Cloudwine Cellars

13/03/2021

The Riverlands is back baby! Ricca Terra is making fantastic wines from grapes far far away from the Australian mainstream......

Ok - we admit it. Riverlands is hardly a region to get you hot under the collar with respect to quality wine but times are changing. Ashely & Holly Ratcliffe established their first Ricca Terra vineyards in the region back in 2003. They quickly formed they view that it was Southern Italian, Span...

03/03/2021

Old trail blazers never die........they just evolve and get better!

“…Bannockburn produces outstanding wines across the range, all with individuality, style, great complexity and depth of flavour. The low-yielding estate vineyards play their role." James Halliday There’s no doubt the reputation of Geelong has risen more sharply than any other Victorian wine re...

26/02/2021

Every wine region in Australia has a champion, a flag bearer, a gold standard. Likewise for varietals; there's a producer that garners wide-spread recognition for being the best of the best.

"The greatest Australian Pinot Noirs are those of Gippsland’s Bass Phillip...I was lucky to be present at the first official tasting in 1991 of the pinots made by Phillip Jones between 1984 and ’89, and knew I was in the presence of greatness." James Halliday Every wine region in Australia has a...

21/02/2021

Our weekly update on on all things New Releases, Wine Show Award winners and Critics Favourites.....some absolutely crackers contained within!

Hi everyone! As per ususual no shortage of amazing wine hitting the shelf. I have to say, after spending the last 5 years in Phuket Thailand, I will never ever complain about the sheer diversity of wine types on the retail shelves here in Oz (compared to a small sea of generic swill from France and....

18/02/2021

Our latest offer on wines from Henty superstar Crawford River. I reckon these guys are now making Australia's BEST Riesling!! No kidding!

"Crawford River is now a foremost producer of Riesling (and other excellent wines), originally thanks to the unremitting attention to detail and skill of its founder and winemaker, John Thomson." James Halliday "Pound for pound one of the greatest wines in Australia, by my reckoning, value and quali...

14/02/2021

Our semi-regular wrap up of selected new releases, critics darlings and a few heavily discounted wines. Remember free delivery to most of the country for orders over $200. Cheers!

Critics Favs I can't help but wonder if Turkey Flat has fallen from the Barossa 'cool kids' list but there is no way is should have given the incredible vineyard assets and ultra consistent winemaking. The 2019 Grenache ($39.99) is a great case in point; 100yr+ vineyard material and reviews to die f...

31/01/2021

A quick snapshot of some new (& not so new) wines that have excited us in recent times!

Critics Favs Canberra’s Mount Majura scored a spectacular Shiraz vintage in 2018 with Gold Medals @ the NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show and the Canberra & Region Wine Show. James Halliday is a fan as well, scoring the wine 96pts. Yet another classic case of an amazing low-key wine that gets hid...

12/12/2020

Germany & Austria 2019 Seems folks are starting to get a little excited about just how good these ‘Northern’ European whites might be for 2019. Our full range from both countries can be found here and here. “Will 2019 be the breakthrough vintage for German wine? Could it persuade Riesling-...

24/10/2020

Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Syrah 2018 $34

Benchmark single vineyard Mornington Shiraz right here. If South OZ fruit bombs are your (only) thing then stop reading!

Wonderfully elegant and balanced. Indeed I think this comfortably sits aside Scorpo and Paringa as a top 3 Mornington Peninsula Shiraz. The winery website is well worth checking out and in particularly the terrior-geek and Burgundian-like focus on subplots and soil types is impressive.

96pts James Halliday.

Use code FBYABBY20 to get a $20 discount on your total order if you buy 6 or more wines from Yabby Lake (ex Red Claw).

Shop here https://cloudwine.com.au/search?type=product&q=yabby%20lake*

22/08/2020

Our store

22/08/2020

22/08/2020

It can be hard to find a gift that is genuinely unique and interesting for Father's Day but we reckon we might have a solution for you!

Karu Distillery, located in Grose Vale NSWs, have a released a Gin sampling kit that provides not only 4 high quality artisan gins but also a mini shaker and botanicals. Once received you can then follow-up the on-line masterclass with links and information provided in the pack.

