Ben's Tasting Notes

Wine tastings. They can be fun. And enlightening. Coming soon, me own room to swoon and croon—you never know—about some truly terrific Yarra Valley wines. PS Will be pouring some beauties tomorrow from 5pm. PPS Thanks Alchemy Distillers for the sign—and the room. #winetasting #healesville #yarravalley #yvwine #squitchylane #soumahwines #helenandjoeyestate #mandalawines #elmswoodestate #winelover #winestagram

Bocce (/boʊtʃi/), sometimes anglicized as bocci, is a ball sport belonging to the boules family, closely related to British bowls and French pétanque, with a common ancestry from ancient games played in the Roman Empire. Also a game you can play while tasting @puntrdwines #weekendsorted #sunshineforecast #puntrdwines #yarravalleycellardoors #yarravalleylife #yarravalley #winetasting #bocce #yvwine #timelapse (at Punt Road Wines)

Always more to explore in the valley. Spent the weekend visiting cellar doors and vineyards; and this from @elmswoodestate in the 'upper Yarra'—as we say 'round here. #elmswoodestate #yarravalley #vineyard #winemaking #wine #yvwine #yarravalleywine (at Elmswood Estate Winery)

New happenings in Healesville, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia. Makin' Moonshine. Congratulations Jannick @cristianaandjannick , Evan @evankipping and team @alchemydistillers and welcome @taylordrinks to the valley for this exciting beverage experience development. Beverage experience development—now that's a mouthful. #moonshine #whiskey #wine #goodtimes #alchemydistillers #yarravalleycellardoor (at Alchemy Yarra Valley)

Meal. Toasting tonight the success of @gtwinemag Winemaker of the Year @bicknellfc and @oakridgewines for their 🎩 from @goodfoodau It's all going on in the valley Yarra. #oakridgewines #yarravalley #goodfood #gtwine #wine #yvwine #yvcabsav #cabernetsauvignon

Bought this last weekend at Pimpernel's Rhone Release cellardoor tastings. Thought it would age beautifully—and it has! Enticing nose of melon, ripe peach and apricot delight; medium to full bodied palate of peach, green apple, ripe apricot, hints of butterscotch and more. So much more. Today, my favourite Yarra Valley white. . . Pimpernel Vineyards 2015 Marsanne Viognier. . . . #pimpernelvineyards #winetasting #wine #tastingnotes #rhone #northernrhone #yarravalley #cellardoor #yarravalleycellardoors #wineofaustralia #whitewine #marsanne #viognier

Loved gettin' a sneak peak at the first brew from new @napoleone_brews brewer, Kai Dambergs. Kai has years of experience brewing and is as down to earth as the malt n' hops he fashions with yeast n' water into bona fide beer. PS. Delicious. #brewery #yarravalleybeer #yvbeer #craftbeer #beer #independentbeer #instabeer #brewer #brewerslife #beerstagram #napoleonebrews #napoleonebrewery #napoleonebeer (at Napoleone Beer and Cider)

Two amazingly delicious stouts. On the left, a local brew from @wattsriverbrewing in Healesville, roasty, clean and full bodied. On the right, an import picked up @nillumbikcellars from @foundersbrewing in USA, thick with coffee and bourbon notes. Both worth hunting down—though you can probably pick up about 4 of the Watts for the price of one of the Founders. #stout #beerlove #wattsriverbrewing #foundersbrewing #nillumbikcellars #craftbeer #independentbeer #beertasting

Exciting times for @payten_and_jones who are getting close to opening their new cellar door in Healesville, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia. Add Sangiovese to the long list of varietals these guys bring with style. #sangiovese #yarravalley #paytenandjones #wine #yvwine #yarravalley #yarravalleycellardoors

Lemon curd, pear n' green apple notes, with integrated oak giving a nutty, slightly toasty finish. Thoroughly enjoyed this 2015 Chardonnay from @scotchmanshill tonight. #chardonnay #scotchmanshill #bellarinepeninsula #wine #winetime #winelover #winetasting #tastingwine #tastingnote

Top lineup of wines on offer from the Bellarine Peninsula producer, @scotchmanshill at their @goodfoodwine show tasting bench. Say Hi to @gavindyson and team. #goodfoodandwineshow #scotchmanshill #winetasting #bellarinepeninsula #chardonnay #pinotnoir #syrah #winetime #winelover #winefestival

Adventure on a Friday night in Healesville: stout from @wattsriverbeer before cooking fried rice for the fam. It's a good life. #beeroclock #wattsriverbrewing #craftbeer #stout #fridaynite #yarravalley #yarravalleycellardoors #goodbeerweek #goodbeer

Lime, mandarin and hints of butterscotch—deliciously balanced and all the more enticing 'cause it's grown n' made just down the road. Loving drinking local Riesling from @sevilleestate winemaker @dylanmc_sevest tonight. Get yours for $36 from cellar door, now open 7 days a week. #riesling #yarravalley #sevilleestate #wine #yvwine #wine🍷 #winelover #winetime #wein

Took the family to @ibwine for lunch today. Handy little Enomatic card let me taste wine between courses, at my leisure. Top fun for all. Great wines across the range too. #yarravalley #ibwine #yvwine #yvcd #yarravalleycellardoors #lunch #innocentbystander #wine #wine🍷 #winetime #winelover (at Innocent Bystander Winery)

"That one." Levantine Hill winemaker, Paul Bridgeman points out the single best grape of an outstanding bunch to owner, Eli Jreissati. Taking fruit selection to a new level. 😉 #vintage2017 #levantinehill #winemaking #paulbridgeman #elijreissati #bridgey #yvwine #yarravalley #wine #yarravalleywine #grapes

Fun with wine today. And didn't even drink it. #wine #photography #videography #digitalmarketing #digitalcontent #socialmediamarketing #wine🍷 #soumahwines #yarravalleycellardoors

Money, money, money! Wine, wine, wine! Okay, you need some to get the other but it's important to remember to put your money where your mouth is. Though expensive don't always mean better and cheap ain't always cheerful. 🍷 Wine for thought. #wine #philosophy #winetime #wineselfhelp #winelover #wine🍷 #winetasting #money #money💰 #moneybag