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With the World Cup kicking off tonight, we look at a couple of wines from the competing nations – and announce our tipping competition where you could win a dozen great old-world wines! The first wine is a German Riesling, and while we Aussie hope they don’t do well in the first game, we know they make great wines.

When talking France and football we’re certain that if they win the big gold trophy that there will be lots of corks popping. So we look at a grower Champagne from Pierre Peters that is worth celebrating with.

The World Cup wouldn’t be what it is without the Italians, and we look at a great Chianti Classico from Castello di Monstano worth diving into.

Want to win more than $400 worth of great old-world wine? Just join our tipping competition! The winner will take home a dozen brilliant wines from Italy, Germany and France thanks to the guys at Mondo Imports.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Dönhoff Riesling Kabinett 2008 ($38-$41)
• Pierre Peters Cüvee Reserve Blanc de Blancs NV ($70-$75)
• Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico 2007 ($37-$40)

Download the video: (5 min 48 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

Inexpensive bubbles are to be avoided at all costs… or so says Danny. But this week we look at a blanc de blancs from De Bortoli that will have the approval of your wine-snob friends but is cheap enough for even midweek celebrations.

Brad follows up with another of the classic Aussie blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Lake Breeze number shows just how Australian it is with an Aboriginal name for its blend.

We’ve been talking for a few weeks about some of the wines we showed off at the Seddon Wine Store at our recent tasting event, but we’ve saved the best for last. The Kate Hill Pinot Noir impressed everyone on the day, and the judges at the recent Tasmanian Wine Show. Not so easy to get, but worth hassling your local wine store about!

Want to join Danny & Brad in the Wine Week AFL footy tipping competition? Sure you do! Well, come on and be part of it!

This week’s recommendations are:

• De Bortoli Rococo Blanc de Blancs ($18-$20)
• Lake Breeze Bernoota Shiraz-Cabernet ($18-$22)
• Kate Hill Pinot Noir 2008 ($30-$34)

Download the video: (4 min 35 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

The hot days down under aren’t done with just yet. And vintage, when vineyards are picking their grapes, is in full force too. With both those things going on at once we look at a sparkling wine from Blue Pyrenees which is picked in the cool of the night to make sure they get the best from their grapes.

We also look at a super bargain priced Rosé from Angoves great for warmer days, and a classic quaffer from Pepperjack perfect for matching with lamb on the BBQ.

This week’s recommendations are:

• Angoves Nine Rows Rosé 2009 ($8-14)
• Blue Pyrenees Midnight Cuvée 2002 ($22-$26)
• Pepperjack Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 ($18-$23)

Download the video: (4 min 31 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

2009 is done, and we’ve started a new decade. And what better way to kick things off than with three bottles you might open at the start of a an afternoon or evening with good friends and good food.

But, not everyone starts off with a wine… so this week we kick things off with that most Aussie of aperitifs, a beer. But not just any beer! This is brewed on the grounds at one of the great wineries of the Clare Valley, Knappstein. We also look at a lovely rosé from Yering Station that isn’t just ‘cotton candy in the mouth’. And we round out the starting field with a great, inexpensive, bottle of bubbles from Jansz.

Don’t forget you can still win one of our Best Dozen of 2009. You’ll go into the draw if you’re a subscriber. If you’re a Twitter follower or a fan on Facebook then you’ve got another chance to win! Retweeting on twitter, or posting on your facebook wall with a link to the competition will get you another entry too! There are heaps of ways to give yourself the best possible shot at taking home one of the Best Dozen of 09 packs!

This week’s recommendations are:

• Knappstein E.B. Premium Larger ($13-17 per 4 pack)
• Yering Station E.D. Rosé 2008 ($18-20)
• Jansz Premium Non Vintage Cuvée ($20-$23)

Download the video: (5 min 39 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

It’s Melbourne cup next week: The race that stops a nation! And people all over the country will be breaking out the bubbles and barbie wines as they host Cup Day parties. With this in mind we’re looking at three wines that might help you qualify your day as a winner even if the horses you back come last! The first is a classic red quaffer from Fox Creek. We also check out a really inexpensive sparkling from Yarra Burn, and a more expensive bottle of bubbles from Quartz Reef – an international raider on the cup!

This week’s recommendations are:

• Fox Creek Red Baron McLaren Vale Shiraz 2008 ($13-18)
• Yarra Burn Premium Cuvée NV ($13-$20)
• Quartz Reef Methode Traditionelle NV ($30-$35)

Download the video: (4 min 51 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

It’s Mother’s Day down under this Sunday, and we present three wines that are sure to make your Mum happy this weekend. The first is a Semillon / Sauvignon Blanc blend from WA’s Margaret River region that Brad thinks is brilliantly named. The next is a Pinot Noir from the Macedon Ranges with great flavour and style and not too much alcohol. Lastly we look at a Yarra Valley sparkling Rosé that mums everywhere will love the look and the taste of.