Only $69 each plus $10 shipping to Melbourne / Sydney / Brisbane. Buy 3 kits get free shipping!

BUY NOW
https://cloudwine.com.au/collections/spirits/products/virtual-gin-masterclass-set-karu-distillery

Kit Contains:
1 x 30mL Karu Affinity Gin 44%
1 x 30mL Karu Lightning Gin 57.5%
1 x 30mL Karu Barrel-Aged Gin 47%
1 x 60mL Gin Colada 28.8%
1 x Cocktail Garnish
1 x Mini Cocktail Shaker
2 x Botanical Samples
Tasting Mat
Distiller Information & Masterclass Link

03/06/2020

Hi folks,

I thought I would give a delayed plug to the 'Saturday 6 Pack' newsletter we released back in early April. There are some good savings to be had by 'buying in bulk' (so to speak) and thankfully all wines are still available.

https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=fa6d1c75ebe6c724c037891ae&id=129b575ffd

My personal pick?

The Euro 1/2 bottle red pack. I'm a sucker for trying new styles and this selection allows an economical look at some absolute classics from France and Italy (with a rogue Grenache thrown in from Spain for good measure).

Be well, drink well, stay safe!

Last year we advertised Luca Maroni's 99 point Masso Antico Primitivo Appassito 2017 and sold 100 dozen in a week.   Judging by the repeat orders, it was a hit.  We now have the 2018 and this promises to be the best yet.    First, it's done the double, this new 2018 also scored 99 points by L...

08/04/2020

With all that is going on in the world jumping onto FB to give various wines a plug is not my first priority but in order to create a bit of normality links to the 2 most recent newsletters can be found below.

The doors are still open (hours as per normal) and our on-line sales are going gang-busters (we have never seen it so busy). We have staff in-store picking and packing everyday so expect to experience Cloudwine's typical rapid order fulfillment. That said, Australia Post is getting jammed at the moment with on-line deliveries so in some instances we are seeing small delays.

Thanks so much for everyone's on-going support and stay safe during these tough times.

My picks from the newsletters? The points / price ration doesn't get any better than McLaren Vale's Bondar Shiraz (97pts / $22.50!); loaded with straight forward fresh lifted fruits.

If you like your Shiraz a little more, um, 'sophisticated' then check out Ravenwood's effort from 2018. The undeniable rising star from Canberra with a well deserved 'baby Clonakilla' tag.

https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=fa6d1c75ebe6c724c037891ae&id=7ada06fa17

https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=fa6d1c75ebe6c724c037891ae&id=d502742f3fu=fa6d1c75ebe6c724c037891ae&id=7ada06fa17

Last year we advertised Luca Maroni's 99 point Masso Antico Primitivo Appassito 2017 and sold 100 dozen in a week.   Judging by the repeat orders, it was a hit.  We now have the 2018 and this promises to be the best yet.    First, it's done the double, this new 2018 also scored 99 points by L...

06/02/2020

Our new wall!

17/01/2020

Good Afternoon,

Hot off the press newsletter attached.

https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=fa6d1c75ebe6c724c037891ae&id=2201a0d3fc

A few personal faves that I am compelled to give a plug too....

Crudo - the 'entry' point label for Yarra Valley's Luke Lambert. Luke has always made elegant, sophisticated wines that make a point of emphasising smart secondary nuances (think savoury fruits, earth and minerals etc etc). When he first hit the scene these styles were at great odds with the popular image of Australian wine (fruit bomb party wines!). So glad he has persevered and really quite amazing to be able to buy wines like this at the price.

Also worth taking a look at the Adelina Riesling. These guys have somehow managed to ALWAYS source fruit from super old / super impressive vineyards in the Clare and this is a great example (sourced from an old Leo Buring vineyard no less!).

Have a good weekend.........

CW Crew

Hi Folks,  I've been writing the Cloudwine newsletter for 20 years now and sometimes you just know when a wine nails it and the review from the wine scribe hits bulls-eye.  Crudo Yarra Valley Shiraz does that.  A few years ago Gary Walsh wrote "Luke Lambert is a genius. One of the most gifted w...

20/12/2019

Hi folks,

If you are scrambling for last minuet gifts do take a look at the wines in the attached newsletter from last week.

