Yarra Valley Open For Inspection

14th & 15th May 2011.

“Step behind the scenes of some of Victoria’s premium wineries, restaurants and hotels and dine with local winemakers and chefs and learn the tricks of the trade – from the owners themselves!”  Click here to start exploring the events on offer.

Or we can get you started and take you on our Yarra Valley Winery Tour for a great day out…  Please click here to see tour details for the 14 May – be quick not many seats left!

[Sourced 29 April 2011 - http://www.experienceyarravalley.com.au/yarra-valley-open-for-inspection/]

Oldest known wine-making facility’ found in Armenia

“The world’s earliest known wine-making facility has been discovered in Armenia, archaeologists say.

A wine press and fermentation jars from about 6,000 years ago were found in a cave in the south Caucasus country. Co-director of the excavation Gregory Areshian, of the University of California, Los Angeles, said it was the earliest example of complete wine production.

The findings were announced by the National Geographic Society. They have been published in the online edition of the Journal of Archaeological Science. The facility was uncovered in the mountains of south-east Armenia. The same area was the site of the discovery of the oldest known leather shoe, dated to about 5,500 years ago.

Inside the cave, the international team of archaeologists found a shallow basin, measuring about 1m (3ft) across, that was positioned to drain into a deep vat. The basin could have served as a wine press where people stomped the grapes with their feet, Mr Areshian said. The team also found grape seeds, the remains of pressed grapes and dozens of dried vines.

‘Domesticated’ vines

The seeds were from the same type of grapes – Vitis vinifera vinifera – still used to make wine today. The wine-making facility was surrounded by graves and the team says the wine may have been intended for ceremonial use. Mr Areshian said that already-no evidence of wine drinking pre-dates the Armenian facility.

“The evidence argues convincingly for a wine-making facility,” said Patrick McGovern, scientific director of the Biomolecular Archaeology Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania Museum in Philadelphia, who was not part of the research team, Associated Press news agency reported. He said such large scale wine production implied that the Eurasian grape had already been domesticated 6,000 years ago.

The earliest comparable remains to those uncovered in Armenia were found in the tomb of the ancient Egyptian King Scorpion I, dating to around 5,100 years ago, AP reported”.

[Sourced 25 march 2011 – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12158341]

We can’t quite get you to Armenia!  But how about a trip to the Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula to explore and sample the lovely wines & food on a winery tour!  Click on the below links to see sample itinerary’s for a great day out in Victoria…  Yarra Valley Winery Tour Mornington Winery Tour

Oldest Wine in the World

“The Romans, as the saying goes, found truth in wine, and they made a habit of draining their cups dry. But they had enough restraint to leave this one bottle behind, stashed in one of two sarcophagi excavated in 1867 in what’s now the western German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The wine in the cloudy, yellowed glass amphora, its neck anchored on either side by small dolphin-shaped handles, dates back to approximately A.D. 300, making it the oldest still liquid wine in the world. Now on permanent display at the History Museum of Pfalz along with other viticultural treasures, the drink is trapped beneath a film of olive oil, which the ancients commonly used to preserve wine from oxidation. Its age shows: thick brown clouds of fluid swirl with sediment, like something an ill-mannered child might concoct in his dinner cup. It may have survived intact, but even the most indiscriminate of Rome’s drinkers would find this vintage past its prime”.

If you fancy something a little fresher! Why not join our Yarra Valley Winery Tour for a great day out, tasting a range of excellent wines and relaxing over a lovely two course vineyard lunch experience…. click on this link for more info – Yarra Valley Winery Tour.

[Sourced 28 Feb 2001 - http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article /0,28804,2007003_2006752_2006671,00.html]

Pinot on the Peninsula

Mornington Peninsula Pinot Garden Showcase will be held on Sunday 30 January 2011 at Lindenderry at Red Hill.

Relax and taste at leisure a range of Pinots in the sunken garden of Lindenderry. More than 35 Mornington Peninsula wineries showcase their wines alongside selected wines from around Australia in a beautiful setting. Take a Burgundy Masterclass and taste your way through regional presentation by local Chefs”. Please click here to go the Bookings/Information page via www.mpva.com.au. or phone 03 5989 2377.

Don’t forget if you are not free on that date, please click here to go to the Mornington Peninsula Winery Tour page for information regarding doing a really lovely winery tour with you and your friends/work colleagues…

Sourced 11 Jan 2011, www.mpva.com.au

The Tuscan Mammas

Tutti a Tavola – everyone to the table. Experience the art of cooking and friendship the Italian way.

De Bortoli’s hosts The Tuscan Mammas who share their cooking tips and stories, whilst treating you to a sumptuous Tuscan feast. Saturday 5th February 2011 – 6.30pm for 7.00pm start.

Cost: $110 pp includes four courses with a glass of wine matched to each course, plus coffee and biscotti.

The Tuscan Mammas will also be holding a series of specially themed daytime cooking demonstrations/classes. Only three dates available next year!

* Monday 31st January * Thursday 3rd February * Friday 4th February *

Cost: $145 pp includes cooking demonstration, long lunch, wine, conversation and recipes

Call 03 5965 2271 to reserve your place.

If you can’t fit this into your schedule then why not come on one of our lovely Yarra Valley Winery Tours any time and experience De Bortoli’s for yourself – a wonderful winery with great food, cheese & wine… Click on this link to see tour example – Yarra Valley Winery Tour

[Sourced 22 Dec - http://www.debortoli.com.au/events/event-details/article/la-tutti-a-tavola-ladies-from-chianti-tuscan.html]