Finally some good luck for young, healthy GoS. January 21, 2012

*Last time in Australia GoS worked in an impotency clinic; ten years on he’s back on wine safari – c’est la vie.
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I’M OFF TO LONDON on Monday for my WSET (wine) diploma graduation ceremony.

I had a bit of luck, you may have seen online during the autumn, and managed to sneak the course’s best-overall-result prize among those who graduated in Ireland in 2011. There were just eight of us – a small field – and coordinator Dermot Nolan MW said it was a photo finish between at least four students. I’m a bit sheepish about it, to be honest.

Still, in the absence of being rich I’ll take lucky. Special thanks to co-student Beverly Matthews, co-owner of Cork’s only proper winebar L’Atitude (which she runs with another classmate of ours, Frenchwoman Emma Legrand), who gave me invaluable help with the final assignment.

Anyway, there is more than glory in coming first: the winner is also awarded the ‘Wine Australia Scholarship‘, which involves a trip to Australia in March. The itinerary, which the antipodean trade body is graciously involving me in drawing up (“are there wine regions on the barrier reef?”), lasts eight days, but we are free to add on time at the start or end if we would like to just chill out and soak up all those positive Aussie vibes.

The ‘we’ refers to fellow diploma top guns from the other countries – Canada, England, Hong-Kong, North Korea, China – where the course is run. It’s a longer list than that, actually – I don’t really know the countries. I think there will be 12-15 in the group. I’m going to spend from now until the departure date dusting off and polishing up some really great anecdotes so the others on the bus won’t think I’m too dull (“Hey – did you know that I met Michael Healy-Rae once?”).

Anyway, more details on all this closer to the time. I will probably be chronicling my travels both here and on my work blog (different content on each), so you will be able to experience it all vicariously: Paul hugging a koala, Paul next to a ‘Danger – Crocodiles!’ sign, Paul glugging Tooheys with Ayers Rock in the background.

I’ll be filling out my ‘Itinerary Planning Form’ tomorrow; I have five spaces to fill in ‘Prioritise wine regions of interest’ and five also for ‘Must-visit wineries’. Any suggestions?

I have to admit, I’m probably most excited by the bit at the end of the questionnaire that mentions potential outings to beaches, the outback, national parks and wildlife areas. After all, I can drink the best of Margaret River cab or Barossa shiraz seven nights a week here in Kinsale if I want – and I have the entire internet at my disposal to read up on any and all aspects of the Australian wine industry. But lovely Garretstown Beach is hardly ever warm enough to swim sober in, and the journey to see wallabies in Fota is a real pain.

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WINE REVIEW: IT’S A DISGRACE that this post doesn’t feature an Australian wine (that’s what happens with no editor) but, by way of placating my new sponsor and friend Wine Australia, let me announce here that we at Bubble Brothers – neck and neck with River Wines for the title of ‘Blackrock’s Most Keenly-Priced Wine Importer’ – will be promoting an icon Aussie shiraz at a discount of 38% (on 6-pack cases, delivery included) next week. More anon (follow @BubbleBrothers for details).

Anyway, the wine is an AGLIANICO – a high-quality, Southern-Italian variety. Its tannins need to be tamed by late picking and modest yields, they say, and it achieves its finest results in DOCs Taurasi (Campania) and Aglianico del Vulture (Basilicata).

The latter is Basilicata‘s only DOC, comprising 400 ha on volcanic soil at an altitude of 450-600 metres. In recent years, new French oak barrels have replaced old chestnut wood, and the wines have fetched higher prices in the marketplace.

*Grifalco Aglianico del Vulture 2006 (RP €18; imported by River Wines, Cork): Super-interesting, perfumed, sexy red. Fairly full bodied, with persistent, talcy tannins, and a delicious prune, melted liquorice, tar, raspberry / blackcurrant jam, pepper character. Every sip a joy. ★★★★⋆ (Four-and-a-half stars – outstanding-ish).

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