Off the Press - Spring 2022 Edition 92

AN UPDATE FROM THE NEW BRIAR RIDGE OSTERIA

Word is spreading fast about the relaxed, inviting atmosphere here on the mountain.

It’s great to see the increase of visitors, especially our local residents, coming into the Osteria to enjoy our homemade range of meals and goodies with our homemade pizza and lasagne appearing to be the favourites from the menu alongside our premium cheese and charcuterie boards.

Earlier in the year, we booked out the Osteria for Mother’s Day ‘High Tea’. This was a real winner and because of the success, we are now looking at hosting some more regular high teas shortly. Narelle and Michelle (whom are both local ladies) are looking forward to making your visit memorable.

Wine Gusto!

Recently, we have introduced a new wine option, ‘Wine Gusto’, that allows you to relish on a variety of Briar Ridge wine with your meal at your own pace.

For $30 you may choose either a white, red or mixed flight and receive four half glasses of different styles of wine. Available in Osteria and bookable online.

Scan below to book!

Open Thursday - Monday 11am until 4pm

All group sizes can be accomodated with a booking. Call: (02) 4990 3670 or scan the QR code.

What’s Happening in the Cellar Door? THE SUNDAY MUSIC SESSIONS ARE HERE TO STAY!

We’ve had a great mixture of familiar faces and new friends who have joined us in the cellar door so far this year. Life appears to be getting back to normal and the weekends are once again pumping with vibrancy and activity. But if you prefer an experience at a slower pace, our weekday tastings could be the answer. We’ll share our wine knowledge, favourite local destinations, and general banter (maybe even a joke or two).

We also have some new team members for you to meet on your next visit: Michaela and John, who are great additions to our crew.

Each week we are profiling a different local artist, each specialising it diverse genres and instruments. Join us for a tasting or even a leisurely glass or two in the afternoon sun, while you soak up the atmosphere!

Missing! Alex Beckett Reportedly Not in the Hunter Valley!

On Monday 22nd August, our winemaker, Alex departed Sydney Mascot Airport and will be calling Europe home for the next two months. What is Alex doing in Europe you may ask?

Well, after a quick pit stop in the United Kingdom, Alex will be joining Weingut Gunderloch to assist with their German vintage. Based in Nackenheim in the Rheinhessen wine region in Germany, Weingut Gunderloch is a sixth-generation family estate known for their Riesling wines.

Over the next 8 weeks we will be keeping up to date with Alex, his profound love and experimentations with Riesling by posting his journey on our Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to follow us at @briarridgevineyard to witness Briar Ridge Vineyard take on the Northern Hemisphere.

1972

It all began in 1972 when the very first vines were planted by Murray Robson at 593 Mount View Road. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were among the varietals that first took to the Mount View soils, in what was then known as The Squire Vineyard.

1978

Six years later in 1978, what was then known as The Robson Vineyard and became an independent and fully operational winery.

1987

Dr John Davis, a Geologist and Oil Exploration Consultant with a deep love for wine, procured the land with the intense interest in the sites geographies while he was hunting for the best grape-growing positions in Australia. John saw the potential in the combination of the terroir & climate and invested in bringing life back to the estate.

1988

The Davis family reoriented and replanted rows to best benefit from the aspect of the land and terrain. This is when the renowned Dairy Hill Semillon was planted behind the Cellar Door.

It was also at this time, that the vineyard was donned it’s new perpetual name of Briar Ridge. The name Briar Ridge came from the original Riverwood Block’s nickname ‘Briar Block’ owing to all the wild briar roses that surrounded the parcel. Along with the ridge side location, Briar Ridge came to be.

1991

Along with John’s acquisition of the Vineyard and Winery we saw Karl Stockhausen join the Briar Ridge team in 1991. Initially as Manager-Winemaker he later crafted the now ever popular Stockhausen range.

During Karl’s tenure over the next three decades at Briar Ridge he worked with and consulted for some of the region’s most well-known Winemakers including our current Winemaker, Alex Beckett.

1993

Renovations took place and the winery was extended in 1993 with many other smaller renovations to follow, including the Wine Deck rebuild.

2015

Albarino was planted at Mount View with an initial 1200 vines.

2017

This was the year John passed the role of Director over to his daughter, Jaclyn Davis.

After spending every school holiday at Briar Ridge Vineyard in the late 80s through to 90s, working on the bottling line and packing boxes as a teenager, her fate was in play.

Since 2017 Jaclyn has been carrying Briar Ridge into modernity with a strong focus in continuing traditional values.

2020

In 2020, Alex Beckett took over as Winemaker from Gwyn Olsen and has embraced the philosophy of innovative techniques with old world methods in his winemaking.

2022

2022 and beyond sees Briar Ridge embodying the ‘classically radical’ notion of binding tradition with the drive and direction for redefinition. The vines turn 50 this year and in celebration there will be a Jubilee Long Lunch in the Vines held in November. Limited tickets remaining.

The industry benchmark for Australian wines is set by The Halliday Wine Companion Awards each year. Eight judges from the wine industry including wine critic, founder and vigneron James Halliday AM and Tyson Stelzer, Chief Editor of the Halliday Wine Companion guide, tasted over 8000 wines from 50 different wine regions in their search for the best of the best.

The 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Awards saw Briar Ridge presented with not only the Trophy for ‘White (& Blends) Wine of the Year’ with our 2021 Limited Release Albarino but also a red star winery rating. A red star rating is awarded to “an outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity. Will have at least two wines rated at 95 points or above, and has held a 5-star rating for the previous three years”. Alex is beyond thrilled with Briar Ridge’s return to one the highest levels of acheivement in the Companion.

wines of major trophy standard in important wine shows.

wines of gold medal standard, usually with a great pedigree.

