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THE JUG SHOP
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Tasmania - Land of Mystery When we talk to people who have heard a little about Australia, one of the regions that always attracts the most curiosity is the island of Tasmania. This extends to wine enthusiasts as well, especially those who love pinot noir. It is a land of mystery to many, with stories of Tasmanian tigers and devils filling our imaginations of a wild and strange land. It is without a doubt a beautiful place of lush, green valleys and beautiful vistas, in some ways more reminiscent of England than of Oz. The island is one of Australia's six states and is roughly the size of West Virginia with a population just under half a million. (Factoid: The population of West Virginia is more than three times that at about 1.8 million.) Because almost half of Tasmania is reserved for national parks and world heritage sites, much of the island's economy focuses on tourism. From a wine perspective, Tasmania's cool climate is suited primarily to delicate whites and reds. Pinot noir is probably the island's most popular grape with aromatic varieties such as pinot gris, riesling, and gewurztraminer becoming more fashionable. Pinots from Tassie have much in common with counterparts from Burgundy and Oregon, showing savory notes and elegant structure. The whites are lean and precise when young, but broaden and intensify with bottle age. In recent years, Tasmanian chardonnay and pinot noir have become increasingly sourced for Australia's booming demand for quality sparkling wine-- so much so that almost 1/3 of the island's grapes are destined for fizz. Although the island now boasts 90 or so wineries, these account for only 1/2 of 1% of Australia's total wine production. With such limited output, very little is exported to the US and even then, only a handful of wineries are represented here in America. Following on the heels of Jug Shop Aussie wine specialist Chuck Hayward's partnership with The Cellar at Macy's Union Square and Tourism Tasmania (see below,) on Sunday we'll be treating you to a taste of Tassie at the Jug Shop Wine Bar. Racy fizz, aromatic and zippy whites, and flavorful pinots will be poured from wineries such as Jansz, Clover Hill, Pirie Estate, Tamar Ridge, Frogmore Creek, Lalla Gully, Spring Vale and Pipers Brook. We hear a little of that famous Tassie cheese is also in the works! Taste of Tasmania Sunday, January 18th 3pm to 5pm $10 per person To read more about Tasmania's wine industry, check out the May 2008 issue of Chuck's Down Under Discoveries. _____________________ Join Chuck and Chef Laura McIntosh on Saturday, January 17th for "Taste Tasmania" at Macy's Union Square. Chef Laura, host of the traveling cooking program Bringing It Home With Laura McIntosh , will be preparing culinary delights from Tasmanian produce, paired with Tassie wines selected by Chuck. This event is free to the public and seating is first-come, first-served. - Saturday, January 17th, 4pm to 5pm, The Cellar at Macy's, 170 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco. Follow The Jug Shop on Twitter! Visit Twitter.com/jugshop Facebook users can become a fan of The Jug Shop here! |
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