Wine for Thought

As with most industries selling a product, the wine industry is very adept at promoting a positive message. Life’s wonderful, everything is fabulous! However, I recently read an article titled ‘Consumers can handle the truth’ (Cathy Gadd, Wine Business Magazine, May/June 2024) and it got me thinking. In the article Cathy writes ‘most consumers are oblivious to the state of play and the dire situation of the Australian wine industry’. Bushfires, Covid, China tariffs, interest rate hikes, the increased cost of doing business and a shift in drinking habits have all combined to cause some real pain.

But there is one issue that most consumers may be quite unaware of - the big two wine retailers Endeavour Drinks (formerly Woolworths) and Coles (Dan Murphy’s, Vintage Cellars, 1st Choice, Liquorland, Woolworths Liquor and BWS) own hundreds of their own wine brands which often look very much like family-owned boutique brands.

And this is where you come in!

I may be preaching to the choir here, you clearly are already a supporter of family-owned wineries (thank you 😊) but you might want to check out this website. It's a page on the The Real Review site (founded by wine writer Huon Hooke) and it lists all the brands owned by the big two. We all shop at these stores and they do support plenty of smaller producers, but a fantastic way to support all these wonderful, family-owned wineries in Australia would be to take a list of these brands with you when you are next browsing the aisles so you can make an informed choice.

Winemakers all over the country will thank you for it.

Aug 25, 2024 at 2:32 PM Permalink

Big Things are Happening in Little Land in 2024!

We’re so excited to announce ...  we’re bringing our brand home with the opening of our *NEW* cellar door in the Broke Fordwich wine region.

The Broke Fordwich region has been our home for nearly 30 years; it’s where our kids were born and raised, it’s where we built our winery and it’s where the majority of our grapes are grown, so it just feels right!

Most of you would have discovered The Little Wine Company at our Pokolbin cellar door, Wine House Hunter Valley. Our wines will still be available at Wine House but we are absolutely thrilled to have our own little cellar door in Broke, a beautiful and tranquil region that we urge you to explore. 

We’ll be opening our doors 8th March 2024, and we can’t wait to welcome you!

Feb 2, 2024 at 12:52 PM Permalink

2022 Pecorino 93 Points

Erin Larkin writing for The Wine Advocate:This 2022 Pecorino is very flavorsome, with loads of white pears and apples, white pepper, licorice and brine. There is anise, fennel and white currant alongside wafer and white bread. This is really good—I can't overstate the "flavorsome" state of this wine.
Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, 93 Points

Mar 15, 2023 at 5:57 PM Permalink

2019 Barbera 93 Points

It starts with cranberries, sweet tobacco, basil and sour cherries. Driven by acidity, there’s great tension in this wine. High-toned red apple skins, rose petals. Raw almonds are here too. All pinned down by fine-grained chalky tannins. More leafy spice evolve in the glass. There’s lovely red fruit here but altogether it’s more of a savoury style. This is your alternative go-to, Pinot and Nebbiolo drinkers. It’s an impressive Hunter Barbera.
Kasia Sobiesiak, The Wine Front, 93 Points 

Mar 8, 2023 at 6:11 PM Permalink

2022 Pecorino 92 Points

I thought Pecorino was a cheese, but it turns out to be a long-lost variety that has found a new home in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Vinepair tells us that ‘Abruzzo has an almost mystical relationship to the grape, with its higher rocky slopes and lower coastal influence producing some of the most complimentary growing conditions for its “finicky” nature.’ It’s a pleasant white, not unlike a soft Pinot Gris – aromatic with notes of pears and ripe apples finished off with a generous squirt of Meyer lemon. There’s a decent line of acid to keep it neat and tidy. The only Aussie Pecorino I’ve encountered, and very pleasant drinking.
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front  92 Points 

Mar 1, 2023 at 6:03 PM Permalink

Suzanne Little is a mother, winemaker, lawyer and all-round go-getter

Here's a link to a recent Q&A with Suzanne

Nov 30, 2019 at 1:33 PM Permalink

One that you must visit

My husband and popped in here yesterday after our morning cycle! This was our first stop of the day and by far the best. Fantastic service from Ian Little.....such knowledge and excellence. This place is a great stop to try a few different brands all under the one roof with a fantastic wine bar restaurant attached.....we could have spent all day there!! It’s a must visit on your Hunter wine touring!

Jun 1, 2019 at 3:49 PM Permalink

Wine Tasting

Unbelievable experience, the tastings felt so personal and intimate. We learned so much about the hunter valley region as well as sampled a wide variety of different grapes. The environment was comfortable and open allowing us to be vocal and honest and learn from our tastings in a way that helped us grow as wine samplers.

Feb 7, 2019 at 11:40 AM Permalink

Great little find

Just turned left instead of right and what a beautiful spot, overlooking a big dam with swans. Wine tasting fabulous with an unrushed, unpressured and extremely knowledgeable young man. Then a superb lunch with matching wines. Just a wonderful experience, we'll be back.

Jan 16, 2019 at 11:45 AM Permalink