Join the Wine Week footy tipping competition! (Entry is free and the winner receives brilliant Kalleske wine!)

This week’s recommendations are:

• Wine by Brad semillon/sauvignon blanc 2008 ($20-25)
• Bress Macedon Ranges pinot noir 2008 ($18-20)
• Dominique Portet brut rosé LD NV ($25-27)

Download the video: (4 min 22 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

Last weekend saw a series of horrific fires around parts of Victoria, Australia. More than 180 lives have been lost and more than 1,000 homes. As well many wineries have been effected, with some losing everything. With this in mind we focus on a couple of wineries touched by the fires and tell you how you can support the rebuilding process. The first wine is a pinot noir, a classic Yarra Valley grape, from Punt Road. The second is a non-vintage sparkling from Domaine Chandon. Check below for how you can help those affected!

This week’s recommendations are:

• Punt Road pinot noir 2006 ($19-25)
• Domaine Chandon Brut NV ($18-23)

How can you help those affected by the Victorian bushfires?

• Spend a little less on wine this week and donate the difference to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire appeal
• Book a ticket to the Stones of the Yarra Valley fundraiser
• Head along one of the charity dinners honouring wine merchant Rob Davey at Charcoal Grill on the Hill or in North Melbourne.
• Buy a Yarra Valley or Heathcote wine this weekend!

Download the video: (5 min 29 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

In this, our final episode of 2008, we look back at our favourite dozen wines from the past year, and you could win one of two complete sets of the Best Dozen of ’08!

As always our criteria was to pick our favourite bottles based both on the quality of the wine and value for money. It would have been simple to pick the 12 most expensive wines but we think that there are some absolutely brilliant bargains out there. If a wine is a brilliant drop and is awesome value for money it ranks pretty high with us.

For your chance to win, all you need to do is subscribe to our weekly emails. You can get extra entries into the draw by sending the competition details out to as many friends as you like – for everyone who you refer you’ll get an extra chance to win one of the two Best Dozen of ’08 packs.

Following us on twitter also gains you an entry to win this fabulous prize valued at over $370.

The Best Dozen of ’08 are (in no particular order):

• Clover Hill vintage 2003 ($32-38)
• Leo Buring Clare Valley riesling 2008 ($15-18)
• Wolf Blass White Label riesling 2002 ($38-40)
• Charles Melton Rose of Virginia 2008 ($16-22)
• De Bortoli Windy Peak pinot noir 2007 ($9-15)
• Mike Press cabernet sauvignon 2006 ($10-14)
• Charles Sturt University chardonnay 2007 ($13-15)
• Hardys Oomoo McLaren Vale shiraz 2006 ($12-15)
• Penfolds St. Henri shiraz 2004 ($70-90)
• Yalumba The Menzies 2004 ($40-45)
• Pirathon by Kalleske shiraz 2006 ($20-24)
• St. Hallett Blackwell shiraz 2006 ($30-35)

Download the video: (6 min 40 sec)
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Cheers… happy wine buying and good luck in our competition!
Click here to enter by subscribing.
Click here to enter by following on twitter.
Competition terms and conditions.
Brad and Danny

The spring racing carnival is well and truly underway and what better way to celebrate a win on the ponies than with a glass of wine! So this week we suggest three wines that would be brilliant at your Melbourne Cup party. The first is an Eden Valley riesling that’s a little sweeter than usual, but not overdone. To complete the spring racing theme we also look at two very different sparkling wines. One a super cool moscato ideal for those who like a lighter bet, the other a true French Champagne perfect for toasting the winners.

In this episode we recommend:

• Pewsey Vale Prima riesling 2008 ($20-25)
• Innocent Bystander moscato 2008 ($10-13)
• G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge N.V. ($50-77)

Download the video: (4 min 18 sec)
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Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny

This week we look at a chardonnay that is leading the pack with a lovely tight, clean style and a sparkling rose named after the hottest holiday destination on the planet. To finish things off we look at a wine that has it’s own facebook page and twitter account…. just like we do: http://twitter.com/wineweek

In this episode we recommend:

• Seppelt Jaluka chardonnay ($20-27)
• Bay of Fires Tigress sparkling rosé NV ($22-26)
• Kirrihill Companions cabernet merlot 2006 ($13-16)

Download the video: (4 min 16 sec)
Windows Media (17.2 Mb) | Mpeg4 (13.1 Mb) | Ipod (17.4 Mb)

Cheers… and happy wine buying!

Brad and Danny