Saturday, January 30, 2010
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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