5 Tips To Get The Most From Game of Rhones

Game of Thrones is a worldwide phenomenon.

The Rhone in France a world famous wine region.

Rhone rhymes with Throne. 

Thus with a sprinkle of magic from the clever clogs at Bottle Shop concepts –  “Game of Rhones” wine tasting event is born!

Plus, plenty of punters – and winemakers – dress up in Game of Thrones themed outfits!

Adelaide 2015. Photo: Willunga Wino

To word yourself up about the Rhone region of Southern France, here is a handy dandy cheat sheet.

The Rhone has been producing wine for 2000 years.

Strapping Punters. Photo: Willunga WIno

 

 2. Spit, Don’t Swallow

With 30+ wineries and well over 100 wines to try, keep your wits about you by not drinking down all that alcomahol. 

Make like the wine experts do and swirl, sniff, sip, suck some air through it, swirl it in your mouth then spit into a spitton.

Insider tip from someone who’s been there: rinse your mouth out and regularly drink water to avoid “purple teeth” syndrome. Sometimes rinsing with white wine can help too!

Fine drinking vessel. Photo: Willunga Wino

3. Take Notes

How else will you remember what you loved and want more of?

They don’t need to be fancy, a few words will do. 

Here are my notes from some of the “special” wines on pour at Game of Rhones  Adelaide 2015. 

House Shaw & Smith Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2013

Sniff Sniff

Really pretty. Violets, red fruit, blueberries.

Sip Sip

Spicy, smooth palate, ripe & ready.

Gimme Gimme

$44

Grant Burge The Holy Trinity Barossa GSM 2011

Sniff Sniff

Strawberry compote with black pepper.

Sip Sip

Tannin kick then baking spice and black fruit and nice juicy finish.

Gimmie Gimmie

$36.95

The Good Word. Photo: Willunga Wino

Head “The Redhead” Barossa Shiraz 2012

Sniff Sniff

Mint, coffee. A very unique nose.

Sip Sip

Tight tannin, dusty baking spice, and a juicy, mouth watering finish.  

Gimmie Gimmie

$90

Alex Head brandishes his Head wines. Photo: Willunga Wino

Schild Estate Pramie Barossa Valley Shiraz

Well Looky Here

Dark Ruby.

Sniff Sniff

Vanilla, Cedar, Black fruit.

Sip Sip

Boysenberry, tight structure typical of Southern Barossa Lyndoch fruit. 

Gimmie Gimmie

$69.95

From the earth, Schild Estate. Photo: Willunga Wino

I asked winemaker Tim Smith if that was his fingerprint on the bottle – he demonstrated and it sure is, a thumbprint (big thumbs!)

Winemaker Tim Smith. Photo: Willunga Wino

Tim Smith Wines Barossa Shiraz 2013

 Sniff Sniff

Caramel notes from the oak. Hint of florals.

Sip Sip

Grippy tannin, with lasting vanilla and cedar flavours on the back palate. 

Gimmie Gimmie

$36.95

Tim Smith Wines barossa Shiraz 2013. Photo: Willunga Wino

Next we visited our mate from the Vale, Corinna Wright, winemaker from Oliver’s Taranga, sporting a rather fetching Daenerys wig. 

Olivers Taranga HJ Reserve McLaren Vale Shiraz 2011

 Sniff Sniff

Dusty dried herb and black pepper.

Sip Sip

Restrained front palate, with a tannin kick and nice vanilla. 

Gimmie Gimmie

$55

HJ Shiraz from House Olivers Taranga. Photo: Willunga Wino

Seppelt St Peters Grampians Shiraz 2012

 Sniff Sniff

Blue fruit, baking spice, minerality.

Sip Sip

Black fruit flavours from the 60 year old vines. 

The strong tannin is in check, from the full mouthfeel after being left on lees for 10 months. 

Gimmie Gimmie

$57.99 from Dan Murphy’s

The Snazzy St Peters from Seppelt. Photo: Willunga Wino

4. Follow the Red Woman

A Melisandre look alike was inviting guests this year into “The Torture Chamber”, where you are blindfolded and fed wines.

I know, sounds like heaven! And certainly a good sensory experience to see if you can really hone in on your non-sight senses.

If you get the tap on your shoulder – go, noble subject, go!

 

A Westerosian Knight. Photo: Willunga Wino

5. Sample the Rhone Bar

 

What’s your fancy? Photo: Willunga Wino

 

 

What did you think of Game of Rhones? Comments make my day, leave your comment below!

 

 

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