Monthly Archives: October 2011

October 2011

Posted by Roy on October 5, 2011

From the land

The vines in the Hunter Valley are now in full swing.  Lot’s of new shoots have brought some colour back to the vineyard.  We can now see embryo bunches on most varietals.  Let’s hope this wild weather settles as the vines enter their flowering stage.

2011 Ernest Hill Shareholders Shiraz

‘Good wine praises itself’

The feature Hunter Valley wine this month is the 2010 Ernest HillShareholders Shiraz.  I love visiting this boutique producer.  Everything is great: the wine, the people, the ambience.
At the 2011 Hunter Valley Wine Show, the 2010 Shareholders Shiraz took the trophy for ‘One year old dry red’.  This medium bodied wine is showing mulberry and blackberry characters and a hint of pepper spice.  Maturation in a combination of old and new French and American oak barrels has further enriched the wine displaying soft tannins and a lingering finish.
Short to medium cellaring.

‘A smiling face is half the meal’

The feature Hunter Valley restaurant this month isEmerson’s in Pokolbin.  This restaurant has been awarded  ’2011 Best New Restaurant’ in the region and has also received a ‘Chefs Hat” from Australian Good Food and Travel Guide.   Emerson has provided a tasty spatchcock recipe on the diVine blog.  Click here.

Where to Stay

If you’re looking for somewhere special to stay for your next visit to the Hunter Valley, be sure to visit theRed Spice web page.  There are numerous accommodation options to suit a range of budgets in and around the Hunter region.

Keith Tulloch Cellar Door

What’s New

Keith Tulloch has opened their new cellar door.  This beautiful new complex overlooks the Brokenback range and is located on the corner of Deasys and Hermitage Road, Pokolbin,  There are three separate buildings; the winery, cellar door and restaurant.  The cellar door has four separate tasting areas.  There is the balcony with cushioned benches, the main room with leather lounges and  rustic timber tables, members room with fireplace and a private group room with a table big enough for 18 people.  Their restaurant is opening soon and with be run by the team from Muse restaurant.

‘I heard it through the grapevine’

Plans are underway for another iconic building in the Hunter Valley.  Eagles Rest is a new complex that will be built on the corner of McDonalds Rd and Oakey Creek Road.  The building will be set into the hillside and includes a winery, large dome-shaped barrel room, cellar door and restaurant.  The buildings will be guarded by a big eagle statue.  Plans are currently on display at Cessncok council.

 

Emerson’s – Seafood Paella

Posted by Roy on October 4, 2011

Seafood Paella

Ingredients  -  Serves 4

16 green prawns
12 fresh black mussels
16 fresh cockles
3 fresh squid
1 chorizo sausage
250g short grain rice
1ltr of chicken stock
200g smoked cured pork
1 Spanish onion
1 small red capsicum
2 cloves garlic
pinch of good saffron strands
salt & pepper to taste

Method:

Clean squid and slice into rings, peel prawns and devein, wash cockles and debeard mussels. In a medium paella pan or medium frying pan sauté the dice onion and crushed garlic on a medium heat. Add capsicum, chorizo, pork and sauté for another 5 minutes then add your rice, saffron and add ¼ of chicken stock. Keep adding the remaining stock and all the seafood until rice has absorbed all of the chicken stock. Season to taste and serve.

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