaide Hills Single Vineyard Series Pinot Noir Rosé Brut 2008 http://ping.fm/EbxdL
Beautifully sweet dessert wine with jammy apricot, marmalade, gooseberries and stewed rhubarb flavours. http://ping.fm/KhCci
“Light, dry, fruity bubbles. Cherry, strawberry and raspberry flavours with a hint of almond essence.” http://ping.fm/HouVU
“Don't bother with dessert, just sit down with a bottle of Sticky End Viognier and two glasses.” http://ping.fm/vkFme
Friday, January 15, 2010
Australian Wine Review :: Pirramimma Wines, McLAREN VALE TANNAT 2004 :: find it here >> http://ping.fm/bVhDT
Thursday, January 14, 2010
BoozeMonkey BlogSpot Rant... Is It Me?!
Is it me?! I'm hoping that won't become my catchphrase for the year, but if the past two weeks have been anything to go by, it could well be that 2010 is the Year of the Rant.
We're only half way through January and already I've seen a flood of HOT CROSS BUNS in the supermarkets. Did they move Easter and forget to tell the rest of us? What's the betting we start to see a tidal wave of chocolate eggs in the stores before the end of the month? Send me a photograph if you spot any and we'll publish them here on the site.
Seriously though guys, the commercial buildup to things like Xmas, Easter, Valentine's Day (and all the other profitable holidays) seems to get earlier and earlier each year. Why not go the whole hog and start promoting Xmas 2010 right now? Give Santa and his elves a full-time job, set up a permanent Santa's Grotto in Coles (or better still, franchise the idea like Gloria Jean's in shopping malls across the country... ka-ching!) and don't bother taking the decorations down from one year to the next. It'll cost a fortune in fairy lights, but think of all the pavlova you'd sell!
:: ALCOHOL FREE AUSTALIA DAY?! OH PULEEEZ!
Reported in the Daily Telegraph today, the police are trying to make Australia Day an alcohol-free affair. That's right, I said alcohol-free -- NOT free alcohol -- they want to ban booze on Australia Day!
"The tradition of a few beers or wine at Australia Day barbecues is under threat, with police trying to stop the sale of full-strength alcohol. Hundreds of bottle shops in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong have been sent an email asking them not to sell most of their products, including full-strength beer, wine and spirits."
WHAT?! First they ban booze in Sydney on New Year's Eve and now this?!
Shouldn't we be out in the streets demonstrating like they did with the miner's strike & the poll tax in England? It's not just un-Australian, it's practically a violation of human rights. You know I'm not one to complain (really?) but when the Nanny State starts to take control like this -- particularly if it's unopposed -- it's just a short train-ride to night-time curfews, stop-and-search in the streets and a full-blown dictatorship.
It'll be lamb next. I can't wait to see what Sam Kekovich will have to say about that.
:: CAUGHT REDHANDED LAUNCHES ONLINE SHOP
Thankfully, amid all of this ranting, there is a reason to celebrate. Caught RedHanded's long-awaited website has finally been launched! Winemaker Phil Rogers was hoping it would go live late last year, but there were a couple of delays and then the holidays got in the way. But the great news is that all those people who have been asking about Phil's limited edition fortified and his 2007 Shiraz (which will be coming with us on board the Booze Cruise next week) can now purchase them online.
Take a squizz at the site here and drop him a line to let him know what you think :: Caught RedHanded Wines
:: THE BOOZE CRUISE WINE LIST
Along with Caught RedHanded's Shiraz, we also have a superb list of wines for the Booze Cruise on next Friday (22nd January). The journalists are in for a real treat because every single bottle is a stunner.
The competition was hard-fought and we tasted our way through over 150 entries to decide the winners. And it was tough. Because the standard of the wines submitted was exceptionally high. And tempers were frayed because we couldn't take all the wines we wanted to -- there would have just been far too many of them.
We will publish reviews of all the wines submitted for the cruise over the next few weeks, but for now here is the cruise winelist:
But I will leave you with a sincere wish that you spare a thought for the poor bastards in Haiti who have lost everything in the recent quake: families and entire communities destroyed. Brothers, sisters, fathers, daughters, mothers and sons... some died instantly, others more slowly. And some are still dying. In great pain. They just don't have the medical supplies or the facilities to deal with the extent of the disaster. And what about food and water? Forget it. All they have right now is enough air to breath. And it won't be long before disease starts to spread, killing many more.
