Best’s Great Western
As a Victorian, I’ve been drinking Best’s Great Western wines for years, and they’ve been making it even longer – back to the 1860s. 2016 celebrated their 150th anniversary, making them one of Australia’s oldest family owned estates.
North-west of Melbourne in the region of The Grampians (formerly known as Great Western which is now a subregion), James Halliday describes the area as “quintessential Australian bush country, much of the slopes still covered with stringybark eucalypts”. Indeed, the old “great western” name harks back to the mid 19th century, a time when the vast expanse of western Victoria meant the gold rushes and endless get rich quick opportunities. But with the population influx into the western provinces, some say up to 20,000 miners were prospecting in Ballarat as early as 1853, other industries grew over time too. One of these was wine.
Henry Best, for whom Best’s Great Western is named, planted his first vines in the region as far back as 1866. A few decades later, the scotsman William Thomson bought property and planted vines at Rhymney to the south, adding the original Best’s vineyards to his holdings in 1920 upon Henry Best’s death. The Thomson family continue to own and operate Best’s Great Western today, making it one of the few historic Australian wineries to remain non-corporatized.
Best’s original plantings included 48,000 vines and many exist today, pre-phylloxera and on their original rootstock. Soils range from hard setting silt over clay to friable clay loams. In general the soils and vineyards are low yielding and retain moisture very well, essential in a region with limited rainfall. The altitude of the Grampians region results in lower than average temperatures than that of the Central Victorian wine regions to the east. The climate of the region is Mediterranean with breezes from the Southern Ocean providing a cooling influence during summer. The region is especially well suited to later ripening red varieties, particularly Shiraz.
There are three ranges to Best’s wines: Icon, Concongella and Great Western. The Icon range represents the old 1860s dry grown vines, such as the Old Vine Pinot Meunier, Thomson Family Shiraz (2017 wine of the year) and ‘Bin 0’ Shiraz; Concongella are special wines that are made as a result of a particular vintage, innovative cellar or winemaking techniques such as the Foudre Ferment Riesling; and the Great Western Range represents Best’s classic, medium-bodied style of wines including Shiraz and Riesling.
Best’s Thomson Family Shiraz 2014 was awarded James Halliday’s Wine of the Year for 2017, an amazing accolade for the winemaking team. Watch and listen to Viv Thomson, Best’s winemaker for 51 vintages, talk about the history of the Grampians and Best’s.
Wines
Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Non-Fiction: memoir and food
Does the blurb reflect the plot: yes, it’s a great description of what is to come
Sum it up: A love letter to food, especially Italian food; Taste: My Life Through Food is delicious book that will leave you salivating not only over the food and drinks discussed, but at how good the writing is. Tucci, it is apparent; is not just a brilliant actor, but also a fantastic writer who seamlessly weaves stories of his family, both as a child growing up and as adult with his children; with his Italian heritage and why food has always played such a large role in his life. I love it when a writer can paint a picture of their words so it feels like a movie running through my head whilst I am reading the book and Tucci absolutely nailed this. He is so descriptive, although never verbose; but what really leaps off the pages for me is Tucci’s genuine passion for food, which is what ultimately makes this such a fantastic read. A book certainly not to be read on an empty stomach, Taste is a delicious and highly recommended read that will leave you hungry to consume his other books.
Who should read it: a must read for foodies and those who love memories, Taste: My Life Through Food is just one of those books that anyone would be hard pressed not to enjoy.
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#taste #stanleytucci #penguinbooks #memoir #food #foodie #foodieloveletter #italianfood #foodandfamily #nonfiction #recommendedreading #ktbookbingo #booklover #bibliophile #bookworm #goodreads #book #bookstagram #bookreview #redwine #cabernetsavignon #bestswines #burrata #tomatoes #basil #balsamicvinegar #toast #produce #cheeseandwine #foodandbooks stanleytucci penguinbooksaus penguinbooks bestswines
Every Wednesday we host free wine tastings, but this Wednesday (26th March) is a special one; bestswines is leaving Great Western for the night to bring us a taste of their favs🥂
Best’s Wines stands out as one of Australia’s oldest continually family-owned wineries and has vines that stand at over 150 years old. We’ve had the opportunity to visit their wineries in the Grampians, so for those who haven’t yet made the journey up, bestswines will be bringing the experience to us.