Tassie continues to cement its credentials as Australia's leading Pinot region with the Tertini 2018 winning the 'Best Pinot Noir in Australia' at the Australian Pinot Noir Challenge.

Meanwhile Riesling continues to prove to be the outstanding value white wine, particularly in the sub $20 segment. Case in point - Reilly's 2018 from Clare Valley - recently nominated as WineState's Riesling of the Year.

https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=fa6d1c75ebe6c724c037891ae&id=f574e517d8

What a perfect time it win RESLING OF THE YEAR TROPHY!    That's right, the Reillys Watervale Riesling 2018 has been awarded Best Riesling at the Winestate Wine of the Year Awards! This is on top of the 96+ Rating and Elite Gold it was awarded at the 2019 Canberra International Riesling Challeng...

24/11/2019

G'day folks.....

Latest Cloudwine Newsletter attached featuring Tasmania's Home Hill 'Kelly Reserve' Pinot 2018, recent winner of the 'Best Boutique Wine in Australia' gong @ the Australia & NZ Boutique Wine Show.

Whilst not exactly 'budget' at $75 the price pales into comparison when considering most base level Burgundy hitting shores is now $60 - $70+. What does not pale into comparison is the quality.....(new) world class stuff here.

https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=fa6d1c75ebe6c724c037891ae&id=75aace9ba1

Trophy Best Pinot Noir - Wine Show of Western Australia 2018 "A beautifully crafted pinot noir" Toni Paterson 96 points - James Halliday

27/10/2019

New Release Alert - Benedikt Baltes

German is all about Riesling right? Well.....not always it seems. We have just received word that the exicting Pinot Noir's from Fraken's emerging superstar Benedit Baltes have hit our shores.

These Spatburgunders (the correct German name) are grown on some spectacularly steep and ancient vineyard sites around the old town of Klingenberg. The grapes are grown to strict organic and biodynamic principles (certified in 2016). Note the sheep in the picture below - these are the dedicated w**d killers!

Thankfully Benedikt does not price like his Burgundian cousins with the lower priced wines really quite affordable in the current market context.

A selection of the wines can be found at Cloudwine's sister website European Wine Collective (link below). If interested please be quick as they won't last long.

https://www.europeanwinecollective.com.au/search?q=benedikt

".....this is not the first time that Benedikt Baltes has come to my attention. His Spatburgunders turned my head at the Weinborse in 2015 with their energy, purity and structure. But it's been four years since I tasted his wines and I'd forgotten quite how much ready please (and good value, when you look at the recent prices of certain other German wines!) his entry-level Pinot delivers." Jancis Robinson

24/10/2019

If you had told me 5+ years ago we'd be giving 'hippy wines' a big plug I would have laughed you off in a heart beat! Truth is organic / biodynamic / natural wine trend ain't going to disappear anytime soon and why should it?

Taste-wise organic wine is largely indistinguishable from those that aren't and of course the real and obvious benefits (chemical free, respect for the grapes, soil & immediate environment) transcend the drink.

The pace at which many respected producers are converting to organics and biodynamics is at an all time high and more often than not it is very traditional wineries from the likes of Champagne and Burgundy leading the charge.

We have put together an overview of Organic vs. Biodynamic vs. Natural Wines vs. Vegan Friendly wines at our sister store 'European Wine Collective'.

europeanwinecollective.com.au/collections/vegan-test

Here at Cloudwine with have assembled a selection of 100+ wines that we believe are great examples of the genre. Links to wine searches for organics, biodynamics and vegan friendly can be found in the links below:

https://cloudwine.com.au/search?type=product&q=organic*

cloudwine.com.au/search?type=product&q=vegan*

In many instances a committed organic grape grower and winemaker will aim to satisfy all 4 definitions. For each of the handpicked wines in our selection we have noted in bold red text the relevant attributes. Please note we have opted not to define any wine as Natural given (1) a winemaker's interpretation can differ significantly and (2) there are no uniform 'official' standards across the globe as to what constitutes a Natural Wine.

Do yourself and the environment a favour!

