Jacob's Creek Wine Bar at the Australian Open

For the third year in a row, the Jacob's Creek wine bar is a highlight at the Australian Open.

Although the two-story wine bar does not have court-side views, the wine bar is fully equipped with several television and a temperature controlled space that allows patrons to eat, sip and stay cool while staying on top of the court matches.

As I mentioned in a previous post, what could be better than the pairing of two of my most favorite things: tennis & wine.

In addition to the expected wine & food, Jacob's Creek has taken it one step further and provides a history of both the over 150 year old Barossa based winery as well as a hall of fame and tributary hall for tennis players who have participated in the event in past years.

Patrons can also purchase Jacob's Creek wines throughout the venue, take memorable pictures of themselves at the event, have a Jacob's Creek sponsored caricature drawn and even (drum roll please) sip the wine court side while they cheer on their favorite players adding to the ever increasing 2 million glasses of Jacob's Creek wine enjoyed throughout the world daily.

Creek of the Week: Jacob's Creek Chardonnay

The Jacob's Creek Classic Chardonnay 2008 is truly a value wine. This particular wine has a distinctive flavor profile that follow suit with traditional Chardonnay from Southern Australia. Incredibly aromatic, the nose is full of citrus, stone fruits and melon that follow through on the palate with incredibly balance and substantial length. There is a distrinct taste of fresh, lively grasses that add complexity to the wine. The oak is well integrated, adding weight and a creamy mouth-feel, but without the overly buttery and toast taste that can sometimes over power the grape.

At <$10/bottle, this wine is truly a deal. Good as an aperitif for cocktail parties paired with light appetizers and good company.

Tennis & Wine ... what could be better?

I don't know about you, but two of my favorite things are tennis & wine. While I've never actually sipped on a glass of wine while watching a tennis tournament (only one I've been to is the Pilot Pen in New Haven and it's usually 95 degrees outside) I imagine the Jacob's Creek Pinot Grigio would be perfect company to such.

Anyway, as tennis fans across the globe anticipate the beginning of the Australian Open on January 18th in Melbourne Park in Victoria, Australia, Jacob's Creek already started the festivity, having created an almost tennis court that floats ON the Yarra River and featured players Pat Rafter and Wally Masur to test it out.

Being that the Australian Open is in Australia, and I won't be going to Australia until April, I'll just have to follow along on TV with the rest of the Western Hemisphere, but rest assure, I'll be sipping on some Jacob's Creek as I do it. :)

**photo courtesy of the Australian Open website

Creek of the Week: Jacob's Creek Reserve Pinot Noir

This weeks Creek of the Week is the Jacob's Creek Pinot Noir. Delicious, light & fruity this wine turned out to be an office favorite (the entire bottle was consumed between five of us this afternoon...)

The wine: medium garnet with flashes of purple giving off an intense aroma of sweet cherries and ripe strawberries with undertones of herbs. On the palate, the wine is full of ripe fruits with intense flavors up front of ripe, red berries. Subtle oak tannins derived balance with the acidity and fruit forward nature of the wine to create an easy drinking, enjoyable wine that can be enjoyed on its own or with light appetizers.

Creek of the Week: Classic Pinot Grigio 2008

Refreshing citrus on the palate with delicious pear and lemon throughout the nose and palate and a light, floral undertone. Incredibly balanced with gentle acidity... good for drinking on it's own or with lighter fare. Although the wine is incredibly young, it is ready to drink now. One sip brought me to a sunny afternoon. I was suddenly convinced it was 75-80 degrees outside and it wasn't getting dark at 430pm.

Definitely a bargain. The Jacob's Creek Pinot Grigio retails for under $10 a bottle, but is of superb quality. I am not a general fan of Pinot Grigio, but found this wine to be just what I was looking to sip on for an afternoon treat.

Creek of the Week: Steingarten Riesling

This week's Creek of the Week is the Jacob's Creek Steingarten Riesling is an exceptional wine of incredible balance and genuine quality. The 2007 shows its youth in its coloring: pale lemon with light lime-green flashes.

Typical of dry Riesling, this wine has intense citrus aromas with floral undertones of lemon blossom and light musk. On the palate, the wine gives a hint of lime upfront leading to a minerally palate enhanced by more citrus flavors of grapefruit and lime. With incredible acid and length, this wine would pair well with a variety of cheese.

Jacob's Creek suggests mild goat cheeses, double or triple cremes or bloomy rind cheeses.

Vinturi : Essential Wine Aerator Review

Today I decided to test the Vinturi; claimed to be one of the best aerators in the world.

The box boasts, "The same bottle of wine treated with Vinturi was higher in overall flavor intensity and mouthfeel... higher in red color intensity and overall aroma intensity... more true to type and of higher quality."

I decided to test this gadget on the Johann Shiraz Cabernet (this weeks Creek of the Week) since it was open and suggests decanting before tasting as some of the sediment tends to settle.

I already found the Johann Shiraz Cabernet to be enjoyable so my expectations were not high for the Vinturi. I was a bit skeptical to say the least and thus pleasantly surprised when I found it to be a valid product.

While I can't claim that I saw a vibrant color change, I did notice a variety of particles in glass number one that I didn't pick up on the first time I tasted the wine.

The nose was undoubtedly cleaner. Black cherries shown through with less influence of the oak and more spice. The mouthfeel was still medium-full but with an airy feeling. The fruit is forward but evenly balanced by spice and oak.

I conclude that the wine quality, overall, did improve. However, I can not definitively say that this will stand true for all wines.