RECOMMENDED wines on the cusp of gold medal status.

RECOMMENDED wines demonstrating great quality, style and character, and worthy of a place in any cellar.

2021 ‘Briar Hill’ CHardonnay

A stellar trophy winner.

The James Halliday Chardonnay and Cabernet Challenge is a competition and celebration of Australia’s incredible regional attributes. Results comprise of only fifteen ‘Best of Region’ Trophies from the nine Chardonnay regions of Australia; to which in 2023 Briar Ridge Vineyard was awarded the ‘Hunter Valley Best of Region’ Trophy for our unreleased 2021 Single Vineyard Briar Hill Chardonnay.

Limited quantities are produced from our unique ‘Briar Hill’ block and only when conditions have yielded the highest standard of quality fruit. Puregreenappleandlimefruitaromas alongsideconcentratedlemoncurdflavours buildingintoalongpersistentcreamytextured finish.Thiswinewilldevelopinthebottleinthe medium term. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Currently only available for pre-order, this wine will be officially released at our 50th Jubilee Long Lunch in the Vines on November 5th 2022, alongside the launch of our new wine club, Club Radica.

To pre-order and reserve your allocation of 2021 Single Vineyard Briar Hill Chardonnay today visit either briarridge.com.au/Wines/Shop/preorder or call Grace or Georgina in the Wine Club on (02) 4990 3670.

All pre-orders will be shipped on Tuesday 8th November.

2021 limited release BdX

$32

What is it?

A careful meld of Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot creates a modern Australian interpretation of the classic blends of Bordeaux. Expect ripe black fruits and lifted herbal aromas which are joined by savoury spice French oak and framed by very fine polished tannin and fresh acidity.

A newbie hits our lineup!

Details from behind the bottle:

“The 2021 Vintage in Wrattonbully is perhaps the finest vintage I have seen in my time with Briar Ridge. Ideal flowering and ripening conditions led to small bunches of highly concentrated berries which had the benefit of complete chemistry balance at harvest. Each Varietal was cold soaked for 48 hours prior to warm fermentations with ambient yeast before gentle pressing directly to a combination of new (30%) and seasoned French oak barriques for 14 months maturation.”

release

meet tH

Winemaker

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

Single Vineyard ‘Dairy Hill’ Semillon

Alex Narelle

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one thing what would it be? Champagne, because I could not only drink it but aim the flying cork to get the attention of a passing plane.

Warehouse Manager

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

Limited Release Albarino

What was your first concert and at what age?

I went to Red Hot Chili Peppers when I was 13.

AprilMichael

General Manager

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

Single Vineyard ‘Briar Hill’ Chardonnay

Do you have a phrase or quote you live by? “And briefly the man with no brain dipped his toe into the waters of reason before frolicking happily back to insanity beach”

Accounts & Administration Manager

Rebecca Mark

Osteria Supervisor

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

‘The Jezebel’ Moscato

If you could choose one superpower what would it be and why?

To be able to fly. It would be so fun.

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

‘Old Vines’ Shiraz

What’s your pet peeve?

Single socks. Eeep!

Warehouse Storeman

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

Limited Release Albarino

If someone had to play you in a movie, who would it be and why?

Tom Hanks. I run like Forrest.

He team

Shannon

Cellar Door Sales

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

Limited Release Albarino

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A dolphin training Broadway singer!

Digital Media Specialist & Cellar Door Sales

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

Limited Release Fiano. I love the crisp, refreshing flavour that’s backed up by texture and spice. Delicious!

Are you a dog or a cat person? Both. I need an animal for both of my moods…

Riley Grace

Michaela

Cellar Door Sales

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

‘Old Vines’ Shiraz

What would you do with a million dollars?

Roll in it.

Steve Jaclyn

Customer Experience Manager

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

Single Vineyard ‘Dairy Hill’ Semillon

Who is your hero?

ABBA!

Public Relations & Marketing Manager

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

The Briar Hill Chardonnay. I can’t go past a good chard. Podcast recommendation? Wine & Crime. A comedic true crime podcast by three women who pair each episode carefully with a style of wine.

Owner

What’s your favourite Briar Ridge wine?

‘Dairy Hill’ Semillon. Any vintage!

What is your all-time favourite movie?

Rocky Horror Picture Show

50th Jubilee Long Lunch in the Vines

Mount View, Hunter Valley, NSW

Saturday 5th November 2022 - 12pm start $250 per person

Our biggest event of the decade!

In a first for Briar Ridge, the 50th Jubilee Long Lunch in the Vines will be hosted alongside our vineyard in the Hunter Valley. Enjoy a three-course menu prepared by modern-Australian two-hatted restaurant, Muse, which will then be followed by a live band to dance the day away.

Expect to see the release of our new single vineyard range and other museum vintages showcased. A charity auction will take place during the luncheon with proceeds going to local children’s charities. Auction items will include wine and food experiences, and a private masterclass with our Winemaker. Tickets include transfers to and from Pokolbin, Lovedale and Cessnock areas. Be a part of our history this November.

Members Blending Session

Mount View, Hunter Valley, NSW

Sunday 6th November 2022 - 12:30 start $155 per person

Work alongside our Winemaker, Alex Beckett, as he takes you and your team through the art of wine blending madness!

A friendly competition with the prize of having your blend bottled and released as our next vintage of Limited Release Members Blend with your names noted on the label. The blending session will be followed by a gourmet lunch with giant paella pans!

This is sure to be a day full of laughs and activities but more importantly, WINE!