Sweet Pickings

The vintage is now in full swing throughout Australia´s wine-growing regions and drinkers are set to reap the results of an early harvest

Bream Creek Vineyard GREAT GRAPE WEEKENDS

Make the most of the one weekend in the year when all Tasmanian vineyards are open to the public - even those that don’t normally operate a cellar door. The Tasmanian Vineyards Open Weekends are a fabulous treat celebrating the annual harvest. Offerings vary widely, from trestle tables under big old trees, to wine tastings in garages and state-of-the-art cellar doors. It’s a brilliant opportunity to visit vineyards and taste wines not otherwise available to the public. 3-4 March in the south of the island, and 17-18 March in the north.

WINE TO GO

Are you a snob about drinking wine from anything other than glass? Well get over it, because the new Long Flat ‘B-Pak’ by Cheviot Bridge is a handy choice when glass isn’t an option due to safety or weight. A pleasant quaffing dry white (semillon sauvignon blanc) and blackberry-rich red (cabernet merlot) come in an environmentally friendly one-litre tetrapak with an easy pour screw-top opening. RRP AU$8.99 from First Choice, Dan Murphy’s and Woolworths. www.cheviotbridge.com.au

STARLIT STAGE

Make the most of Margaret River’s balmly autumn weather by catching two fun arts events on this month at Leeuwin Estate’s outdoor amphitheatre. On 3 March, you can enjoy the intrigue, passion and hilarity of Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing, then, on 17 March, the West Australian Ballet performs four works, four distinct voices, four sizzling surprises in dance. Tel: +61 (8) 9759 0000, www.leeuwinestate.com.au

WHISKEY ON WHEELS

Those in Melbourne this St Patrick’s Day, 17 March, can climb aboard the Jameson Irish Whiskey Tram, transporting revellers to and from selected inner-city Melbourne bars. With a DJ and Jameson hosts and hostesses on board, the tram looks set to become a cracking Paddy’s Day destination in itself. Check www.beyondtheobvious.com.au for details.

WIRRA WIRRA WINES

At Wirra Wirra Vineyards in McLaren Vale, currently up to their necks (or possibly ankles) in grapes, they have struck up a relationship with the Helpmann Gallery in South Australia to showcase the works of painter and collagist Stuart Burns. Their 2006 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay is also released this month, and if you’ve deserted this grape in recent times to join the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) brigade, we recommend this as a good opportunity to return to the fold; its fresh, elegant style being highly awarded over recent vintages. www.wirrawirra.com

SYDNEY’S QUEEN OF COCKTAILS

If you’re celebrating St Patrick’s Day at home, Sydney’s Queen of Cocktails, Alexx Swainston (from Lotus Bar & Bistro, www.merivale.com), suggests mixing yourself an Envy: pound one basil leaf, three chunks of lime and ¼ green apple with one teaspoon of vanilla-infused castor sugar, add 50ml Jameson Irish Whiskey and 30ml apple juice, shake vigorously with a lot of ice, strain into a martini glass and garnish with a basil leaf

WORDS ROBERTA MUIR