Spit or swallow?

It’s ‘the-morning-after’ when I always vow to learn to spit ‘nicely’ at the next wine tasting event I go to. As unattractive as it is, spitting should also occur before I inadvertently consume the best part of several bottles of wine (all in the name of ‘education’ and broadening my palette, of course!). However, I still haven’t learnt and the Fed Square Yarra Valley Wine Showcase on Weds 5th and Thurs 6th May proved to be no different. But who can resist sampling a great drop (or thirty) from producers in one of Victoria’s premier wine regions?!

With around twenty producers showcasing over fifty wines, the $25 entry fee which included limitless wine tasting, as well as a tasting plate with several different food choices proved pretty good val.

Producers who participated in the event included Boat O’Craigo Vineyard, Coldstream Hills, St Huberts Vineyard, Fergusson Winery, Five Oaks Vineyard, Giant Steps, Hirsch Hill Estate, Long Gully Estate, Millers Dixon Creek Estate, Oakridge Wines, Olsen Wines, Outlook Hill, Rochford Wines, Seville Estate, Seville Hill, Sticks Yarra Valley, Warramate Wines, Yileena Park, Yarra Burn Wines as well as Purvis Cellars who showcased some of their current favourite fine wines.

With event specials such as 10-15% off half dozen and dozen bottle purchases, coupled with the try-before-you-buy opportunity, you can’t beat this approach to purchasing wine, whilst discovering varieties you may not have tasted before.

Highlights we discovered included the Oakridge Chardonnay with its zesty citrus flavour, as well as the Fume – beautifully clean crisp on the palate. We also loved the Seville Hill 2006 Pinot Noir, which tasted remarkably like a strawberry Chupa Chup!

Millers Dixon Creek Estate offered some delicious Bordeaux style wines including the award winning 2005 Quatrain (70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc) with “lovely drying tannins, a complex nose and a multi-layered palate of blackberry, liquorice, spice from the Petit Verdot and a hint of dark chocolate.” The 2005 Petit Verdot was also a delightful drop with “rich red and black fruit, spice and floral undertones.”

Fed Square’s convenient location to the city makes it the perfect venue to host events such as this – ideal for the after work crowd to stop by on their way home. Fed Square plan to host similar events each month, featuring a different Victorian Wine region at every event.

Save the date and mark the next tasting in your diary: Weds 2nd and Thurs 3rd June, 4.30-8.30pm, where wineries from Sunbury and Macedon Ranges will be showcased.
Visit for more info.

Distilled and bottled for the future

Despite abundant regulations regarding the redevelopment of historical buildings these days, it’s always heartening to see the traditional features of a building embraced in the new design.

A pleasing example of old integrated into new is the Port Melbourne redevelopment of the original Joshua Brothers Distillery building. The old distillery has been converted into a trendy apartment block, but the origins of the building have been retained through a liquor-inspired façade. There are also plaques located near the building entrances detailing the building’s history.


Info plaque and painted façade of Joshua Bros Distilly building today
From 1863, “Victoria became the centre for Australian whisky attracting a number of large distilleries around Ballarat, Port Melbourne and the Yarra River” says Chris Middleton from Victoria Valley Distillery. Pot still malt whisky was produced in volume by Victorian distilleries and sold to liquor retailers and hotels. It was not until after the Great War that whisky was bottled, branded and marketed. Joshua Brother’s Boomerang became one of the first largest brands, with 1.5 million litres being produced from the Federal Distillery in Port Melbourne each year.

Whisky was held under Government bond, which assured quality for local distilleries and consumers and increased the positive reputation of Victorian whisky. “Southern Victoria was an attractive region to make whisky as barley cultivation favoured the colder climate in winter. The water quality was very good, with a limestone platform running from Melbourne across to South Australia and the volatility of the seasonal temperatures made ideal conditions for maturation” says Middleton.

The legacy of the lively whisky industry lives on through precious buildings like the Joshua Brother’s distillery. The building’s purpose may have changed, but its history has been distilled and preserved for future generations.

For more info, read Word from the Valley, from Victoria Valley Distillery, Aug 2009:
http://victoriavalley.com.au/docs/VicValleyNews-Ed8.pdf

A lovely Gesture

Gesture is a beautiful word, meaning a “sign”, “signal” or “nod”. With a “nod” towards days gone by, Gestures is also the perfect name for a gorgeous second-hand shop located on Bay Street, Port Melbourne.







Gestures specialises in pre-loved delights such as crockery, jewellery, glassware and other charming bric-a-brac items. This unique specialty store was an unexpected discovery and every time I jog past there is always something new and eye-catching in the window. The favourite so far has been the china polka-dot teacups and saucers.

Gestures, 354 Bay St, Port Melbourne, 3207
03 9681 7121

Rug up for winter with buyster and MyMelbourne

Autumn has well and truly arrived in Melbourne - it’s dark by 8pm, Easter is just around the corner and daily temperatures dipping into the low 20s are becoming more common.

