Preservative Free Wine

Sulphur Dioxide or S02 is a natural by-product of wine-making. I don't admit to knowing a lot about the science or use of sulphur dioxide as an additive to the wine-making process, but for the fact its use as an antimicrobial agent and antioxidant preserves the wine quality and freshness. Along with over-consumption, it's all the additives and preservatives that tend to give you the "my head has been gripped in a vice and a thousand Russian Cossacks have been dancing on my brain" feeling after a night out on the tiles. Simplified, the quality of the grape - the ratio of residual sugar to alcohol will determine how much sulphur dioxide is added.

My own personal experience with organic and preservative free wines has largely been very positive.There are a few I think you should try, including this Italian branded "Zero" Vendemmia 2011 Sulphur Dioxide free wine I tried on the weekend. It has cherry and Christmas cake notes with a hint of smoke. It's retails at $29.99 a bottle or as it's advertised in my local for $22.99 as a part of a 6-pack. So whilst it's not necessarily a "weekday" wine - I have no issue to spend the extra dollars on something I know I am going to enjoy, and something a little more "green".

Another great preservative free wine is Australian made King Valley's La Cantina Sangiovese or Cabernet Sauvignon. You can buy La Cantina from Dan Murphy's or check their website out here

And perhaps a lesser known organic wine which I first tried at No 10 William St Winebar at Paddington, called Hochkirch Maximus Pinot Noir from Henty in Western Victoria. You can pick up it up by the bottle or case from Organic Wine's website which you can check out by clicking here

Bucket List Wines

"Wine is the most healthful and hygienic of beverages"

So said Louis Pasteur. Or if you are like me, wine is one of many things including a much cheaper version of therapy - particularly on a Friday at say uh, 5:00 O'clock. I have a local bottle shop which has a great mix of Australian and European wines and I really enjoy trying something new. The problem I always seem to have is remembering what I enjoyed and wasn't so mad about. I have walked into my local on countless occasions and stood in front of shelves bursting with thousands of bottles of liquid-goodness trying to recall the name of the wine, the region or at least the grape variety! So begins the game of charades with staff there "Last time I got a Pinot Noir here from Canberra...I think it had a white label?" (hands wildly gesticulating to indicate the shelf placement of the said bottle is met by doe-eyed expressions) "Ok what about the wine that was over there (traffic control hands again) and it was some sort of collaboration of 3 winemakers and I think one of them was like from the Hunter Valley or somewhere..." (now met by wider doe-eyed expression).

Later I discover the Pinot from Canberra is actually from Geelong and the Hunter Valley winemaker is actually Grant Burge from the Barossa. Well, that was before I decided that I would use my Iphone to photograph the wines recommended to me and the wines I enjoyed. Wine porn has become my fail safe method of ensuring guaranteed satisfaction much like the little black book was to Casanova. In frequenting my local - I have developed a bit of a rapport with one of the staff. For the sake of keeping the theme post-related we will call him AL KOHOLIC. AL has great wine knowledge and I have bought enough wine there now (please, no intervention is yet needed) that he knows my palate well to make suggestions as to wine he is pretty sure I will like. I do however enjoy challenging his wine skill by throwing down the gauntlet "Give me a wine you were even surprised how good it was for the price". Budget 10 bucks. That sort of thing. Us wine snobs sure know how to have fun.

JJ Hahn Barossa Valley Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 $24.99

So my Wine porn camera roll is more like my Wine Bucket List, wines I want to tick off as "popped the cork on it already". Below are a few that feature, and I will most certainly keep adding and subtracting along the way. For now Vive Le Vino!

Shephard's Trail Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir

Serafino McClarenvale Shiraz 2010 $32.99