23/08/2019

We were remiss (ok I was...no one else!) in posting to FB a newsletter from last week featuring some of the best value wines from the brand new edition of James Halliday's 'Wine Companion'.

https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=fa6d1c75ebe6c724c037891ae&id=84ef5ee041

Some amazing value to be had from $20 to $40 with the Toolangi Chardonnay ($38) particularly impressive.

And....if you can stretch to $75 you can pick-up Mosswood's 'Ribbon Vale' Merlot which Halliday's claims is the best Australian Merlot he has ever tasted!! Get some I say.....

20/08/2019

18/08/2019

We will be getting into the habit of scouring the web 1 or 2 times a week for interesting news, articles and the like.

Please see links below for some useful and educational reads.....

Informative and easy reading guide to Champagne.....

https://www.winemag.com/2019/07/23/a-beginners-guide-to-champagne/?fbclid=IwAR2LnEyBeVgvfKJh2I7kANZuycBDmIizxqfF13BzUEp3IPJTT4xPMDPh5ak

Good article this; makes a great point about how 'traditional' methods of describing wine (ie craming as many inane flavour observations in as possible) is really not helpful at all. I've always found wine easy to describe in terms of structure and 'feel'....

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/15/dining/drinks/wine-terms.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Feric-asimov&action=click&contentCollection=undefined®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=collection&fbclid=IwAR0kQguj5eIMImVWv_wGRbbMNvypjC3P1JZCTp9PltcB1wvjumcnNmWVAGM

Concrete eggs anyone?

https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2019/08/the-incredible-concrete-wine-egg

Champagne is more than just fancy sparkling wine. Learn how it's made, what the different terms means and who the important players are in this guide.

09/08/2019

Good afternoon

Latest newsletter can be found at the link below

https://mailchi.mp/cloudwine.com.au/newsletter-226063

Feature wine is the excellent Leeuwin Estate Art Series Shiraz from 2016 that has just been named 'Best Red Under $40' from WE wine guru Ray Jordan. Cracking value at $36.

02/08/2019

Wine Tasting Tomorrow - Wondrous Winter Whites @ European Wine Store (1pm to 3pm)

Who says you shouldn’t drink whites in winter?

Crazy talk!

We love them all year round, with or without food. Tomorrow we present you with some of Australia’s best whites from around the country – Eden Valley, Beechworth, Heathcote, Sunbury, Adelaide Hills and Gippsland – in a glorious lineup to prove that a chilled white can beat the winter chill.

The Poonawatta Riesling is a thing of beauty made using free run juice from gnarly 47yo vines grown on a single 2 hectare plot.

The Sorrenberg Sauvignon Blanc Semillon is exquisite and ‘arguably Australia’s best white wine’ according to Mike Bennie.

We’ve got a little bit of funk with William Downie’s popular Save Our Souls Vermentino.

The Lobethal Road Pinot Gris is handpicked, whole punch pressed with 20% barrel fermentation for 100% deliciousness.

The latest Craiglee Chardonnay is a masterclass in simple done well.

Bass River produces one of only a handful of locally made Iced Rieslings and this one is a ripper, awarded Best Sweet Wine at the Gippsland Wine Show.

See you tomorrow.

01/08/2019

G'day - latest Cloudwine Newsletter in the link below.

https://mailchi.mp/9ac121974546/newsletter-226047

Big focus on Pinot this week and in particular the re-release of some very highly rated wines due to cancelled orders and failed pick-ups (very small quantities available however).

Don't forget free freight for all orders over $200 (Australia-wide).

01/08/2019

20/02/2019

15 Year old Spanish Tempranillo, 14 year Old Heathcote Shiraz and 13 year old Vouvray! - https://mailchi.mp/b56dbc25267f/f-225699

13/02/2019

The Pinot with 3 Trophies, 6 golds and a 96 point rating. Plus other great wines. - https://mailchi.mp/df32dbcb7765/f-225695

12/06/2018

http://mailchi.mp/b44807c8ddac/f-225519

You read the headline correctly, we have a Spanish Tempranillo at $24 a bottle but delivered in a 6-pack timber box!  Perfect for your cellar or for a gift.  The Wine is Capa Tempranillo 2016 and the timber box is pictured to the right.  Such timber boxes are usually reserved for wines above $14...