As we start to contemplate our winter wardrobe (those new boots, jumpers and tights) our homes shouldn’t be neglected either. Fortunately they don’t have to be thanks to buyster rugs. buyster is an Australian company who offer an “unparalleled selection of great value products and excellent customer service”, which is always welcome!

The lovely team from buyster rugs are giving away a gift voucher to one lucky MyMelbourne reader. Email mymelbourneinfo@gmail.com and tell us in 25 words or less which rug you like and why for the chance to win a $65 buyster rugs gift voucher. With a great range of designs from contemporary to oriental as well as cute children's rugs the only problem is choosing one! Hopefully some of our favourites below will inspire you…

‘Dynasty’ Oriental Rug

‘Samira’ Contemporary Rug

Looney Tunes Hopscotch rug

These beautiful rugs are sure to warm up your winter and smarten up your home this season. Get in quick - competition closes on Sunday 18th April.

buyster also sell a great range of other homeware products. If your dwelling requires a more drastic makeover, check out the other hot pieces they have available at http://www.buysterrugs.com.au/ourstores.asp

Arts Thread nurtures creative talent

Image if you were a design student graduate trying to break into the competitive design industry. What would you do to promote yourself and how would you go about securing a job?

Fortunately this is something that UK based website Arts Thread has thought about, offering “a trend driven online educational tool with a strong graphic identity designed to connect Industry, universities/schools and students worldwide, exclusively within the field of design.”

Some of the services that Arts Thread offers include university course information for prospective students, an online portfolio for existing students, inspiration through listings of global art and design exhibitions, student/graduate shows and design trade fairs as well as a magazine featuring student’s work and trend info.

Arts Thread also assists industry employers seeking talented graduates: “For the first time ever the Global Creative Industry can locate the key university/college courses and view portfolios of the top talent among graduates worldwide with just a few clicks of the mouse.”

I have been fortunate to be involved with Arts Thread, offering a Melbourne perspective through the shows and exhibitions I have attended and written articles on. My latest article is on the ‘til you drop: shopping – a Melbourne history exhibition, at the State Library of Victoria until 31st October.
http://blog.artsthread.com/?p=2572

If you haven’t been to this exhibition yet, then where have you been??? Just kidding, but it is highly recommended. Everyone will learn something from this well researched and executed exhibition, especially a better understanding and appreciation of Melbourne’s role in the history of shopping.

Visit http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/programs/exhibitions/kmg/2009/til-you-drop/
for more details.

Please contact me if you are hosting or know of any other art and design exhibitions coming up in Melbourne.

Moomba Magic in March

More than half a century after the festival first commenced, Moomba still managed to draw an enthusiastic crowd for its annual parade last Monday.

A crowd of 90,000 strong lined Swanston Street to greet the passing parade which consisted of a mixture of groups such as musicians, acrobats and members of the SES as well as many more.

View from Flinders Street Station along Swanston Street




Channel 7’s bright and bubbly Nuala Hafner and gentle giant Coxy from Coxy’s Big Break provided comprehensive coverage of the event. The pair were ‘on the ground’ throughout the parade, speaking with many of the parade participants and spectators.

Channel 7 hosts, Nuala Hafner and Coxy

The grand finale of the parade included an appearance of Moomba King and Queen, Molly Meldrum and Kate Ceberano. Soon after the conclusion of the event dark storm clouds collected over the CBD, rain imminent. However, no amount of rain could dampen the spirit of the parade participants or spectators and the experience this uniquely Melbourne event offers.

Moomba King, Molly Meldrum and Moomba Queen, Kate Ceberano

Learn your ABCs

I have always had a fascination with words (which is probably why I love writing and reading) but I have to admit I have never really given letters much consideration, which is odd considering that letters are the foundation of words.

Letterheads 2010 celebrates the 26 letters of our alphabet by commissioning 26 artists to each “re-envision” a single letter of the alphabet to create a “collection that explores the influence of the ubiquitous letterform in all aspects of contemporary art.”

The exhibition features a culmination of pieces from established and emerging artists from Australia (such as Graeme Base) and overseas in a mixture of mediums. Paint, collage, graphic design, illustration and screen printing are just some of the techniques employed by the artists throughout the exhibition. Every piece of work is mesmerizing, unique and completely inspiring.

The inspiration behind each piece, as well as interviews with all of the artists has been captured in the Ltrhds book. Only 400 copies of the book have been produced and it can be purchased at the exhibition or ordered from http://www.niceproduce.com for $49.



The exhibition runs until 19th March at 1000 £ Bend, 361 Little Lonsdale St Melbourne. Sydney won’t miss out either - the exhibition will be held from 30th April until 28th May at Red Bull Gallery, Huntly St and Burke Rd Alexandria.

For more info on the artists and exhibition, visit http://www.ltrhds.com/