Tir Na N'og Grenache Old Vines 2008 750ml

Winery: Tir Na N'og

Varietal: Grenache

The purple skinned grapes of the Grenache varietal have quickly become one of the most widely planted red wine grapes in the world, flourishing in several countries which have the correct conditions in which they can grow to ripeness. They thrive anywhere with a dry, hot climate, such as that found in central Spain and other such arid areas, and produce delightfully light bodied wines full of spicy flavors and notes of dark berries. Their robustness and relative vigor has led them being a favorite grape varietal for wineries all over the world, and whilst it isn't uncommon to see bottles made from this varietal alone, they are also regularly used as a blending grape due to their high sugar content and ability to produce wines containing a relatively high level of alcohol.

Region: Fleurieu

The Fleurieu Peninsula in southern Australia has been gaining a lot of international attention in recent years due to the wide range of excellent grape varietals which are currently flourishing there, and resulting in superb wines. The Mediterranean style climate allows the grapes to ripen slowly and fully, and express the many features of the excellent terroir which typifies the area. The variation in geological features of the peninsula is one of the key reasons why the wines from Fleurieu vary so greatly, and vintners in the region delight in experimenting with the micro-climates which make up the island's unique features. Today, the region mainly produces Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon wines of great character, although there are many varietals currently being grown there very successfully.

Country: Australia

With over sixteen thousand hectares of Australian land now under vine, Australia has become something of a world leader in regards to wine production. One of Australia's key attributes to their success has been their willingness to leave traditional vineyard practices to one side, and develop techniques which are perfectly suited to a New World country. Modern Australian wineries take into consideration the climate and the unique soil types which cover much of their country, and have had fantastic results from cross-breeding programs and blending practices which make the most of the grape varietals which thrive most successfully there, notably the Shiraz and Chardonnay grapes. In recent years, Australia has been lauded as the 'most influential' wine producing country in the world, and the rest of the New World is looking down under for inspiration, and the ability to produce comparable fine wines on their own terrain.