Show Business

Show Business

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday July 12, 2006

KERRY SKINNER

Coolangatta Estate will represent the region at the wine industry's main event. KERRY SKINNER reports.

The continued emergence of the Shoalhaven will be highlighted at Wine Australia this weekend when Coolangatta Estate owner and vigneron Greg Bishop co-hosts an educational session on semillon.

Bishop will join well-known winemakers Trevor Drayton and John Cassegrain in Wine Australia's regional theatre at 3pm on Sunday for a comparison of semillons from the Shoalhaven, Hunter and Hastings regions.

Coolangatta Estate will be the only Shoalhaven winery represented at Australia's biggest wine show which runs from July 14-17 at the Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.

Bishop sees Wine Australia as a three-pronged opportunity - to promote the Shoalhaven, to showcase his own wines and to draw visitors to the historic Coolangatta Estate village, the first European settlement on the South Coast. The convict-built village, constructed in 1822, offers accommodation and dining and is surrounded by magnificent vineyards and a golf course.

"This is our first time at Wine Australia but we often go to these sorts of things, mainly to encourage visitors to our region," Bishop said.

"It's not just about wine, we try and get people to come down and visit the region and stay overnight."

Winemaker Andrew Spinaze, who makes Coolangatta's wines at Tyrrell's in the Hunter Valley, believes the Shoalhaven winery has the potential to produce world-class semillon and sparkling chardonnay.

Coolangatta already makes some of Australia's best semillon and Bishop is keen to continue that tradition, concentrating on quality rather then increasing the yearly 4000-5000 case output.

Spinaze, a former Australian winemaker of the year, has recently bottled Coolangatta's latest range of wines and both he and Bishop are delighted with quality.

Coolangatta's current portfolio will be available for tastings throughout Wine Australia on Saturday and Sunday.

More than 350 wineries will be represented under the one roof at Wine Australia. Visit www.wineaustralia2006.com.au for the full program, session details, booking forms and prices.