What we tweet

All sorts of stuff. News from Printhie, what’s happening in the vineyard or the winery, new wine releases and reviews, where we are travelling to and our experiences, upcoming events in Australia and overseas, web-site updates, our opinions of wines we have tasted, our opinions on wine business issues and, for something completely different, results from the local football team we play with and from the NSW Swifts Netball team whom we sponsor. There’s usually something everyday.

Who we follow

Wine people – not exclusively but a fair majority of people we follow are in the wine business. This includes other wine producers, wine journalists, wine retailers and wine bloggers. It’s a great way for us to keep up with the gossip, news and trends in the wine business. Of course, there are a few loyal Printhie customers we also follow. After that it gets a bit more personal. We are big cycling fans, we stay up late at night to watch the Tour de France and follow the successes, injuries and fortunes of our favourite cyclists and their teams like some others may follow the NFL or English Premier League on Twitter. Speaking of football (soccer), as dedicated players of the game we have been following the rollercoaster that is the World Cup. It will be a short-lived affair and tweeting football will end with the World Cup but that’s one of the great things about Twitter.

Twitter conversations

The best part of Twitter is having conversations, so we always check out the tweets that have mentioned @printhiewines even if it is from tweeters that we don’t regularly follow. So we would love to get a tweet from you and join in the Twitterverse conversation.

You can follow us @printhiewines

It was 1990 and I was flying to New Zealand for a skiing holiday. The airline served Montana 1989 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and I have to admit it captured my attention and tantalised my tastebuds. I had rarely been assaulted with such aroma and flavour intensity. It was a short lived fascination but I can easily understand why the style has captured so many fans.

So, when I arrived at Printhie to take up the winemaker role I was no disciple of sauvignon blanc, at least in a new world context. However, the Orange region had just announced that it had adopted sauvignon blanc as its ‘hero’ variety and sauvignon blanc sales were exploding in the market.

Clearly, making distinctive, regional sauvignon blanc of high quality was going to be an important part of my winemaking efforts. In the vintages since then, Printhie sauvignon blanc production has grown 5 fold and the quality has reached a very high level (3 trophies, 4 gold medals, 3 silver medals).

Which is all very pleasing but the greatest change has been with me. I have found a new respect and admiration for this noble variety. I really enjoy making sauvignon blanc. There are some great challenges (all varieties have their challenges) and it is capable of making some seriously great wine, not just quaffing wine for a hot summer afternoon.

What I find most disappointing is the attitude of some, in fact many, fellow wine industry professionals.

At wine shows, it seems that being allocated to judge the sauvignon blanc class is the booby prize. The variety is constantly derided and de-valued by negative opinion. Australian wine producers are suffering under the so-called ‘tsumani’ of sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, even in the domestic market, where they are losing sales and shelf space to the New Zealanders. Everyone complains but is anyone rising to the challenge?

Instead of asking what other variety can topple New Zealand sauvignon blanc , how about rising to the challenge and producing top flight Australian sauvignon blanc. Show a little love and respect for sauvignon blanc and reap the rewards – Printhie is certainly having a go. This year we invested a lot of effort into trialling a reserve sauvignon blanc for the Mt Canobolas Collection. We are looking for a different expression of sauvignon blanc. We are not trying to beat the varietial character out of the wine, as some producers are with alternate styles to the fruit bomb are. We want to respect the varietal characteristics. It may have less fruit intensity but it will also have layers of flavours and texture with underlying complexity in a wine that will continue to reveal nuance and interest as it sits in the glass and opens up – a little like great chardonnay can.

This is our vision for sauvignon blanc – respect and nurturing, the style must evolve to meet the challenge head-on and produce wines of the highest quality and with the greatest level of interest.

Time: 12noon – 4pm
Cost: Tastings are free with tasty treats $5 each.

“Match-strike and flint-smelling with peach fuzz fruit and brininess. Has pith bite in the mouth, gentle lacy wafts of oak toast and an intense grapefruit-nectarine character.”

Tim White | Australian Financial Review | Friday 12th March

This wonderful wine has also made it’s mark with Ralph Kyte-Powell and Jane Faulkner, both reviewing the wine in The Age recently.

“Printhie is doing great things with grapes from Orange in NSW. This Mount Canobolas Collection Chardonnay (MCC) is led by grapefruit and nectarine aromas with typical tangy cool-grown chardonnay traits. Barrel influences is subordinate to the fruit, and smooth almond-like flavour complexity quietly adds palate interest.”

5 Stars | Ralph Kyte-Powell | The Age | Saturday 13th March

“This is possibly the most delicious chardonnay I’ve tasted from the Orange area; it’s a cracker and the first reserve from Printhie. It’s more on the stone fruit, fig and richer spectrum yet not heavy; beautifully balanced with spice notes, sleek oak intergration and terrific length. Bravo.”

Jane Faulkner | The Age and SMH | Saturday 6th March

Shiraz, or otherwise known as syrah, has its origins in the Rhone Valley of France. The Rhone is divided into north and south and while is exists in both, it is in the north that it come into pre-eminence and produces its greatest wines. The hill of Hermitage and the roasted slopes of Cote Rotie and the tiny region of Cornas sit at the pinnacle of great wines. Other appellations producing quality wines and at more affordable prices include Saint Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage.

