Wine flight to Australia

Jason Clarke, CONTRIBUTOR

I was inspired to take my next wine flight further south to the land 'Down Under' - Australia.

Passport, check! Now boarding Flight #005 to Australia. Please recline your seat in the most comfortable position, extend your feet and enjoy the flight. As Beryl says, "Life is too short to drink bad wine", so keep calm and enjoy.

Australia is king of the Barbie, and ranks No. 6 on the list of top wine-producing countries, home to some of the most amazing Shiraz (red wine varietal) and Chardonnay (white wine varietal). A Shiraz, by its very nature, is dark, deep red and most certainly full-bodied, meaning heavy on the tongue and, more importantly, is the dense colour which makes it near impossible to see through in a glass. Simply experiment when next you go out for drinks or dinner with your friends or significant other.

If there is a semi-decent wine list, order a Pinot Noir - a light-bodied wine - and a Shiraz, and taste the two and you will appreciate the share weight of the wine on your tongue, and then look at the colour. Chardonnays are equally as popular and account for about 25 per cent of their production volume.

YELLOW TAIL POPULAR

Australian wines made their mark in Jamaica with the ever-popular Yellow Tail. I am not a huge fan, but I cannot ignore its presence and reach. I think almost every supermarket, bar and restaurant carries something from the Yellow Tail line. In fact, I think its popularity has helped to propel wine enthusiasts like myself to treat wine not as a commodity to consume, but as a lifestyle.

Although Yellow Tail as a brand is well-positioned and very visible, there is a cadre of options from Australia available, and the list keeps growing. I personally love the Little Penguin family. They make some very versatile wines in varying varietals and they are excellently priced, which makes it a great everyday-drinking wine, or for a rowdy bunch of friends on a Saturday evening playing kalooki.

In scouting the shelves for something new, I found the Fish Eye Merlot. Yes, I know the name seems a tad strange, but never judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a wine by its name. Being a Merlot, it is a medium-bodied wine, but it is very versatile, ripe plum to the smell, beautiful colour, and lovely finish. It's something you could enjoy alone or with good company.

Experiment with Linderman's Merlot, Penfold's Rawson Retreat Shiraz Cab, and Jacob Creek's Shiraz.

Not to leave out the sweet lovers, the Yellow Tail Sweet Roo would certainly make your palate happy. Have fun with it and I look forward to our next stop.

I am not an expert, merely a wine enthusiast sharing my thoughts and experiences. Feel free to share your own experiences at wineenthusiastja@gmail.com or lifestyle@gleanerjm.com

Last week, we took a trek to South Africa and I was pleasantly surprised to have received an email from a Jamaican living in Tanzania.

It read, in part: "I am so incredible happy that you are tapping into the wines from South Africa. Though I have a house in California just 30 minutes from Napa Valley, I have come to love wines from SA. When I lived in Ghana, I came to love the wines from SA because that was what was available. So I decided to make a three-week-long trip to the wine region of SA - and was I surprised with what I found!

"I remember visiting Goats do Roam and had a very nice time with the wine and cheeses they produce. I drank so much Two Ocean that I refuse to drink it anymore.

"In Tanzania, the market is flooded with wines from SA, so we have a wide variety to choose from. I sometimes put a few bottles in my luggage and trek to Jamaica with it for my family. Now I won't have to, since I can get it in Jamaica.

"I read your column online every week. Keep up the good work. Life is too short to drink bad wine.

Cheers,

Beryl"