Find something you like? We’ll be doing 20% off all bottles all night…even the primo stuff 🍷
Time: 5-7pm
Date: 26th of March 2025
Where: Bobbie Peels, 351 Queensberry St, North Melbourne
Dinner bookings are recommended; walk-ins are always welcome 🍷
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#MelbournePubs #MelbourneBars #NorthMelbourne #WineBar #MelbourneEvents #WhattodoMelbourne #MelbourneFood #SharedPlatters #MelbourneDining
#CityofMelbourne #Melbourne
#HappyHourMelbourne #EventsMelbourne
#MelbFood #MelbFoodie #SundayRoast #GlutenFree #GlutenFreeMelbourne #WineTasting #BestsWines #Grampians
WORLDS OLDEST PINOT NOIR VINES 🍇
Pinot Noir was first planted in our Nursery Block and Pigsty Block in 1868. It is believed that the origin of these vines was the James Busby collection, Australia’s first successfully viable planted vines. These pinot noir cuttings were sourced from some of the finest vineyards in Burgundy which were subsequently wiped out due to phylloxera.
The original Best’s plantings are now thought to be some of the oldest pinot noir vines in the world.
Read more about the history of pinot noir at Best’s -> https://www.bestswines.com/the-worlds-oldest-pinot-noir-vines
#oldvines #pinotnoir #bestswines #vineyards #viticulture
WHY MAKE SO MANY RIESLINGS?
For decades riesling has been our go-to white wine with three different styles being produced. Did you know that Henry Best planted riesling as one of the original varietals in the late 1860s? It should be no surprise that we’ve had time to get to know this fabulous varietal.
Take a read as Hamish Thomson shares why Great Western Riesling is a drop to discover and explains what sets each of our different wines apart.
READ MORE ->> (link in bio)
#wine #rieslinglover #rieslingaustralia #bestswines
Did you know our Foudre Ferment Riesling is matured in two different 2500L oak foudres?
The first arrived in 2011 and was crafted by Marc Grenier of Burgundy. The second arrived in late 2020, crafted by the famed bouchardcooperages in Schneckenleitner, Austria.
The latter are one of the oldest and most experienced international crafters of premium barrels. It’s because of their attention to detail and commitment to the craft that we can produce some of our region’s best riesling.
With the release of our 2024 Foudre Ferment Riesling now days away, our winemaker Jacob Parton explains a little more about why the foudre gives so much more complexity to the wine.
LEARN MORE ->> link in bio
#bestswines #newrelease #rieslinglover
James Sucklings Top 100 Aussie Wines
Our 2023 Foudre Ferment Riesling was named in James.Suckling`s Top 100 Australian Wines of 2024? The next vintage is about to be released, and we can’t wait for you to try it.
Learn more about the top 100 wines of Australia. Which wines that you love are missing from the list?
https://www.jamessuckling.com/wine-tasting-reports/top-100-wines-of-australia-2024
#winery #riesling #bestswines
FRIDAY NIGHT DRINKS
Did you know that our Best’s Stables Cellar Door will stay open late between 5pm till 8pm on Friday nights in January?
Settle in with a glass of your favourite Best’s wine and enjoy a grazing platter with friends. Put the dates in your diary and tag a friend who might enjoy coming along.
🍷January: Fridays 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st
LEARN MORE (link in bio)
#greatwestern #bestswines #winetime
Dinner is served
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#dinner #dinnerisserved #meatballs #bestswines #cabernetsauvignon #thebeautifulpeople #marilynmanson #misheardlyrics #saywhat #thatsnothowitgoes #songlyrics #christmasmusic #christmastunes #music #barrytheelfontheshelf #christmas #christmas2024 #santashelper #gonnafindoutwhosnaughtyornice #heseesyouwhenyouresleeping #iliketowatch #elf #elvesofinstagram #instaelf #naughtyelf #elfontheshelf #bazzandshazza #ninesleepstillchristmas #9sleepstogo #december2024 mymagicalmoments_elf elfontheshelf bestswines marilynmanson
Working on a few recipes for bestswines and this duck dish w/ sweet potato mash, green beans, onions & mushrooms paired with their Pinot is exactly what I needed tonight 🤤🤤🤤
#bests #bestswines #grampians #grampianswine #pinotnoir #pinot #redwine #foodandwine #duck #cookedtoperfection #foodpairing #winepairing #winetime #mondayfunday #foodphoto #foodphotography #winephoto #winephotography #bne #brisbane #bnefoodie #brisbanefood #clayfield #whowantssome
A charming old wine that defies its age.