The problems won't be cleared up quickly -- even the immediate problems of emergency food and water may take weeks to sort out -- but by this time next week Haiti won't be headline news any longer, and by the end of the month it will be a distant memory for most of us. Not for those trying to re-build their lives of course...
I'm not a religious person so I won't suggest we hold hands and pray -- but donations to aid agencies like The Red Cross will certainly help.
I
t needn't be cash. They need volunteers too. And they need blood. Lots of blood. No doubt there will be local initiatives where you are too, collecting tinned food, clothes, blankets and the like.
Be generous. I know you will. And be grateful it wasn't you.
Cheers!
Matt
BoozeMonkey :: The Wine Community
We're only half way through January and already I've seen a flood of HOT CROSS BUNS in the supermarkets. Did they move Easter and forget to tell the rest of us? What's the betting we start to see a tidal wave of chocolate eggs in the stores before the end of the month? Send me a photograph if you spot any and we'll publish them here on the site. Seriously though guys, the commercial buildup to things like Xmas, Easter, Valentine's Day (and all the other profitable holidays) seems to get earlier and earlier each year. Why not go the whole hog and start promoting Xmas 2010 right now? Give Santa and his elves a full-time job, set up a permanent Santa's Grotto in Coles (or better still, franchise the idea like Gloria Jean's in shopping malls across the country... ka-ching!) and don't bother taking the decorations down from one year to the next. It'll cost a fortune in fairy lights, but think of all the pavlova you'd sell!
:: ALCOHOL FREE AUSTALIA DAY?! OH PULEEEZ!
Reported in the Daily Telegraph today, the police are trying to make Australia Day an alcohol-free affair. That's right, I said alcohol-free -- NOT free alcohol -- they want to ban booze on Australia Day!
"The tradition of a few beers or wine at Australia Day barbecues is under threat, with police trying to stop the sale of full-strength alcohol. Hundreds of bottle shops in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong have been sent an email asking them not to sell most of their products, including full-strength beer, wine and spirits."
WHAT?! First they ban booze in Sydney on New Year's Eve and now this?!
Shouldn't we be out in the streets demonstrating like they did with the miner's strike & the poll tax in England? It's not just un-Australian, it's practically a violation of human rights. You know I'm not one to complain (really?) but when the Nanny State starts to take control like this -- particularly if it's unopposed -- it's just a short train-ride to night-time curfews, stop-and-search in the streets and a full-blown dictatorship.
It'll be lamb next. I can't wait to see what Sam Kekovich will have to say about that.
:: CAUGHT REDHANDED LAUNCHES ONLINE SHOP
Thankfully, amid all of this ranting, there is a reason to celebrate. Caught RedHanded's long-awaited website has finally been launched! Winemaker Phil Rogers was hoping it would go live late last year, but there were a couple of delays and then the holidays got in the way. But the great news is that all those people who have been asking about Phil's limited edition fortified and his 2007 Shiraz (which will be coming with us on board the Booze Cruise next week) can now purchase them online. Take a squizz at the site here and drop him a line to let him know what you think :: Caught RedHanded Wines
:: THE BOOZE CRUISE WINE LIST
Along with Caught RedHanded's Shiraz, we also have a superb list of wines for the Booze Cruise on next Friday (22nd January). The journalists are in for a real treat because every single bottle is a stunner.
The competition was hard-fought and we tasted our way through over 150 entries to decide the winners. And it was tough. Because the standard of the wines submitted was exceptionally high. And tempers were frayed because we couldn't take all the wines we wanted to -- there would have just been far too many of them.