Orange is an old and beautiful roman town in the southern Rhone region of Chateauneuf-du-pape. This wine is dominated by grenache but shiraz plays a supporting role. So it is appropriate that Orange, Australia should produce shiraz and it does so very well. However, it does not necessarily fit the preconceived style of Australian shiraz. It is not the big, ripe blockbuster style. It tends to be far more delicate, with spice, floral and red berry fruit. It has some earthiness and licorice but can be easily overwhelmed by oak. At lower vineyard sites it can attain richer flavours such as blackberry and plum.

Printhie has two shiraz wines and uses shiraz in a few other blends as well. The Mountain Range Shiraz does show some riper flavours without sacrificing its cool climate elegance. The 2008 vintage was recently given a five glass award and 94 points in James Hallidays 2010 Wine Companion which is a terrific result for a $17 wine. This wine is now becoming available through retail stores. The Shiraz Viognier is produced under the Mt Canobolas Collection range. The 2008 vintage has just been released at cellar door. This is typical Orange shiraz – fine boned, fragrant with an aromatic lift from the 4% viognier and with great length and persistence and surprising complexity of flavour. It is not an obvious wine and could be easily overlooked. It is just a baby and will age gracefully over the next decade or more.

Shiraz also makes its way into our Shiraz Cabernet blend which is now labelled under the Mt Canobolas Collection. This is a classic Aussie red blend and the 2008 vintage shows why these two varieties can work so well together – it shows composure, structure, richness and balance. And of course, shiraz often finds its way into the Swift Family Heritage flagship blend.

The style is medium-bodied, with fragrant aromatics and a sweet fruited palate not dominated by big chocolately flavours and heavy oak. The retention of natural acidity from the longer, cooler ripening period results in wines with freshness and vibrancy but not lacking in depth of flavour.

“I love making this style of shiraz”, explains Printhie winemaker Drew Tuckwell. “The key is not letting the grapes get over ripe and to pick when there is freshness in the fruit flavours to ensure you start to gain greater complexity in the fermented wine – hints of spice, licorice, earth. Another important element is a gentle hand with oak – you don’t want to cloud these fruit flavours.”

“The 2008 vintage in Orange was exceptional, with early rains and a cool, dry ripening period allowing us to pick the grapes at exactly the right moment. This was in stark contrast to some of the South Australian regions which battled the heat”

Ed Swift, co-owner of Printhie, is excited to get the Mountain Range Shiraz in front of consumers. “The fruit is entirely estate grown, we make it in our own winery and we bottle the wine on-site. We have complete control over the style and quality of these wines. We believe that this gives us the ability to consistently deliver great value for money to our customers”, commented Ed.

There has been some debate as to what is the strongest red varietal in the Orange region. There are several contenders but ultimately, at Printhie, the feeling is that it will be shiraz. “There is an increasing interest in cooler climate Shiraz from regions such as Canberra, southern Victoria and Adelaide Hills and the regional Orange style sits well in this company.  Shiraz and shiraz viognier blends are very exciting wines in Orange. There is a great future in this regional style,” added Ed Swift.

Pricing & Distribution:
Printhie 2008 Mountain Range Shiraz $17.00
Printhie wines are distributed throughout NSW by Printhie Wines, Victoria by Westwood Wines, Queensland by TBW Liquor Specialists and in the ACT by Z4 Wines. The wines are also available www.printhiewines.com.au

For further information, samples or images, please visit www.printhiewines.com.au or contact:
David Cumming at Define Wine: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au
Ed Swift at Printhie Wines: 0404 467 402, 02 6366 8422 or ed@printhiewines.com.au
Drew Tuckwell, winemaker at Printhie Wines: 0421 757 747 or drew@printhiewines.com.au

After a very warm, dry and windy spring where dust storms resulted in poor flowering in some varieties, the season was saved by welcome rain between Christmas and New Year.  However, as the ripening period progressed, the rain kept coming and the disease threat increased.  Well managed vineyards avoided significant disease problems.

“There are some lovely wines in the winery and it is proving to be a very strong year for Orange chardonnay,” said Printhie winemaker Drew Tuckwell.  “The reds largely avoided disease issues due to low yields and loose bunches, but sauvignon blanc was a little more tricky – high yields and tight bunches meant botrytis was a constant threat as the fruit ripened.  Certainly, there are some high quality wines being made from ripe, disease free sauvignon blanc,” he added.

“It has been an expensive exercise growing grapes this year,” commented Ed Swift, co-owner of Printhie.  “Due to poor flowering yields in our estate vineyard reds are down anywhere between 50 to 80 percent.  This is compensated by the fact that we believe the quality is very good but the production cost per tonne has gone through the roof,” he said.

“It has been a testing vintage but we remain very optimistic about the quality of the wines we are making.  Consistency and quality is crucial and very important to Printhie.  We can look forward to releasing some outstanding wines from the 2010 vintage,” added Ed Swift.