The tension from the cork was outrageous, the colour of the wine is vibrant and the fruit detail is quite remarkable.
The palate strikes with blue fruits and resolved tannins, but holding firm acidity. It’s in the secondary phase but not yet tertiary.
At 12.8% abv it marks an interesting discussion on the aging ability of these older and lower alcohol wines of yesteryear. bestswines #shiraz #bestswines
Book fifteen in #ktbookbingo is Stop Lying To Yourself by Simon Gilham. Category ‘A book that taught you something’.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: non-fiction - self improvement, self-care and mindfulness
Does the blurb reflect the plot: yes, perfectly
Sum it up: Gilham burst onto social media during COVID with his short but snappy words of wisdom with reels and posts alike that immediately attracted the masses. Telling us not want we want to hear, but rather what we need to hear, Stop Lying To Yourself is a compilation of one hundred and one of his most hard hitting truths. Whilst some of them can be a bitter pill to swallow, the hard truths and the poignant blurbs that accompany them are all bang on and written in a way that is both reflective and empowering. I’m not usually into this style of book, but as a follower of Gilham, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to get a copy and I’m very glad I did. It might be a small book in length, but it is mighty in the effect it will have on you. A highly recommended read, I’d encourage anyone and everyone to get their hands on a copy.
Who should read it: those who follow Gilham on social media; those who are looking for self improvement, self help and/or self care; and anyone generally who needs to be told that it’s ok to cut off the things that don’t make you happy in all or any of the facets in your life.
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#stoplyingtoyourself #simongilham #xgilham #nonfiction #hardtruth #wordsofwisdom #selfimprovement #selfcare #mindfulness #metime #bathtime #readinginthebath #redwine #bestswines #chocolate #booksandwine #wineandchocolate #bookbingo #2024bookbingo #readingchallenge #read #booknerd #booklover #bibliophile #bookworm #goodreads #book #bookreivew #thebookbitchesbookclub xgilham hey_posy bestswines kokoblackchocolate loccitaneanz loccitane pillowtalkaustralia greenerlivingstore
Wow! I loooooved this Blanc de Noir (French for white of black) sparkling made of Shiraz!
Yes you read that right - it’s a white sparkling in appearance made from Shiraz grapes 🍇 It does have a tiny flicker of peach to it in the glass… just a hint.
A big thank you to bestswines and mastermindconsulting for this sample bottle. We loved it and shared it with some friends who were equally dotting on it 🥰
Some fun facts about this delish bottle:
🍾 It’s only $30 - an absolute steal, I’ll be stocking up for Xmas!
🍾 The Shiraz grapes are harvested earlier than they would if making a red wine, this helps retain the natural acidity that we love in a bubbly
🍾 The grapes are gently pressed to extract the juice without the colour from the grapes seeping in
🍾 It’s full of refreshing citrus notes alongside juicy orchard fruits
🍾 It went amazingly with the smoked salmon and pepperberry on our platter!
🍾 It hails from the Grampians here in VIC
Have you had a Blanc de Noir made from 100% Shiraz before?
#gifted #bestswines #aussiewine #blancdenoirs #shiraz #shirazlover #shirazwine #australianwine
Book ten in #ktbookbingo is Masters of the Lost Land: Murder and Corruption in the Amazon Rainforest by Heriberto Araujo. Category ‘Set in South America’.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Non-fiction - current affairs, politics, true crime
Does the blurb reflect the plot: it barely scratches the surface of what’s ahead
Sum it up: Masters of the Lost Land is a comprehensive read of a David and Goliath battle between rich and resourced criminal kingpin Joséloi de Barros and land rights activists José Dutra da Costa ‘Dezinho’ and his wife Maria Joel. Araujo is a journalist, and the exposé stories he was wrote over four years of reporting on the destruction of the Amazon in Brazil was what lead to this book. The upside is this is that the book is exceptionally well researched and very detailed. However, at times, I struggled to follow along as Araujo included so much detail that it distracted from the main story. This is often a trap that non-fiction writers fall into and when it did happen, it took away from the main story, making for hard reading. Overall through, it was a well balanced read, that had many interesting parts and from which I learnt many new things due to its informative nature.