We will publish reviews of all the wines submitted for the cruise over the next few weeks, but for now here is the cruise winelist:
- 2 Mates, 2007 Shiraz
- Belgravia, 2009 Gewurztraminer
- Belgravia, 2009 Riesling
- Bunnamagoo, 2006 Autumn Semillon
- Capercaillie, 2006 "The Ghillie" Shiraz
- Cappa Stone, 2009 Moscato
- Caught RedHanded, 2007 Shiraz
- Fox Creek, 2006 Reserve Shiraz
- Fox Creek, "Vixen" Sparkling Shiraz, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc
- Good Catholic Girl, 2008 "Teresa" Riesling
- Jamabro, "Spiraz" Sparkling Shiraz
- Jamabro, 2009 "Rough Cut Diamond" Viognier Moscato
- Judge Rock, 2006 Pinot Noir
- Kirrihill, 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
- Moorooroo Park, 2005 Samuel Nitschke Cabernet
- Moorooroo Park, 2009 Earthsong Moscato
- Mr Riggs, 2008 Riesling
- Neagles Rock, 2008 Shiraz
- Oak Valley Estate, "Pink Contessa" Moscato
- Penny's Hill, 2006 "Footprint" Shiraz
- Penny's Hill, "The Veteran" Very Old Fortified
- Penny's Hill, Almond Liqueur
- Robinvale, 2002 Kerner Reserve
- Sabella, 2004 Reserve Shiraz
- Shaw, 2008 Murrumbateman Semi-Sweet Riesling
- Singlefile, 2008 Reserve Chardonnay
- Sylvan Springs, 2006 Cyril's Reserve Shiraz
- Sylvan Springs, 2009 Dirty Girls Bubbles
But I will leave you with a sincere wish that you spare a thought for the poor bastards in Haiti who have lost everything in the recent quake: families and entire communities destroyed. Brothers, sisters, fathers, daughters, mothers and sons... some died instantly, others more slowly. And some are still dying. In great pain. They just don't have the medical supplies or the facilities to deal with the extent of the disaster. And what about food and water? Forget it. All they have right now is enough air to breath. And it won't be long before disease starts to spread, killing many more. The problems won't be cleared up quickly -- even the immediate problems of emergency food and water may take weeks to sort out -- but by this time next week Haiti won't be headline news any longer, and by the end of the month it will be a distant memory for most of us. Not for those trying to re-build their lives of course...
I'm not a religious person so I won't suggest we hold hands and pray -- but donations to aid agencies like The Red Cross will certainly help.
I
t needn't be cash. They need volunteers too. And they need blood. Lots of blood. No doubt there will be local initiatives where you are too, collecting tinned food, clothes, blankets and the like. Be generous. I know you will. And be grateful it wasn't you.
Cheers!
Matt
BoozeMonkey :: The Wine Community
Rippon Vineyard & Winery, Rippon Pinot Noir 2005 :: BoozeMonkey Australian wine http://ping.fm/7zzov
BoozeMonkey?! You're Kidding, Right...?
The story behind the name of Australia's most popular wine community.
Link to the original BoozeMonkey post here!
One of the questions I am most frequently asked is "WHY BOOZEMONKEY?"
What, you too?
I know exactly what you are saying, and I agree that BoozeMonkey is certainly an odd choice of name for a wine company. But it was deliberate (difficult to imagine how it might have been an accident...).
There were a number of elements we wanted to bring together, and BoozeMonkey has all of them:
IT'S FUN :: there's already too many dull, lifeless websites spouting bland marketing drivel about wine, regurgitating the winemakers' bottle notes for a couldn't care less public. The last thing we need is another one of those. So we wanted to inject some fun into it, because wine is, after all, fun. Or at least it should be. There are some who see it as a religion or who think that drinking wine makes them better than beer drinkers, but on the whole winemakers tend to agree that wine should be fun.
IT'S VERSATILE :: we didn't want to limit ourselves to wine because there are a lot of great beers, fortifieds, ports and spirits out there. I'm partial to a bit of sake myself, so we wanted to encompass everything. And while there are some winemakers who would NEVER call wine "booze", in truth the vast majority (95%+) of winemakers we know call it booze all the time. It's not a put-down: it's just colloquial.
IT'S MEMORABLE :: the name and the logo had to be memorable, and I haven't met anyone yet who has heard the name and then forgotten it. It sticks in your mind. As does our cheeky grinning monkey. He's all about the fun side of wine too: good wine, good food, good company.
IT'S CONTROVERSIAL :: there's nothing wrong with a bit of controversy. It's difficult to be ambivalent about a name like BoozeMonkey, and while the majority of people we have come across LOVE the name, there have been a small (but very vocal) handful who hate it. But there aren't any fence-sitters. And the vocal handful provide us with some useful publicity from time to time: apparently a grinning monkey embodies over-indulgence to some people. But I'm happy to argue the toss, and having lovers and haters arguing is great publicity: just ask Marmite and Vegemite.
So I hope that answers your question about the name.
The second question (usually related to the first, especially from the militant "you're trying to corrupt my children" brigade) is "WHO ARE YOUR TARGET CUSTOMERS?" You see, they think that we're trying to encourage pre-schoolers to hit the hard stuff because our company name is fun...
I know, but it makes sense to them...
So, just for the record, BoozeMonkey is targetted at anyone who loves wine, anyone who is interested in learning more about Australian and New Zealand wines, anyone who wants to chat to the winemakers about their latest vintage, anyone who tries a bottle of wine at the weekend and wants to tell his friends how good (or lousy) it was... it's a broad mix and a broad age-range, from young wine-lovers in their twenties to the more mature wine-lovers in their sixties, seventies and eighties.
