UK-based wine consultant Tony Park bemoans the lack of support for local wineries at bars and restaurants in Australia. He singles out Canberra.
Although I am based in the UK, I make a yearly trip out to Australia to visit my family and friends and take the opportunity of visiting as many wine regions as possible.
The four regions I visited this year – Orange, Mudgee the Hunter and Canberra – were stunning; brilliant winemakers, super wines, great food, lovely people and some exceptional wine bars/hotels.
I say ‘some’ and I am not naming names, but Canberra still proves to be incredibly disappointing.
In all the other regions I visited, wine bars and hotels had long lists of wines with fab local representation.
As you would expect.
Not in Canberra.
Apart from one wine restaurant in Mort Street, all the other bars and restaurants I visited had less than seven percent Canberra wines on their lists.
One list had 156 different wines but only 11 from Canberra.
Another had 54 wines in total on their list and only three from Canberra.
Three bars/hotels I visited had no Canberra wines by the glass at all.
Why?
As a visitor from England, I don’t want an Italian Chianti or Pinot Grigio, we get bucket loads of it, thanks.
I don’t want four choices of Barossa Shiraz, either, and I certainly don’t want a 2009 Chardonnay from a winemaker who stopped producing wine a decade ago. (I only knew after I ordered it).
Given the amazing quality of Canberra wines, I am really dumbfounded why there isn’t more pride in showcasing what is on your doorstep.
In addition, having spent three days going in and out of cellar doors, the value for money is nuts.
If I lived here I would have a fridge full of the stuff.
Here’s the thing… if the hospitality industry in Canberra can’t get excited and show some enthusiasm and energy about what is on your doorstep, then firstly, how do you expect customers to get excited, and secondly it’s hard to be empathetic with you when you tell me how hard the industry is.
Finally, apart from the excellent Rieslings, I tasted five or six versions of Fiano from the likes of Collector Wines, Brindabella Hills, Linear Wines and Ravensworth and all deserve to be on wine bar lists in the city.
C’mon Canberra, it really isn’t that hard.