Macadamia Nut and Australian Rose

 

 

This was first posted on my old web site on Satruday September 15th, 2001.

 

Welcome once again to the Big M Wine Promoter's newsletter. I have spent over forty years working on the shop floor in three of Melbourne's largest retail liquor stores and during that time I have gathered a great knowledge of the Wines, Spirits, Beers and Liquors of the trade.

 

The purpose of this newsletter is to offer comment on those products I have sampled and turn that interest into retail sales. I have never been afraid to go against perceived market trends and I will promote products that mainstream retailers, for whatever reason, will not carry or promote.

 

I have a passion for offering my clients a number of uniquely Australian Spirits and Liquors - at least three of which have been judged worthy Export awards, to South-East Asia, Europe, United Kingdom, and to the United States of America.

 

Macadamia Nut!

Do you like the flavour of Macadamia Nut? Are you aware that two years ago Queensland producers of this indigenous nut overtook Hawaii as the largest producers and growers of Macadamia? Why should we import Macadamia Liquor from Hawaii? For the last three years, I have been involved in offering my clients this Australian made product, with a great deal of success. On several occasions I have had Corporate Clients coming back to my retail store asking to buy a sealed case of the product for gifts.

 

750 ml, 18% alcohol. Patons Macadamia Royal Liqueur. The colour is water white, with a base of neutral cane spirit. The flavour comes from the oil of Macadmia nut, with no added sweetener to its flavour base. Around the neck of the bottle hangs a little cocktail guide offering serving suggestions.

 

I like to create a Champagne Cocktail by simply adding ten millilitres of Patons Macadamia Royal Liqueur to a champagne flute and top it up with a dry Sparkling wine! For those chocaholics who are reading this newsletter, Patons also have created chocolate dipped macadamia nuts, dipped in both white and dark chocolate. For a chocolate hit, a cup of brewed coffee, a glass of Macadamia nut liquor with the chocolate dipped macademia (don't think about cholesterol or calories and you will be fine). Retail price should be approximately $28. to $30.

 

Find out more about Patons and their products at their website: http://www.patons.com.au/.

 

 

Australian Rose

 

Retail liquor sales has a long standing bias against the world of Australian Rose! It is often called "a wine for wimps", or "lolly water" or "a drink for girls" etc, ad nauseam! Since the early sixties, when I was introduced to Orlando Grec Rose, and Chattertons of Lyndoch, Barrossa, Chattertons was a dry style of Rose, and may have been created from Grenache? Both wines had a firm, clean crisp finish and were so much better than the Imported rose wines of Portugal or the Californian White Blush (Zinfandell).

 

My retail shelves carry some two dozen alternative light red wine styles and the noble red wine grapes Cabernet Sauv, Shiraz, Cabernet-Franc, Pinot Noir, Grenache and Merlot all feature in this role. Innovative wine-makers have also created light wine styles from the free run juice of red wine grapes and then blended into the tanks a percentage of some white wine juice such as Pinot-Grigio.

 

One of my greatest retail successes has been the Rose style of the Miranda family in Griffith New South Wales. This wine has been created from Shiraz grapes only. Pre vintage when on the vines, selected rows of Shiraz grapes with a higher than normal acid levels (an unripe green colour) are harvested during the cool hours of night by mechanical harvester.

 

The grapes are taken to the press and subjected to light pressing to capture the free run juice. This juice is without heavy tannins, nor does it take color from extended skin contact. The watermelon pink, translucent juice is fermented to display some residual sugars, with a slight spritz, while having a delightful dry acidity to the finish. The wine is presented as a true vintage Rose, packaged in a smart frosted bottle, with a window, displaying a logo on the back of the bottle!

 

Match this Rose with smoked salmon, white meat sea-food (lobster), Thai cuisine, noodles lightly spiced or even with a casserole of either veal or chicken, with a light creamy mushroom sauce! Retail price will be from $10 to $12. This wine has not been created with long tem ageing in mind, so if you wish to buy by the dozen, please drink this up over one or two years (short term).

 

Find out more about Miranda Wines at http://www.mirandawines.com.au/.

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