For further information please visit www.printhiewines.com.au or contact:
Ed Swift, Printhie Wines: 0404 467 402, 02 6366 8422 or ed@printhiewines.com.au
Drew Tuckwell, Printhie Wines: 0421 757 747, 02 6366 8422 or drew@printhiewines.com.au
David Cumming, Define Wine: 0414 736 342, 02 6361 9898 or david@definewine.com.au

“We’ve had some success with our Sauvignon Blanc,” commented Printhie co-owner, Ed Swift, “so to be judged the best Sauvignon Blanc at the Winewise Championship is a great accolade.”

The judging panel for these new awards comprised Winewise Editor, Lester Jesberg and the Winewise panel, Debbie Pearce, Len Sorbello and Phil Trickett, as well as two of the most respected senior judges from within the wine industry, Tom Carson (Chairman of the National Wine Show) and Tim Kirk (Winemaker Clonakilla).

Mr Jesberg explained the objective of the Winewise Championship; “In what amounts to a ‘best of the best competition’, the object was to acknowledge Australia’s finest wines, from producers large and small. The Winewise Championship is an exciting new initiative designed to showcase the benchmark wines of Australia. And the results demonstrate this well with every State featuring in the awards.”

The best wines from the 2009 National Wine Show of Australia (the premium national show which has become the province of large producers) and the 2009 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards (the premium small producers’ wine show) were judged against the best from the major Australian regional wine shows during the 2009 show circuit. To add balance, some “wildcard” entries were invited from producers who don’t normally enter wine shows but whose wines were previously judged under show conditions.

Mr Jesberg added, “This is a competition amongst peers and gives us an accurate snapshot of the quality of the Australian wine industry at this point in time.”

The Orange region is building a very solid reputation for Sauvignon Blanc and is arguably one of only two or three regions in Australia capable of mounting a challenge to the dominance of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. “We have worked very hard to source high quality, high altitude fruit to produce a wine that reflects the unique characteristics of the Orange region. With a range of vineyards from 800m to 1,000m in elevation, we are able to get some terrific fruit complexity and wonderful natural acid structure,” said Printhie winemaker Drew Tuckwell.

The full list of results can be found on www.winewise.net.au

Awards
Sauvignon Blanc Medallion, Winewise Championship 2010
Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc at the Winewise Small Vigneron Awards, Canberra 2009

Pricing & Distribution:
The 2009 Printhie Mountain Range Orange Region Sauvignon Blanc retails for $17.00
Printhie wines are distributed in NSW by Printhie Wines, Victoria by Westwood Wines, Queensland by TBW Liquor Specialists and in the ACT by Z4. The wines are also available www.printhiewines.com.au

For further information, samples or photos, please visit www.printhiewines.com.au or contact:
Ed Swift at Printhie Wines on 0404 467 402, 02 6366 8422 or ed@printhiewines.com.au
David Cumming at Define Wine on 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

The wines of the Mount Canobolas Collection (MCC) epitomise the great regional characteristics of the cool Orange Region. They are crafted with more labour intensive methods, in smaller batches and often from individual vineyards. The wines display extra degrees of complexity beyond the fruit purity that typifies the Printhie Mountain Range wines.

Many local vignerons will argue that chardonnay is the region’s best performing wine variety with consistency, fruit complexity and natural acid structure characterising these wines. In fact, it is the acid structure that provides the framework allowing complexity and interest to be produced in this outstanding wine.

“It is important to the team at Printhie that we keep pushing creative boundaries, that our wines express true regional character and that we remain at the forefront of wine style and quality, not only for the Orange region but the whole Australian wine industry. We think our MCC Chardonnay does that, which makes this a special release for us,” commented Printhie co-owner Ed Swift.

Sourced from a beautifully sited vineyard just over 1,000m above sea level, the fruit was so outstanding there was no need to adjust the acidity or fine the juice. Grape solids were retained in the juice which was entirely barrel fermented, 30 percent of which was new oak. Wild yeast fermentation was allowed to occur at slightly warmer temperatures than the norm for Australian winemaking practices.

Post-fermentation the wine in barrel was not sulphured until it was blended. As a result there was a partial malolactic fermentation conducted by naturally present lactic acid bacteria. Additionally, the lees were stirred for several months before allowing natural settling and clarification of the wine. While varietal fruit remains central to this wine, the hallmark is complexity and palate texture.

“I get excited every time I walk into this vineyard to sample the grapes during the growing season. There is something special about it. It is the most anticipated batch all vintage but it is also the batch for which we have the highest expectations. I think it has met those expectations, plus some,” said winemaker Drew Tuckwell.

Pricing & Distribution:
Printhie 2008 Mount Canobolas Collection Chardonnay $35.00
Printhie wines are distributed in NSW by Printhie Wines, Victoria by Westwood Wines, Queensland by TBW Liquor Specialists and in the ACT by Z4. The wines are also available www.printhiewines.com.au

For further information, samples or photos, please visit www.printhiewines.com.au or contact:
Ed Swift at Printhie Wines on 0404 467 402, 02 6366 8422 or ed@printhiewines.com.au
Drew Tuckwell, winemaker at Printhie Wines on 0421 757 747 or drew@printhiewines.com.au
David Cumming at Define Wine on 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au