To be fair, the best Australian wines are also more readily available and cheaper in NZ :)!
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@AlecS / @dcornutt Shirely you must be being misled. Do not listen to the voices like @AaronR. I’ve been in his house. I’ve drank his wine! Smells like tomato compote. And if you’re worried about the sheep gadgets…ask him about the kangaroo suit 
You would not believe. Can we do a rugby watch / wine offline?
Maybe France v Australia …
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Yep. I think lots of cool stuff coming from Aus, I think people really underestimate the different climates of Australia based on the most popular stuff that was everywhere years ago. Glad you enjoyed the Tolpuddle. I think lots of other producers are doing great work in Tas. Stefano and Marco Lubiana, Sailor Seeks Horse, Dr. Edge, but lots to explore.
It looks like you got plenty of recommended wineries to visit and check out. For restaurant visits and wine lists, I just wanted to add that 2022 was a very strong vintage for Clare Valley Riesling - keep that in mind if you are interested in Australian Riesling.
I just got back from Queensland a few weeks ago and it sure is a beautiful country. Have a great trip @dcornutt!
Cheers,
Michael
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You jest, but on a memorable night a couple years back, Dave Dyroff, Salil Bengal and I did almost just that—an OL while watching a cricket test match between India and Australia (a demolishment by India). We had a ton of fun.
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Oh, yes. And, Massena is the project of Dan Standish and Jaysen Collins. Gorgeous wines.
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Actually, this time I was being 100% serious 
And your anecdote seals the deal.
Put you down +2?
Salil watching Cricket? Well I never!!! 
I can’t fly across to NY for the Wallabies/All-Blacks (or Springboks) match(es) in the Rugby Championship. But I’m more than happy to virtually join in if there’s a coordination of wines/time
Just an observation, they are making some HIGH level Chardonnay and Pinot in the Coal River area of Tasmania. I have had multiple bottles and most recent was Bay of Fires. Terrific stuff.
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Any chance you will be doing a trip report? Would love to hear about your experiences in Aus/Tas. There are lots of amazing places there.
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I keep in touch with Australian wine mostly by watching the Different Drop Youtube Channel. Really cool what these guys are doing regularly on here. https://www.youtube.com/@Differentdrop
A really cool podcast too for the more natural wine set out of Adelaide Hills was on for a bit called Real Wine People. Great interviews with Taras from Ochota, Tom Shobbrook and Alex from The Other Right.
Recently cracked a 2019 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier that was insane with no sign of slowing down. Cheers.
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+1 Different Drop YT channel. It’s very informative
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I will try to put something together.
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Hi Kent, yeah they are still well up there making great wine. Just slipped my mind. Their rieslings are still very good, reserve cabs and shirzes similarly and they are making a bunch of good wines with a French winemaker in both Oz and Burgundy.
Cheers
Dave
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I have had a couple of interesting wines recently. I am presently close to Geelong area. I had a couple of wines from Bannockburn that just slayed me. One was a Chard made by Farr for a local restaurant in Lorne called Ipsos. Like a non oaked chablis in many ways. Wonderful intensity and good length. Beautiful. The other was Farr’s best pinot of sorts. 2019 Tout Pres by Farr. Made in a whole bunch style. I think one of the winemakers there was at Dujac for a while. Intense primary pinot fruit with that slighty herbal underpinning. Incredible aromatics. Well balanced. Not pretending to be Burgundy but “Burgundian” in many ways. It reminds me of the best of Oregon. A treat. On deck is the Jimmy Watson award winner 2023. 2022 Lowestoft La Maison Pinot. This is a Tazmanian pinot and I can’t wait to try it. Some incredible wine I have tried from Tazmania. Lots of fun on this exploration. Thanks Dom at Ipsos for hooking me up.
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Good Stuff Don. Bannockburn been making great stuff for three decades, where Gary Farr was winemaker for many years until he branched out to By Farr with and Farr Rising with his son, and yes Gary did do some work at Dujac.
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Savaterre (Chardonnay)
Giaconda
Cobaw Ridge (Chardonnay)
Standish (Shiraz)
Sami Odi (shiraz)
Riesling Freak
Bass Phillip
Vanguardist (Grenache)
A Rodda (Chardonnay)
Dappled
Sorrenberg (Chardonnay)
Gentle Folk (Chardonnay)
Mount Mary
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Just to follow up that recently I’ve had all 4 of the Fianos that I’m aware of (Jade&Jasper, Alluvium, Slate Farm, River Sand) none of them cost me more than US$25 here in Hong Kong, so I assume less in Australia. Personally I am less of a fan of the Alluvium, but I just restocked on all the others (2022 for the J&J, 2021 for the rest). Definitely worth a visit in you are in the area.
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2021 Leewin Artist Series Chardonnay. This one is quite nice. Crisp. Beauiful mouthfeel. Nice length. but I guess I was expecting more. It didn’t slay me. This is one of the top wines from the area. Margaret River. I have had some recent ones from several cooler climate parts of Australia that give this a run for the money. Again, this is very nice. I just expected more.
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