General News
15 June, 2023
Corks pop for King's birthday
CORKS were popping at Kingower when the first King’s Birthday holiday in 70 years was celebrated at the weekend. Local wineries Old Kingower and Both Banks released their latest vintages. And for Old Kingower’s Arleen and David Reimers, wines...
CORKS were popping at Kingower when the first King’s Birthday holiday in 70 years was celebrated at the weekend.
Local wineries Old Kingower and Both Banks released their latest vintages.
And for Old Kingower’s Arleen and David Reimers, wines from the drought years of 2014 and 2015 were also released and toasted.
The museum drops were blended from cabernet and shiraz grapes grown at the Kingower vineyard.
Gold detectorists and campers also descended on the Loddon for the long weekend for the official birthday holiday of King Charles.
The weekend had been the Queen’s birthday since 1952 when Queen Elizabeth took the throne.
KINGOWER wineries released new wines over the King’s Birthday weekend with one red varietal being given a teal tinge.
Mark and Christine Gilmore again drew inspiration from the political landscape for their 2022 Both Banks merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon.
The Teal Year now takes its place with earlier releases that include The Leaders’ Spill Year and Carbon Tax Year.
“The vintage was characterised by a wet winter followed by a dryer spring and a wet end to the summer ripening period ... some grapes were even harvested in light rain,” said Mark.
“While this wine was growing and maturing the rise of Teal independents changed the political landscape in Australia.
“A focus on integrity and climate platforms saw some long-standing members (of Parliament) overthrown by Teals.”
Wine lovers were linked by a re-opened track between Both Banks and Old Kingower winery for the weekend.
Old Kingower’s David Reimers has just overseen his 48th vintage and retained the traditional cork stopper in his bottles.
His winery, supplying restaurants across Victoria, has been renamed from Blanche Barkly.
David said the winery name had come from the 49.4kg gold nugget found across from the vineyard in 1857.
But as wife Arleen said, blanche is associated with white wine and the five-hectare vineyard grows red wine variety grapes.
Old Kingower’s 2023 releases are the 2018 Mary Eileen shiraz and 2018 Johann cabernet sauvignon.
“We are excited about their development at this stage and their future cellaring prospects,” David said.