Putting the Bubbles in The Wine Versus Putting the Bubbles in the Bottle

Apart from the quality of the wine itself, what most people are looking for in champagne or sparkling wine is – you guessed it –  bubbles. It’s the sparkle that makes a celebration and the sensation of tiny bubbles bursting in the mouth that’s part of the tasting experience. 

There are two ways of achieving this. In wines made using the traditional champagne-making process, a secondary fermentation with added yeast puts bubble into the bottle. But Peter Cap feels that the more modern approach, that of using a carbonation process, produces a better result. 

“Putting the bubbles into the wine rather than putting them into the bottle means that the wine remains infused with bubbles down to the very last drop,” he explains. “Putting bubbles into the bottle using the Champagne-making method means that on opening, the bubbles rapidly rise to the top leaving the wine far less bubbly than it would have been had carbonation been used instead.”

Look for the Frothy Mousse

To demonstrate his point, Peter pours a glass of his own Manor Estate Sparkling Shiraz, a winning wine which was awarded an excellent rating during blind tasting by an internationally renowned panel of experts at Wine Enthusiast. 

He points to the froth of violet foam topping the wine. “That frothy mousse is one of the things we love most about our sparkling wine – but looking at the wine itself, you can see that there are still bubbles – lots of them. That’s what you get when you carbonate wine to produce a bubbly and it’s something that you won’t see in champagne which typically has fewer and smaller bubbles after being opened. By the time you reach the bottom of the bottle, there are hardly any bubbles to speak of.”

Deciding Which is Better Depends on What Pleases a Person

Despite the world-class reputation of Manor Estate wines, Peter is no rigid wine-snob. “People can tell you what you ought to think, but what really matters is what you think. Some people may be up in arms when the opinion that a good Aussie sparkling wine is better than French champagne is shared. But that’s an opinion. Test it yourself. Make it a fair contest by choosing a really good Aussie sparkling wine like our Sparkling Shiraz or Sparkling Brut. Decide whether you agree. If you don’t, that’s fine too.”

Manor estate offers wine events, a romantic wedding venue and luxury accommodation in McLaren Vale. For more information, or join their wine club, visit the Manor Estate Wines website or call their team of experts on (08) 8383 7300.

Syndicated by Baxton Media, The Market Influencers, Your Digital Marketing Agency.

Read: McLaren Vale Winery Sparkling Shiraz Brut Wines Australian Wine Club Membership

Sparkling Shiraz with Spicy Pasta Provencal – or Dessert

There’s more to the range of foods that match Manor Estate’s famous Sparkling Shiraz – feel free to explore peppery, spicy dishes at will. However, this easy pasta recipe featuring cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, garlic, capers, Italian spices, red pepper and Parmesan cheese is a great way to get that VIP experience at home. Alternatively, it can be enjoyed with game and earthy flavours or it can be served up with a favourite dessert. Take time to admire the frothy mousse that the sparkling shiraz produces when poured – it’s Peter’s pride and joy!

Sparkling Brut with Grilled Fish Served with Green Olive Sauce and Pistachio

Most people will be aware that a sparkling brut can be enjoyed with any white meat or seafood. But special occasions call for special recipes. Serve grilled fish on a base of green olive sauce and top with coarsely chopped roast pistachios. It’s simple but undeniably a dish fit for a king. A little caviar on the side adds an ultra luxury touch and matches the crisp character of the sparkling brut. “Any salty delicacy is great with sparkling brut,” says Peter.

Shiraz with Red Meats and Veggies for Classic Enjoyment

Luxurious shiraz is a real all-rounder to go with red meats and veggies. Peter suggests making a red wine sauce – but not with his Manor Estate Shiraz. “Red wine reductions are fantastic, but you shouldn’t use your best wines for them. A regular bottle of plonk will do for cooking, but for serving, you should complement the meal with a naturally-aged, full-bodied, palate-pleasing shiraz. Theoretically, you could cook with it, of course, but it would be an awful waste.”

Cabernet Sauvignon with Red Meats or Portobello Mushrooms

Pairings for Cabernet Sauvignon are very similar to those that work with Shiraz, but Peter is eager to offer a vegetarian option. “With either Shiraz or CabSav, vegetarians will be looking for a meat substitute as a main dish, and portobello mushrooms fit the bill. Stuffed mushrooms are a fantastic alternative to meat when enjoying red wine with a meal. Spinach, tomato and white cheeses are great accompaniments to portobellos – or just grill and serve.

