August brings water, wine, tea and an Italian

WORDS ROBERTA MUIR

TEA FOR TWO

The recently opened Taka Tea Garden in the Strand Arcade Sydney is the place to sip Japan’s [fb01] nest green and white teas from the renowned Chikumedio company, along with Taiwanese, Chinese, Ceylon and German teas. “Chikumedio is famous within Japan, and has been growing green tea on the slopes of Mt. Fuji since 1781,” says Tea Garden manager Chevy Kwok. Take a minute to browse the store’s range of beautiful Hario glass tea-ware, too. Shop 12, The Strand Arcade, 412–414 George St, Sydney, tel: +61 (2) 9222 1577.

VIVA VINO!

At Gusto, the Italian food and wine festival at Sydney Fish Market on 26 August, experts will lead a tasting of some of Italy’s classic wines alongside the Aussie versions. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions, share your thoughts and learn about Italy’s wine-producing regions. Sessions include, To Start: Sparkling and Pinot Grigio, Tuscan Reds (think Chianti), Piemonte Reds (including the king of Italian red wines, Barolo) and To Finish: Sweet Wines and Grappas. There’ll also be cooking demonstrations and food tastings. AU$45 a session, tel: +61 (2) 9004 1111.

MOSCATO-MUST

Hunter Valley’s Tempus Two Copper Moscato, made in the traditional Moscato d’Asti style, is the perfect lunch-time wine. With just seven percent alcohol, a delicate kiwifruit nose and a refreshing grapey, perfumed flavour, its distinctive dark, copper-labelled bottle makes a beautiful gift for anyone’s dining table! RRP AU$25. Tel: +61 (2) 4993 3999.

WINE ON TOUR

Coonawarra’s winemakers are hitting the road this month to chat to wine-lovers and show their wines – over a hundred of them – around the country. They’re in Brisbane on 20 August at Vino’s Restaurant & Bar, Eagle Street Pier; in Sydney on 22 August at the Grace Hotel, 77 York Street; and at the Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street on 23 August. On September 3 they’ll be at the Stamford Plaza in Adelaide, and on 5 September at the Perth Town Hall in Barrack Street. Whether it’s reds, whites or bubbles you’re after, the Coonawarra Wine Tasting Roadshow is not to be missed! Sessions run between 5.30pm and 8.30pm. AU$25 a session, tel: +61 (8) 8737 2392.

NATURE’S TIPPLE

NutrientWater (NW) makes drinking water fun! It’s pure de-ionised water sweetened with lowGI fruit sugars and mixed with natural flavours, healthy botanical extracts and a liberal dose of soluble vitamins and minerals. Whether you’re flat out, strung out, sweating it out or still out, one of the new five NW flavours is sure to have you up and raring to go again in no time! RRP AU$3.50

SCOTTISH NEWCOMER

The recent arrival of Hendrick’s Gin in Australia has created quite a stir. A premium gin with some unusual twists, Hendrick’s distinctive taste comes from botanicals including Bulgarian Rose petals and Dutch cucumber. Soft Scottish lowland water and small batch distillation produce a distinctively smooth gin, with a flowery, aromatic oiliness. Look out for the old-fashioned apothecary-style bottles at leading liquor stores. RRP AU$64.95.

If you’re looking for a way to increase your vitamin C intake over winter, freshly squeezed red grapefruit juice, in season now, combines beautifully with Hendrick’s for an apéritif.