Oh, and winemakers of course: the overwhelming majority of winemakers in this country are struggling to make ends meet and they also struggle to get shelf-space in the supermarkets. BoozeMonkey offers them a place to market their wines direct to wine-hungry customers, and helps them to promote their brands in a way they haven't been able to so far. The government won't help, so they have to help themselves. And BoozeMonkey provides them with the tools and the marketing advice to do just that.
If you're not already a member, come and join us on BoozeMonkey! It's fun, it's free, and we'd love to have you on-board.
Cheers!
Marc
Link to the original BoozeMonkey post here!
One of the questions I am most frequently asked is "WHY BOOZEMONKEY?"
What, you too?
I know exactly what you are saying, and I agree that BoozeMonkey is certainly an odd choice of name for a wine company. But it was deliberate (difficult to imagine how it might have been an accident...).
There were a number of elements we wanted to bring together, and BoozeMonkey has all of them:
IT'S FUN :: there's already too many dull, lifeless websites spouting bland marketing drivel about wine, regurgitating the winemakers' bottle notes for a couldn't care less public. The last thing we need is another one of those. So we wanted to inject some fun into it, because wine is, after all, fun. Or at least it should be. There are some who see it as a religion or who think that drinking wine makes them better than beer drinkers, but on the whole winemakers tend to agree that wine should be fun.
IT'S VERSATILE :: we didn't want to limit ourselves to wine because there are a lot of great beers, fortifieds, ports and spirits out there. I'm partial to a bit of sake myself, so we wanted to encompass everything. And while there are some winemakers who would NEVER call wine "booze", in truth the vast majority (95%+) of winemakers we know call it booze all the time. It's not a put-down: it's just colloquial.
IT'S MEMORABLE :: the name and the logo had to be memorable, and I haven't met anyone yet who has heard the name and then forgotten it. It sticks in your mind. As does our cheeky grinning monkey. He's all about the fun side of wine too: good wine, good food, good company.
IT'S CONTROVERSIAL :: there's nothing wrong with a bit of controversy. It's difficult to be ambivalent about a name like BoozeMonkey, and while the majority of people we have come across LOVE the name, there have been a small (but very vocal) handful who hate it. But there aren't any fence-sitters. And the vocal handful provide us with some useful publicity from time to time: apparently a grinning monkey embodies over-indulgence to some people. But I'm happy to argue the toss, and having lovers and haters arguing is great publicity: just ask Marmite and Vegemite.
So I hope that answers your question about the name.
The second question (usually related to the first, especially from the militant "you're trying to corrupt my children" brigade) is "WHO ARE YOUR TARGET CUSTOMERS?" You see, they think that we're trying to encourage pre-schoolers to hit the hard stuff because our company name is fun...
I know, but it makes sense to them...
So, just for the record, BoozeMonkey is targetted at anyone who loves wine, anyone who is interested in learning more about Australian and New Zealand wines, anyone who wants to chat to the winemakers about their latest vintage, anyone who tries a bottle of wine at the weekend and wants to tell his friends how good (or lousy) it was... it's a broad mix and a broad age-range, from young wine-lovers in their twenties to the more mature wine-lovers in their sixties, seventies and eighties.
Oh, and winemakers of course: the overwhelming majority of winemakers in this country are struggling to make ends meet and they also struggle to get shelf-space in the supermarkets. BoozeMonkey offers them a place to market their wines direct to wine-hungry customers, and helps them to promote their brands in a way they haven't been able to so far. The government won't help, so they have to help themselves. And BoozeMonkey provides them with the tools and the marketing advice to do just that.
If you're not already a member, come and join us on BoozeMonkey! It's fun, it's free, and we'd love to have you on-board.
Cheers!
Marc
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
new wine just reviewed :: Monkey Bay Gisborne Chardonnay 2008 :: read more here >>> http://ping.fm/qyN3V
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Seductive and focused, perfectly balanced, long lingering ripe clean berry flavours, with rich ripe cherries http://ping.fm/Pf7Vu
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
SYDNEY WINE LOVERS! Just heard s/one's pulled out of the Chinta Ria / Caught Redhanded lunch on Sat :: be quick! http://ping.fm/DI354
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Aussie wine :: who will you support in 2010? Comments from winemakers and wine-lovers http://ping.fm/rmLsM
St Hallet Riesling and a bit of a catch up :: Roscoe Halligan rings in the New Year http://ping.fm/BdciB
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