It's certainly not every week we can say we have not one, but two former Wine Emporium staff members-turned-winemakers in to host our Saturday tasting, but alas, the Foreign Friends are coming to town! This trio team, led by sisters Leila and Crystal and their close friend Juliette, have made quite the splash for their past couple of vintages - bright, aromatic and attractive takes on French (Savagnin, Pinot Blanc, Gamay & Chardonnay) and Italian (Nebbiolo Rosé & Gamay) varietals that truly sing and shine with the climates they experience in Beechworth and King Valley (plus Yarra Valley for the Gamay).
Leila and Juliette will be standing proud with their most recent efforts at our tasting table from 12 to 2pm this Saturday (12th April), off the back of some recent high praise from the Halliday Wine Companion. It'll be great to see them both back in the store and pouring together, talking about the inspiration and winemaking behind each of these classic grape expressions!
Elsewhere, we have Shane 'The Ginslinger' Robinson from Wildflower Distillery back once again for a bit of Friday afternoon entertainment; many regulars out there will recall his infectious hosting style, and we always love welcoming him back! He's showing off Wildflower's Signature and Pink Gins, their new Pink Fizz Gin pre-mix cans, and the increasingly-popular Asian Parsnip & London Drizzle James Gins (distilled by Top Gear's very own James May). He'll be on the floor from 4 to 7pm
Looking forward to a weekend of fun!
Foreign Friends - on Special & Tasting!
Saturday 12th April
12 to 2pm
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'Ada' Nebbiolo Rosé 2024 -
$28 on special this week; $32 RRP
"Fermented, bottled, waxed and labelled by hand. Meet our delicious Nebbiolo Rosé, Ada. She's got zingy acidity, grapefruit pith and pronounced strawberry and peach aromas. These Nebbiolo grapes began their journey amongst the honey hued trees of the high country. From there, they were pressed off skins, before fermenting and ageing in old French oak over the winter, arriving here to make your acquaintance today." - Winemaker Notes
"Nebbiolo rosé rocks. Just look at those inviting salmon pink hues. The scent tunes into the grape's rose petal florals – so bright, aligned to red cherry, cranberry and earthy spice. Well structured, it brings some mealy notes layered between red fruits, with spice driving flavours even and deep. With texture and spice in place, it's ready with or without food. So versatile." - 93 Points, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion
'Virginia' Pinot Blanc 2024 -
$33 on special this week; $37 RRP
"These Pinot Blanc grapes began their journey amongst the honey hued trees of the high country. From there, they were fermented and aged in a mix of old oak barrels, stainless steel tank and concrete eggs. Best paired with creamy pasta and risotto, cheese, and fish and chips by the beach."- Winemaker Notes
"I love this slip and slide, the gloss of texture, an inherent lime-tonic water thing going on with Real Lemonade, faint ginger notes, distinct lime and hazy apple juice. In this, a faint natural yoghurt character lending piquancy and lactic tang, pretty in that way. Overall, a medium weight and super attractive white wine with depth and charisma on hand." - 93 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
'Jeanne' Savagnin 2024 -
$35 on special this week; $39 RRP
"Meet 'Jeanne.' She has a beautiful aromatic bouquet with notes of spices like dried ginger, and white fruits; peach and nectarine, becoming more floral as it sits in the glass. On the palate, this wine is very fresh and focused, offering lots of texture with vibrant acidity. These Savagnin grapes began their journey amongst the honey hued trees of the high country. From there, they were cold soaked on skins, fermented, then aged in French barriques over the winter and spring. Best paired with grilled fish, white meats, Comté and creamy sauce dishes." - Winemaker Notes
"The signature grape of the Jura finds a new home in the King Valley and does a mighty-fine job of it, too. It's fully concentrated in flavour and impressive in personality with some budding complexity building in its youth. Preserved lemon, grapefruit pith, peach, apple and gentle jasmine florals. But it's the spice that catches your attention, together with the overall warmth and generosity of the wine." - 93 Points, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion
'Hilma' Barbera 2024 -
$35 on special this week; $39 RRP
"Meet 'Hilma.' This Barbera offers beautiful warm vanilla and clove spices on the nose which become more earthy as the wine opens up. Soft and velvety on the palate with blueberry notes. A long finish with umami tones and very fine tannins. These grapes began their journey amongst the honey hued trees of the high country. From there, they spent two weeks fermenting on skins before ageing in old French oak over the winter and spring. Best paired with creamy risotto, braised meat, pasta or anything with mushrooms." - Winemaker Notes
"Barbera gets serious and it's simply too good to ignore. Have to admire the producer for showing the savoury, darker side of the grape while also embracing a lovely elegance. Fragrant in dried herbs, aniseed, woodsmoke, black cherry and plum. There's plenty of detail on the palate, with additional layers of cured meats and red earth mixing nicely with finely textured tannins and bright acidity." - 95 points, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion
'Anna' Gamay 2024 -
$38 on special this week; $43 RRP
"Meet 'Anna.' She's a serious Gamay with notes of toasted sesame seeds and beautiful bright raspberry and bramble fruits. These grapes began their journey amongst the cascading vineyards of the Yarra Valley. From there, they spent two weeks fermenting on skins (30% whole bunch), before ageing in large format oak over the winter and spring. Best paired with chicken, steak, mushroom, falafel and cheese." - Winemaker Notes
"Yarra Valley is the quarry for this gamay. Pan-Victorian explorations by Foreign Friends make for a worthy investigation. There is great drinking afoot. Quite a tart, tangy red wine, lighter spectrum as expected with distinct white pepper, red capsicum, minty herbal elements in red cherry, rhubarb juice and rose hip tea. A wine on the edge, but refreshing in that way. Crisp edges, a chisel of light but drying tannin here too. You’d call it a friskier expression of the variety and it does well in that regard. Thirst-quenching gamay, let’s say." - 92 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
'Louise' Chardonnay 2023 -
$52 on special this week; $59 RRP
"Meet 'Louise', our gorgeous Beechworth Chardonnay. Boasting subtle stone fruit and toasted almond, her palate offers plenty of texture and natural acidity with a beautiful finish that will leave you wanting more. Our Chardonnay grapes began their journey amongst the rugged granite of the High Country. In a small vineyard on Woolshed falls side of town, they were grown on granite soil at 350m elevation. From there, they were basket pressed and fermented, then aged on lees in French barriques over the winter and spring. Best paired with buttery chicken, seafood, creamy based dishes, fried chicken or risotto." - Winemaker Notes
“Brings both power and presence to the glass, not to mention a whole lot of Beechworth chardonnay charm. A chorus of summer stone fruits, citrus, quince, baking spices and vanilla pod greets the drinker. Distinctly savoury - love the preserved lemon notes - and textural, yet it is well structured, too, in vibrant acidity. A most compelling newcomer.” - 94 Points, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion
Wildflower Distilling & James Gin - on Tasting!
Friday 11th April
4 to 7pm
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What's on Pour -
Wildflower Signature Gin
Wildflower Pink Gin
James Gin Asian Parsnip
James Gin London Drizzle
Plus the new Pink Fizz Gin Cans!
If you wish to buy any of these wines, please use the links above
Alternatively, email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au, or contact us on (07)32521117 if you have any questions.
// Prices valid until Thursday the 17th of April