Where Do We Go From Here?

Matt Kramer

CLARE VALLEY, Australia—Of all the wine sagas that I’ve followed over the decades—the rise of California; the decline of everyday Bordeaux; the stunning renaissance of Italy; the revitalization of Spain; the wholly new appearance of Oregon and Washington—none quite equals the roller-coaster ride of Australia.
In the space of little more than a decade, Australian wine went from a strictly local item fighting for shelf space and cultural legitimacy in a beer-besotted country to a worldwide phenomenon that single-handedly knocked France off the (low-priced) shelves in Great Britain and was fast encroaching on comparably low-priced wines in the United States. Like some alien invader, Australian wine was a commercial juggernaut that seemingly came out of nowhere.
Then, about five years ago give or take, the juggernaut ground to a halt. All of a sudden, it seemed that nobody wanted Australian wines anymore—or publicly admitted to it, anyway. Producer after producer here in Australia told me point-blank during my three-week-long trip last month that they had no market in the United States. I heard time and again that their importers either cut orders severely or left off importing their wines altogether.
Every wine industry has its missteps. It happened in Burgundy in the 1970s with excessive yields creating dilute, almost anorectic wines; in California in the 1980s with flavorless “food wines;” and in Oregon with a self-proclaimed pair of supposedly great vintages (1986 and ’87) that set the region back in public esteem and credibility for nearly a decade. The list could easily continue with, for example, Austria’s disastrous scandal in 1985 involving wines spiked with diethylene glycol.
In all of these cases, what emerged from the ashes was a vastly improved wine culture in each locale. Burgundy has never made better red wines, in my opinion, than it does today. (White Burgundies are more problematic as the yields for Chardonnay are still way too high for consistent greatness, to say nothing of the nagging, aggravated and still-unsolved problem of premature oxidation in white Burgundies.)
Austria radically reformed itself after the wake-up call of the scandal, and its wines have never been purer, finer or more profound. California has gone from strength to strength, from an explosion of ever-better Pinot Noirs and Syrahs to the still-evolving maturation of largely new (and often cooler) wine zones along the Central and Sonoma coasts. Oregon, for its part, is now creating the best Pinot Noirs it has ever made.
But what of Australia? Right now, Australian wine suffers a nearly worldwide lack of esteem. Where only just a few years ago seemingly everyone was oohing-and-aahing over the new Australian wine baby, today there’s a collective shrug. It’s just another baby—and maybe it really wasn’t all that cute anyway.
Australia’s fall from grace had a velocity I’ve never before seen. I can’t think of another wine country that, Icarus-like, flew so high and fell so far in so short a time.
“If you’re thinking, ‘Great, just what we need: more syrupy, over-alcoholic Barossa-style Shiraz,’ think again.”
Now, the question is: Where to go from here? In both value and quantity the plunge continues. According to Impact, a trade publication of M. Shanken Communications, “Exports of Australian wine have fallen in value for the third consecutive year, experiencing a 9 percent drop … for the 12 months through December 2010.”
And what is sent abroad is increasingly exported in bulk form, as a cheap commodity item. Higher-value bottled wine exports continue to decline: exports of bottled wines to Australia’s two most important markets—Great Britain and United States—fell in volume by, respectively, 28 percent and 4 percent, according to Impact.
While other wine zones may have more breathing room thanks to, say, a larger local audience, which is the key advantage of American wine producers, many other nations are nowhere near as fortunate. (New Zealand, for example, exports fully 71 percent of its entire wine production.)
Many wine zones are faced with becoming “mini-Australias” as worldwide wine competition increases, exchange rates become unfavorable (Australia; New Zealand; Europe), local production levels become insupportably large (Italy, Spain, California) or lopsided in variety (New Zealand with Sauvignon Blanc; Oregon with Pinot Noir) or the luster simply wears off (Napa Valley; Brunello di Montalcino).
Mind you, none of this is inevitable. But the nature of the world today makes Australia’s astoundingly rapid fall a cautionary tale. Simply put, things happen faster and more dramatically now. The reasons may differ—Japan’s appetite for luxury products may contract because of a new mindset from the earthquake—but markets indisputably now react more severely than, say, 10 years ago.
This is why I went to visit Australia’s Clare Valley. Such a statement may seem a non sequitur, but I assure you it’s not. I went to Clare Valley to see the future—and the redemption—of Australian fine wine.
About 90 miles north of Adelaide, Clare Valley is a narrow strip of farmland—really several lateral ribbons of hillsides—that’s one of the oldest winegrowing areas in Australia, dating to the 1840s. With just 2,500 acres of vines, it’s overshadowed by its much larger and equally old neighbor, Barossa Valley. Yet the two zones, despite their proximity (the two districts are 60 miles apart), create distinctly different wines—and have utterly different mentalities.
Where Barossa has long been the titular headquarters of some of Australia’s biggest wine companies—and consequently has suffered disproportionately from their bulk-processing mindset—Clare Valley is far more artisanal. Vineyards typically are small: 200 acres of vines would be considered a big holding.
What’s more, Clare retains a distinction that’s remarkable anywhere in the world: It creates stunningly fine dry Riesling alongside equally superb Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. And if you’re thinking, “Great, just what we need: more syrupy, over-alcoholic Barossa-style Shiraz,” think again. Clare Valley reds are typically sleek and cool-climate in their restraint. Sure, the reds can be amped-up, and a few are. But most are not.
Clare Valley has what all wine lovers should want: artisanal, handcrafted winemaking values allied to a focus on just a few varieties that perform magnificently. And oh yes, the prices are proper. They’re not Australia’s cheapest wines, nor should they be. But you won’t be paying for hype and hoopla either.
For producers everywhere (and we onlookers as well), what Clare Valley represents is what the future will reward: no critter labels, no winemaking trickery; no cheap and cheery and no excess.
If Clare Valley had monks, we’d call it Burgundian—which is what it is, at least in its agricultural modesty. It epitomizes the cure for what ails Australia.

Source: http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/44728

Although the Philippines is not known for being the wine capital of Asia, Clark Pampanga is the most frequently visited destination for wine lovers in Cebu, Angeles City and Manila to shop for some good vintage wine. The famous wine shop outside Manila called Clark Wine Center is the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.

This wine shop in Clark is highly recommended as one of the best places to buy wine in Pampanga. Clark Freeport is just outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center. Visitors buy wine in Manila and Pampanga should not miss stopping at this wine shop for a few bottles of fine vintage wines to bring home.

Established in 2002, YATS WINE CELLARS is a wholly-owned business unit of Hong Kong-based Yats International which owns and operates resort, wine shops, wine bars and fine-dining restaurant properties in Clark Freeport in The Philippines. YATS WINE CELLARS caters to a clientele of discerning wine lovers from all over the world. Besides a good selection of wine for everyday enjoyment, YATS offers a unique selection of aged vintage wines made available to wine enthusiasts at remarkably affordable prices. Vintages span over a century and the selection of old- and new-world wines covers all major wine regions.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com