Hunter Valley winemakers embrace chaos at wine tasting

Since 2008, the Wine Media Conference (formerly Wine Bloggers Conference) has taken place in different wine regions. Historically, those locations have been in North America but this year they’ve descended upon Hunter Valley Wine Country in New South Wales, Australia.

As a part of this conference, wine writers participate in a “live blogging” or “live social” event, which is like a speed dating event where wine producers present their wines to wine writers with a 5 minute limit for each wine. At the same time those wine writers attempt to write about those wines. Many publish short posts to Twitter, Instagram or Facebook while others will brave it and try to blog about the event in real time.

The result is friggin’ chaos! Ambitious writers think they can taste wines and write thorough reviews in real time, 5 minutes per wine. I’ve done that before. It’s miserable and typically doesn’t do justice to the wines.

Although it’s chaos, it’s also fun. So let’s have some fun.

This time I’m trying a new approach. Rather than undertake the futile exercise of trying to review each wine, I’m going to showcase the fun of this event and the character of Hunter Valley winemakers with a series of photos capturing the wines and winemakers in the white and rosé wine live tasting. Enjoy!

Oakvale Rosé

Mount Pleasant, Lovedale Semillon

Misty Glen Semillon

Glandore Estate Caméléon Savagnin

They are the only growers or Savagnin in the Hunter Valley

First Creek, Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay

Most awarded chardonnay in the Hunter Valley.

Degen, Hunter Valley, Chardonnay

Smallest commercial vineyard in the Hunter Valley – a claim that the folks at Wombat Crossing also make, but Degen say they have 5 fewer acres under vine.

Brokenwood, ILR Reserve, Semillon

This one has plenty of fruit and plenty of acidity.

Tulloch , Verdelho

This producer is about to celebrate 125 years of history in the Hunter Valley. This wine is made to be accessible, and it is. At $16/bottle this one is right up my alley.

de iuliis, Fiano

This is a thick-skinned grape variety that helps provide disease resistance. But do you care about that or just that it tastes yummy, yummy, yummy?

Tyrrell’s, Semillon

This is the last wine of the tasting for me and it’s a memorable one. I bought a bottle of their 2014, although this is the 2019. Still quite good. $25/AUS is a good price for this wine. I think this guy may be Prince William’s long lost brother.

Thomas Wines, Braemore, Semillon

Breaking the rules, this producer stopped by our table after the official tasting ended to get one more plug. Good on them! It’s a very bright and lively Semillon. Delicious.