Read: McLaren Vale Winery Secrets Wine Club Wines Tasting Events Australian Winemakers

Chardonnay with Pasta or Seafood

The delicate nature of Chardonnay calls for equally delicate accompanying flavours. Seafood is sure to be a winner, but asparagus and pasta dishes with subtle flavours are equally successful pairings. For a real gourmet touch, try lobster thermidor, says Peter. It’s a great way of dressing seafood to impress, tastes amazing, and will pair beautifully with the wine.

“You don’t have to be rich and famous to enjoy fine food and wine,” says Peter. But once the flavours of paired foods and wines work their magic, you’ll certainly feel like an A-lister – even when it’s just a really special meal at home.” His top wine recommendations are an easy guess. He chooses Manor Estate Wines, the wines he nurtured to match or even beat some of the world’s finest.

Manor estate offers wine events, a romantic wedding venue and luxury accommodation in McLaren Vale. For more information, or to buy wine online, or join their wine club, visit the Manor Estate Wines website or call their team of experts on (08) 8383 7300.

Syndicated by Baxton Media, The Market Influencers, Your Digital Marketing Agency.

Peter’s winery, Manor Estate, produces the self-indulgent wines branded as “ME” wines, and his Shiraz is an international award winner. However, even wine fanciers who know they like a Shiraz may wonder just what earns this red wine its name. It all comes down to the grapes and where they’re grown says Peter.

Read: McLaren Vale Winery Secrets Wine Club Wines Tasting Events Australian Winemakers

A French Grape Variety Makes Itself at Home in Warmer Climes

Shiraz, explains Peter, comes from a historic French grape variety that’s known as Syrah in its birthplace. It grows well in warmer climates, expressing its flavour somewhat differently than it did back home in France. “Even in Australia, there are wines made from Syrah grapes that have the more acidic overtones and peppery aroma that the French versions do. The Yarra Valley wines are more like a Syrah than a warm-climate Shiraz. In McLaren Vale, the flavour is fruitier and if there is to be a distinction between Shiraz and Syrah wines, those would be the characteristics that differentiate them from each other.”

Shiraz: Among The Darkest of All Reds

The colour of Shiraz (or Syrah) wines is quite distinctive. Peter demonstrates the dark hue by holding a glass up to the light. The dark liquid is a deep red that’s almost black, and that’s in line, says Peter, with the berry flavours for which the wine is famed. He notes that Australians love their Shiraz wines and that Shiraz grapes are among the most widely grown in Australia. “Americans enjoy their Shiraz too,” he says, reflecting on the success Manor Estates achieved in the USA where it rapidly earned a reputation as a producer of exceptionally good wines suitable for serving to the “beautiful people” in Manhattan’s most luxurious venues.

Shiraz Flavour: Full-Bodied, Bold, and Dry

Red meats and red wine are a classic pairing, but Peter Cap says there’s more to Shiraz than just that. “Shiraz wines have a bold flavour, and they complement foods that have a bold flavour too. Aged cheese, for example, smoked meats, and the richness of duck are better when enjoyed with Shiraz wines, and the tannins help to cut through the fattiness of lamb. From the barbeque to the gourmet dinner, and from starters to desserts, there’s always room for a Shiraz in the wine selection.”

Read: Sparkling Brut Wines McLaren Vale Winery Accommodation Functions Weddings Events

More Than Just the Grapes

At Manor Estate, Peter insists on ageing wines according to time-honoured traditions. “Good quality Shiraz starts with selecting the best wine grapes, but it doesn’t end there,” he explains. “There’s no substitute for the flavour of a wine aged in oak barrels and given time to develop its flavours naturally. It’s possible to fast-track wine production, but the difference lies in the taste.”

Another component of a great Shiraz is often overlooked. Yeast is used in the fermentation of wine, but there are many variants, and according to Peter Cap, the original French strain of yeast produces superior results.

From the consumer’s perspective, the temperature of the wine will also affect the way its taste is experienced. Peter recommends refrigerating Shiraz for 15 minutes before serving. “Most people serve it too warm,” he warns, “and that means they aren’t getting the most out of their Shiraz.”

