S+S Guide to Melbourne Wine Bars

Following on from our last guide to Adelaide Wine Bars, Dan Coward was given the challenge to come up with a guide to Melbourne venues. Melbourne has so much to offer, and after much deliberation, sweat and tears, these are our recommendations, although this article carries a large disclaimer that it is simply not possible to provide a comprehensive Wine Bar guide to Melbourne in under 1000 words... 

There is literally no way to cover off Melbourne’s thriving wine bar scene in under 1000 words (or glasses?), but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to try. During the day drink in the bustling majesty of the City Wine Shop, with its enticing wall of wine, surfeit of global Riesling and the best schnitzel around, before heading upstairs in the wee hours to get lost in the wine bible and comfy chesterfields at the Supper Club. Elsewhere in town Cumulus Up (above Cumulus Inc) is a wine destination in its own right, while Movida Aqui has you covered if you’re in an Iberian sort of mood. For a dynamic one-two punch south of the CBD go to Bellota Wine Bar with its easy European style and the encyclopedic knowledge of the Price Wine Store team before resting up at the big bar table of Port Melbourne’s Harry & Frankie. Like several of its contemporaries Harry & Frankie applies a modest drink-in corkage fee to any of the bottles along its walls. It’s a great way to try something more expensive without breaking the bank. North of the city and your attention could be split between Carlton institution, Gerald’s Bar, and Fitzroy mainstay, the Gertrude Street Enoteca. Both are small, utterly authentic and obsessed with good wine. Finally, if you’re not exhausted or broke head west to Clever Polly’s for a walk on the vinous wild side and then even further west to the Seddon Wine Store to escape the madding crowds. And if you need even more suggestions than that…you’re made of stronger stuff than us…

28/05/2015 at 12:00 PM Permalink

Winner of the Shaw + Smith Tasting Room Competition

Winner of the Shaw + Smith Shiraz Vertical Selection and Nick Mount Decanter

Congratulations to Gabby Tait who has won our Tasting Room competition drawn on 1 May 2015. Gabby will receive the Shaw + Smith vertical Shiraz selection plus a Nick Mount decanter. 
 

Thank you to everyone who entered this competition. The draw date for the next Tasting Room competition is 30 September 2015.

11/05/2015 at 10:00 AM Permalink

2015 Sauvignon Blanc classification

Today is International Sauvignon Blanc Day, and while we weren't aware of this fact until around lunchtime today, it is still fitting that the team has been tasting through our new vintage Sauvignon Blanc batches for classification. 

Martin Shaw, Adam Wadewitz and David LeMire tasted individual batches of the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc and the consensus was that this vintage shows consistent and even quality, with the different vineyard sources all performing very highly. 

In David's words: "Lovely aromatics, crisp acidity and great flavours."

The 2015 Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc is scheduled for release in July 2015. 

24/04/2015 at 4:30 PM Permalink

S+S GUIDE TO ADELAIDE'S BEST WINE BARS

The S+S team travels frequently and between us, we spend quite a bit of time in restaurants and wine bars. We have started to put together a list of some of our favourite venues around Australia to share our experiences and thoughts with you, starting this month with Dan Coward's guide to Adelaide wine bars. 

Once upon a time Adelaide had the Universal Wine Bar and Krug at the Exeter Hotel and that was about it. Well the Krug is still there but the wine bar scene has exploded dramatically in the last few years. Go west for cocktail lists, late night juke joints and the forever young Apothecary 1878, or head east for the vinous beating heart. The Tasting Room, part of the iconic East End Cellars, slices charcuterie and pours a small but interesting list by the glass, while offering you a whole wine shop of bottles to drink in with a small corkage charge. Across the road Mother Vine blends the classics – Sherry, Nebbiolo and Burgundy – with top Aussie producers like Wendouree, Ochota Barrels and SC Pannell. Just round the corner Africola completes the picture with quirky local labels next to South African pioneers. 

With the best views of the city, newly opened 2KW (at 2 King William Street) has had a stunning fit out. Dress smartly and drink classically. Venture down Waymouth Street and Proof (behind the brilliant Press) provides the perfect dark corners to imbibe from an extensive wine list curated by journo Tim White and local young gun Dave Currie. Another making waves is Travis Tausend at Cork Wine Café on Gouger Street, where quirky cloudy bottles are the order of the day. Cantina Sociale (pictured) is rambunctious, complete with wines from barrel and great snacks, while the latest welcome entrant on the scene is Bar Torino, next to Chianti on Hutt Street, championing all things Mediterranean. Finding interesting wine in Adelaide has really never been so much fun.

13/03/2015 at 4:27 PM Permalink

Recent winner of Shaw + Smith Shiraz Vertical Selection & Nick Mount Decanter

Congratulations to Liz Hoklas - you won the Shaw + Smith vertical Shiraz pack and Nick Mount decanter.
Thank you to everyone who has entered our recent competition.

12/01/2015 at 1:00 PM Permalink