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The King of wines? What Charles III has been drinking Down Under
The Australian government treated King Charles III and Queen Camilla to a choice selection of the country’s wines during their royal visit.
As part of the parliamentary reception, hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon, local wines were presented from the country’s finest wine-producing regions.
Inevitably, Shiraz from the Barossa Valley featured, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon from the Margaret River, but one of the biggest surprises was the price point of the wines served.
Perhaps eager to be seen as being restrained, Albanese selected all five bottles to have a retail price of under AU$40 (£20).
The royal wine selection included Josef Chromy Sparkling NV, which normally sells at around AU$32.99 (£16.85), Hentley Farm Eden Valley Riesling at AU$28 (£14.30), Hentley Farm Barossa Shiraz at AU$36.50 (£18.60) and Castelli Silver Series Chardonnay at AU$25 (£12.77).
Affordable
The cheapest wine which was supped by the King and Queen was Cape Mentelle Marmaduke Cabernet Sauvignon, which retails at around AU$18.99, coming in at under a tenner in Sterling.
This affordable bottle is described as having notes of “blue fruits, sweet blackberry and soft florals” with “red and dark berry fruits integrated with fine tannins”.
Cape Mentelle has been a producer in Margaret River since the beginning of the 1970s and its Cabernet Sauvignon is often described as a classic representation of the style.
Premium
At the highest price point was the Hentley Farm Barossa Shiraz, which is produced on the estate’s vineyards in South Australia.
Hentley Farm was established in 1997 by Keith and Alison Hentschke, who had a” single vision to craft exceptional single estate wines from the Barossa Valley”, according to the producer.
The Hentschkes consulted with local winemakers and viticulturalists before committing to a location, with the advice being to “head north west and look for the red/brown soil over limestone”. Here, on the banks of Greenock Creek in the western part of Barossa, the couple began to produce wine with a diversity of soil types, and varying aspects and altitudes.
It has viticultural blocks which are divided into a collection of rows, depending on changes in the soil, aspect and micro-climates. The blocks were planted to Shiraz (70%), Grenache (17%), Cabernet Sauvignon (10%), Zinfandel (2%), and a small parcel of Viognier (0.5%). The first wines were released in 2002.
Fizz
Although staying away from super-premium and fine wines, the King and Queen did have one fizz, the Tasmanian producer Josef Chromy’s Sparkling NV.
According to the producer, the wine has a nose of “pale straw” and aromas of “crisp Granny Smith apple and citrus”. It has a “lively palate” of “crunchy green apple and lemon with hints of toasted biscuit”. It also said that the sparkling wine has “richness and complexity in its youth thanks to delicate aldehydic layering”.
The wine is 57% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay with what the producer describes as “a dash of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris”. Grapes are sourced from its estate vineyard at Relbia in northern Tasmania.
Pairing
Each of the wines was paired with a selection of canapés, again using locally sourced ingredients, including Tasmanian salmon, Bundababerg spanner crab and Griffith salted Murray cod.
In addition, a collection of sweet dishes were offered including frangipane tarts, a Messina caramel slice, wattleseed lamington, cheesecake and Anzac biscuits, which were infamously —and probably mythically – sent to Australian and New Zealand troops serving at Gallipoli in World War 1.
Beer
It wasn’t just wine that was on offer for guests and the King and Queen. Beer from Great Northern, including a non-alcoholic option, as well as Furphy ale was also supplied.
The latter is described as “a clean and crisp, balanced beer with subtle fruit flavours and aromas”, and is made with 100% hops and malts from Victoria.
Great Northern is an abbreviation of The Great Northern Brewing Co, which is owned by brewing giant Carlton & United Breweries, and produces mid- and higher-strength lagers at 3.5% ABV or 4.2% ABV, which are brewed in Queensland at the CUB Yatala Brewery.
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