“It begins with Shiraz grapes,” says Peter, “but that’s just the start. From how the wine is made to details like the choice of glassware, the temperature it is served at, and the foods with which it is paired, a little understanding of the art of making and enjoying wine will enhance your choices and maximise your enjoyment of Shiraz wines.”

Manor estate offers wine events, a romantic wedding venue and luxury accommodation in McLaren Vale. For more information, or to buy wine online, or join their wine club, visit the Manor Estate Wines website or call their team of experts on (08) 8383 7300.

Syndicated by Baxton Media, The Market Influencers, Your Digital Marketing Agency.

The US marketing drive, headed by Peter and daughter Sharleen was already well underway when Manor Estate applied for assistance through Wine Australia’s US Market Entry program. It’s not every winery that makes it through the selection process. Only a handful wins the organisation’s support. After all, Wine Australia promises its US contacts access to some of Australia’s most exciting brands, and it’s an accolade that isn’t easily earned.

Only 15 wineries are selected for the program, and apart from offering a superior product, the program’s beneficiaries must show a well-developed strategy that demonstrates readiness to invest in US market entry. With generations-old wineries competing for the benefits Wine Australia’s support offers to the select few, Manor Estate was a new kid on the block and, to many, it was a surprise choice in the final selection of program beneficiaries.

Read: McLaren Vale Winery Secrets Wine Club Wines Tasting Events Australian Winemakers

More than Just a Name: Manor Estate Produces Great Wine

Although the Manor Estate name may not be widely known, Peter and his family always believed that the wine itself would do the talking. “That’s fine when you’re talking to New York’s gourmets. They taste it, they like it, and that’s all it takes to secure a deal,” says Peter. However, Manor Estate was less sure about Wine Australia selection. The competition was stiff and included more established wineries – and in many instances, the wines they produce were already known to Peter and his family.

“As a wine-lover, you can’t help but be aware that you’re up against some of the wine producers you’ve admired in the past,” says Peter. “It was uncertain whether Manor Estate would be just another face in the crowd despite its export readiness and the quality of its wines.”

Wine Australia, on the other hand, was duly impressed. The organisation’s listing of Manor Estate observes that the winery has “Some of the best wines the McLaren Vale region has to offer,” and highlights the glowing reviews that Manor Estate Wines Brut achieved in ratings by the internationally respected Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Ready, Willing, and Already Making Progress

Exporting wine to the USA isn’t just a matter of packing an order and getting it shipped. It’s a complex market with regulatory requirements differing from state to state. But Manor Estate was not only geared up and ready to go, it had already begun making inroads into the US market. With a little help from Wine Australia’s mentors and network of contacts, it could and would do so much more.

“It was hard work just getting people to taste Manor Estate wines at first,” says daughter Sharleen, now living and working in the US at the helm of Manor Estate’s US operations. “But being selected by Wine Australia gave us the credibility to be more than just another face in the crowd. There is no doubt whatsoever that winning Wine Australia’s support fast-tracked Manor Estate’s progress in breaking into US markets as a producer of premium wines.”

It’s clear that Wine Australia is as happy with its choice of the Manor Estate brand as the estate’s owners are with being chosen to benefit from the boost into the US market that Wine Australia offers. The organisation notes that although Manor Estate is “first generation,” it is already “forging a path to become a multi-generational icon.”

Read: Sparkling Brut Wines McLaren Vale Winery Accommodation Functions Weddings Events

Quality, Determination, Plus Business Acumen a Winning Combination

Peter concedes that the quality of his estate’s wines alone was not sufficient to earn recognition from Wine Australia as an “exciting new brand” for the organisation to promote in the US. “There is no doubt that quality played a key role,” he says, “but Wine Australia saw that Manor Estate was already making an independent effort to break into the US market, and it noticed that we were already achieving much despite having to go it alone at the outset. From packaging to logistics, Manor Estate had everything it needed to succeed and with Wine Australia to back it up, that success would be assured.”

Manor estate offers wine events and luxury accommodation in McLaren Vale. For more information, or to buy wine online, or join their wine club, visit the Manor Estate Wines website or call their team of experts on (08) 8383 7300.

Syndicated by Baxton Media, The Market Influencers, Your Digital Marketing Agency.