Wine Tour | Master of Wine | Wine Education | Wine Consultant

The scene is easily set. Take a good selection of local produce, use existing experience with wine pairing, Sicilian of course and create a grand degustazione. That was the case recently when Queensland Cricketer's Club (QCC) President Michael Cowley asked me to create the bones of a meal with QCC's executive chef, a terrific chap,...

In these days of screw top bottles and stainless steel tanks, many of us wonder if decanting is the province of wine-pomps only. Serving wine should be simple: just open and pour. While there is a difference of opinion among wine experts, most agree it can be beneficial to decant your wine.

Peter Scudamore-Smith, Master of Wine, is the founder of Uncorked and Cultivated. We providers winery advisor, wine consultant and wine education service in Australia.

Kate McIntyre is a marvellous endorsement of the relaxed business style of Mornington winery owners. Her easy talk captures the essence of her wines, the word choice is straight and to the point, no pomp, as Australia's most recently acclaimed Master of Wine cares to be.

Like to discover the grandeur of the great French wines with an Aussie Vin de Champagne Awardee and Master of Wine? Then jump on a Gallic grape escape with Uncorked and Cultivated. The brothers Fourny-Charles and Emmanuel were in town this week. And what an impression they make as grower Champagne makers.

by Peter Smith Uncorked and Cultivated When it comes to good wine glasses, what do you look for? Stemless tumblers for stability? Oversized glasses that eliminate the need to get up to the fridge at all? The most expensive crystal you can find?

As the Thai hospitality industry enters the second year of the Wine List of the Yearcompetition, a review of the first year traces some interesting outcomes. Famed as one of the most penalising countries of Asia in its beverage taxation, it was time to raise the quality bar at restaurants and resorts.

Angove Family Winemakers are celebrating 125 years of being in the wine business. Isn't that great? Enthusiastically I attended a celebratory bash to hear that four generations have steered this wonderful South Australian company since inception. And there are new Angove generations in line to take the company forward.

Master of Wine Peter Scudamore- Smith has released details of his bespoke 11day France Wine and Food Tour next European spring.Scudamore-Smith laconically says "as well as being undeniably cool, MWs enjoy enviable access to some of the world's most significant cellars and vineyards, and I guide my guests with a topend wine tour".

The Royal Queensland Wine Show 2011 in July produced a host of trophy, gold, silver and bronze medal winners from Queensland-based wineries. I went along to the exhibitors' morning tasting to see what enlightenment there was. This is Queensland largest and most influential wine show for the year.

This week I attended the monthly gathering of SwirlSniffSpit (SSS), a loose group of Brisbane-based tasting tweeps who gather monthly at Era Bistro Brisbane. The subject of the night was Shiraz - all were Australian save one from across the ditch. All were served in pairs with mini themes.

The just-concluded Royal Queensland Wine Show brought together 1998 wines to be judged from around Australia. It was the first show of the 2011 season (completes with RAS Sydney next February). And there were 12 judges (four panels of three tasting) plus the chief judge, Hungerford Hill consultant Phillip John.