WINE VALENTINES DAY CHOCOLATE

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Hollick Winery, Coonawarra, South Australia
With great foresight, Ian Hollick purchased 22 hectares of prime ‘terra rossa’ land in 1974, and planting began a year later with Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1984, Ian established the Hollick Winery and almost immediately began lifting trophies. The estate now measures over 100 hectares in size since the purchase of the Wilgha property.

Ian is fiercely independent, loves life and refuses to make wines that are overblown or dull, which is great news for wine-lovers like myself who prefer to drink a bottle with dinner rather than be served a glass of soup-like Cabernet.

2007 Bond Road Chardonnay
A very fine offering with far more class and finesse than one often thinks of for an Aussie Chardonnay. White peach, fig and honeydew melon with toasted almonds and butterscotch. This richness is balanced by well poised acidity and a fresh, uplifting finish.

Coriole Estate, McLaren Vale, Australia
It is easy to imagine Australia as one large vineyard in climatic terms, but nothing could be further from the truth. Coriole was established by the Lloyd family in 1968 and its location in the Seaview sub-region (of McLaren Vale) looks over the Gulf of St. Vincent and is decidedly Mediterranean. Indeed, Mark Lloyd, who runs the estate, has almost single-handedly revitalised the Australian olive oil industry from his pampered groves on the estate.

Famed for their shiraz, some of the vines date back to 1919, this estate regularly picks up awards both at home and internationally.

2006 Redstone Shiraz
Redstone is the name chosen for this wine, the classic Australian blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Redstone refers to the ironstone that is so common in the vineyards and buildings of Coriole and McLaren Vale.