Blog
A Trip to McLaren Vale
I’ve just moved to Adelaide from Perth. For me it’s a new town; I’ve never been here before and have no friends here but while studying the WSET Advanced Certificate and Diploma I learnt a lot about the regions, in particular wine; Clare Valley, Eden Valley, Barossa Valley, Riverland, Adelaide…
Villages to visit in Provence
Provence borders Italy on the east with the famous Côte d'Azur/French Riviera to the south and to Avignon to the west and the start of the Rhone Valley up to just south of Grenoble. It is a huge region and such an amazing place to explore. In August, I was…
Rosé
I really enjoy tasting and drinking rosé. It’s not just the flavour profiles but also the association. I can’t help but reminisce of summer when I taste rosé. I feel privileged to be able to taste with the Liquor Barons panel every two weeks which is fantastic not just to…
Exploring Provence on a bike
Cabrières-d'Avignon to Roussillon to Bonnieux The sweet smell of a Provencal summer is just delightful after having had a cold for most of the Australian winter. I feel privileged to be able to visit Provence where I can rest up, relax and enjoy the summer sunshine. While I was staying…
Developing Your Palate
I love trying and tasting new wines; developing the palate with different grape varieties and styles is always worth exploring. And tasting wines from Italy, France and Australia is the perfect way to spend a rainy day! I think we all enjoyed the tasting! Prosecco Borgo Molino (Treviso Italy): We…
Great value Malaysian cuisine in Perth
If you’re looking for a good value, tasty dinner, quick service and a cheap night out in the Western Suburbs, try Nasi Lemak Korner in Mosman Park. Last Monday, I went out with my sister as it was her last night in Perth before she flew back to Europe. On…
Leaving 4G behind; bush camping over Easter
I enjoy my job; being online, posting and following companies and bloggers on social media and being ‘connected’ to the world. And I love developing my palate by tasting a range of beers and wines. But I also love getting outdoors; getting away from it all and spending time with…
Labour Day Weekend
Three day weekends are great. It means you can make that weekend trip away more enjoyable as you have more time, you can relax and know that you go back to work with just 4 days that week. Whether or not you do or don’t love work, time away from…
A Belated New Year
As it is still January as I write this (but took me a while to post this...) I felt at the time I could justify saying ‘Happy New Year’. A New Year for me is the opportunity to reflect on the previous year and a chance to think about what…
Beer and baby and surf…can it go all together in a weekend without leaving you exhausted?
Earlier in November, I headed down to Margaret River with hubby and 16 month old son. We were renting a house with 4 other couples and their children. The plan was to chill and enjoy the weather which was set to be rather warm on Saturday, the first hot day…
Beer and Beef Festival at Elizabeth Quay
Last weekend I went to the Beer and Beef Festival at Elizabeth Quay. $35 got you into the open aired venue plus a pint of beer, not bad value for Perth! Then it was $20 for a tasting card for 10 different beers. There were some big names and small…
Provençal wines
During part of the summer this year, I was lucky enough to be able to stay at my parents’ place in Provence. It’s been many years since I first left home and it’s wonderful to be ‘back’! This time though it’s different, in particular the location. Having a base among…
Le Tour de France with wine
Le Tour de France is underway. What a journey...biking over 3,000 kilometres in 3 weeks! Not sure I could manage that myself.....but you never know unless you try....In any case, I thought Le Tour de France with wine sounded like a great idea for a wine tasting so I went…
Birthdays
I love birthdays! Some people don't like celebrating but I think it's important more than ever to celebrate a birthday, especially now when 1 in 3 of us will get cancer in our lifetime....and we never know when our time is up. So celebrate while we are here, that's what…
An afternoon wine tasting in the city
At the weekend, on Saturday, I went to the ‘Taste the Great Southern’ event in the Postal Hall, the elegant foyer next to Petition Wine Bar and Merchant. From 12-4pm, we were spoilt with significant nibbles, canapés and international cheese not to mention amazing wine and all for $30. The…
Little Creatures Beer School
I’ve been lucky enough to attend lots of consumer wine tastings across England, France and here in Australia. But I’ve never been to a beer school. Whether you call it ‘craft’ beer or interesting ales or you’ve noticed a rise in brewers with bigger and bushier beards, there’s no denying…
Paddling to Rottnest
I think sport is a bit like wine....I find it brings together people from different walks of life....you end up meeting some people you never would have otherwise...So I love sport as I love wine....Take a team sport like rugby as an example. I played it at university for two…
Happy New Year
A new year.... and is 2016 really already upon us? Where has 2015 gone? I take New Year's Day to reflect and think...what have I achieved this year? And I then review what has happened in the world this year? So much tragedy, so much pain but there has been…
Gourmet Escape
Last weekend I went to the Gourmet Escape down in Margaret River. It is such a fantastic event and it gets better and better every year. I think there was over 50 wines, 15 restaurants and I counted 8 craft breweries but I’m sure there were more! There were definitely…
AFL and wine tastings
During the weekend of the Grand Final, I headed down to Margaret River. A friend of mine had a room free and I never like to miss a chance to go to Margaret River, especially if it means staying somewhere with friends and at a discount rate! It’s spring and…