Who should read it: those with an interest in the environment, deforestation, true crime, Brazil and Southern America and current affairs will not doubt find Araujo’s book interesting and informative.
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#mastersofthelostland #heribertoaraujo #atlanticbooks #amazonrainforest #brazil #currentaffairs #deforestation #politics #murder #truecrime #fightingthegoodfight #bestswines #redwine #cabernetsauvignon #chocolate #brownie #anniesbooksperegianbeach #bookbingo #2024bookbingo #readingchallenge #booknerd #booklover #bibliophile #bookworm #goodreads #book #bookreivew #thebookbitchesbookclub atlanticbooks annies.books.peregian.beach bestswines royalalbertengland zandra_rhodes_ theibisnextdoor
Tonight I am having for the first time bestswines 2022 Hamill Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the first vintage of the Hamill Cab/Sav and as expected from Best’s, this wine is superb. As soon as I opened the wine the aroma was divine with hints of plum and cedar. Although I have been sawing cedar so not sure if the wine or the saw dust 🤣🤣🤣. The palate was full of flavour but soft with tones of cherry, plum and blackberry. With age this wine will get even better🍷🍷🍷
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#bestswines #bestsgreatwestern #hamill #hamillcabernetsauvignon #redwine #red #wine #delish #getinmybelly #yummmm #2022vintage #cabernetsauvignon
SUPER PROUD! NEW BLANC DE NOIR RELEASE
Ben Thomson is chuffed with the second vintage of our Blanc De Noir bubbles which have recently been delivered back to the winery after bottling.
Last year, Ben had an idea to utilise some of our shiraz grapes and make a bubbly white wine which with only 400 cases made was met with rave reviews and sold out quickly. The 2024 vintage has been refined from the early learnings, with a little more available. We think you’ll just love it. As you can see, Ben’s beaming with pride!
Coming soon…
#winery #sparklingwine #aussiewine #bestswines #sparklingwine🍾 #innovation #greatwestern #grampianswine
Congratulations to bestswines for their 50th Anniversary of the opening of their Concongella Cellar Door in Great Western, Victoria!
Henry Best’s original stables were meticulously relocated to create a unique environment in which to taste their wine. A legacy created to help preserve the tales of the past and create a special place to explore.
Visit Best’s website for Cellar Door tastings and tours bestswines #greatwestern #bestsgreatwestern #bestswines #visitgrampians #discovernortherngrampians #northerngrampians
MEET JESS THOMSON – OUR SENIOR CELLAR HAND
With a surname like Thomson, how could our newest recruit not be star-quality? Whilst not related to our owners, the surname of our new Senior Cellar Hand, thomson.jess, who recently joined the Best’s team, was a pure coincidence.
Born in Adelaide, she began her career in tourism and event management, starting her own business as a tour guide. At the age of 29 she decided to go back to university and retrain, finishing her honours degree in Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Adelaide in 2023. She now joins our winemaking team.
Outside of work, Jess loves yoga, hiking, travel, diving and being at the beach. We may be a way from the waves, but there’s plenty of local trails for her to explore in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
Give her a warm welcome. #bestswines
#dreamteam #greatwesternwine #aussiewines #victorianwines
Best`s Great Western Sparkling Shiraz 2013
Bought two dozen about nine years ago. Got about 4 left. Going great at 11 years of age. Quite strong and concentrated profile which I enjoy. Classy gear and just ordered some more 👍
#drinkthegoodstuff Brett 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
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#aussiewinetasting #aussiewinereview #wine #aussiewine #shiraz #greatwestern #sparkling #bubbles #vin #sparklingshiraz #sparklingred #winelover #wineaustralia #redwine #vintage #winery #grapes #australia #vino #winereview #winetasting #winetime #winehour #winestagram #instawine #bestswines #winewednesday bestswines
