THE Bendigo and Heathcote Barrel Wine Tasting Weekend is back again and seeking to give guests the chance to slip in behind the cellar door and drink straight from the oak.<\/p>\n
This year the participating venues include Balgownie Estate, Lome Winery, Blackjack Wines, Grangehill Vineyard, Killiecrankie Wines, Sandhurst Ridge Winery, Mandurang Valley Wines, Sutton Grange Winery and Turning Crossing.<\/p>\n
Wes Vine from Mandurang Valley Wines said it was a special weekend for those who attend.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s centred on the workspace in the winery where people have the opportunity to taste wine directly from the barrel,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s a whole range of things people do depending upon which winery they’re visiting. So, it is not going to be the same at each winery.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, we do a blending experience where we get people to taste three individual varieties and then see what the resulting wine looks like when you put the three varieties together in equal parts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Vine said it gives wine lovers a chance to try a rawer product and compare it to something that\u2019s been bottled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main difference is that wines in barrels tend to take on a much more intense flavour profile which the oak is contributing to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we take it out of oak to bottle, it only needs to be out for maybe a month or so in the tank before you see that strong oak influence start to decline.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose we are giving people the opportunity to see what the winemakers are working with, in a sense, the raw materials rather than the finished product.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the tasting experience, a lot of people will come to the cellar door and will taste the commercial blends, so they can then see the difference between the two.\u201d<\/p>\n