Interesting day … and the whole event was packed. Australia’s First Family of Wine is a group of family wineries who have got together because ‘wine is far more interesting than accounting and economics’! AKA they too are fed up with brand Australia being synominous with discounting at the cheaper end of the market. (If you want to read their take on it, click on the link above.)

So why were all the top Scottish sommeliers and merchants there? Because we actually like Australian wines and we have also become disillusioned by brand Australia’s discounted offers available perennially in supermarkets and if the principles from all these estates travel can travel to the UK to listen, we can manage the train to Edinburgh to talk (and listen too)!

It seems that as a group they are still forming and not quite norming. But it was great to see the energy of the families involved. The tasting was to show the diversity, ageability and quality that Australian wines can offer. Interestingly even though we tasted a whole range of wines in terms of style and price, my favourite was the Old Bush Vine Grenache, with wild yeast ferment from Yalumba retailing for £9 - surely a hidden gem! Look out for it soon …

The discussion over lunch was the interesting bit … they did not send a marketing rep … they were genuinely wanting to understand how they can sell premium Australian wine in the UK. The wine trade in the UK have a lot to thank brand Australia for … since the 1990’s many thousands of people have been introduced to wine by the fruity, gluggable and easy to understand offerings from the likes of Lindemans, Nottage Hill or Rosemount. But they look to the likes of us to sell their premium wines … 

Our issue with these kinds of wines has nothing to do with their taste … Customers are being sent a confused message when they normally see that brand discounted on a supermarket shelf (which is the only way they know how to sell it). And when we can stock the likes of Cullen, Clonakilla, Giaconda, or the ever so affordable Balgownie … then why would be bother selling a brand that also offers a BOGOF supermarket deal?

The families group need to protect their own integrity (and those of some of their members) whilst not confusing the consumer. And also to make it an easy decision for sommeliers and merchants to stock their premium wines for their obvious quality.

I hope that today is the start of a ‘partnership’ that would allow some of the fabulous wines I tasted to be available in top restaurants and merchants in the future.

Cheers!