Ambar Hill at the Straddie Oyster Festival

Enjoying an oyster at the Straddie Oyster festival.

Ambar Hill Chardonnay Verdelho - the perfect wine for seafood and especially oysters.

Shin (Exec Chef of Sake) and friends.

Greg Nankervis' excellent oysters.

See us at the Straddie Oyster Festival this Saturday

Ambar Hill is proud to be attending the Straddie oyster festival. We will be serving our Chardonnay Verdelho which is the perfect crisp accompaniment to local oysters.

A little about the festival....

The Straddie Sharks Rugby League & All Sports Club at Dunwich will showcase the cream of the crop of Straddie oysters, presented by The Stradbroke Association of Oyster Farmers, this Saturday 10th December when it holds the “Original Straddie Oyster Festival” at Ron Stark Oval at Dunwich for the 3rd successive year at its new home.

The day will commence at 10am with the Traditional Official Opening and Welcome to Country by Quandamooka Elder Aunty Margaret Iselin. That will be followed by some traditional dances by the Minjerribah Dance Group from Stradbroke and a visiting New Guinea dance troup.

The usual Competitions of Oyster Opening (shucking), Oyster Eating, Prawn Peeling & Eating, etc. will be held over the day which is planned to wind up at 6pm. People will also be able to try their hand at Oyster Cutting and Turning for Presentation AFTER the oysters have been opened by the professional oyster Farmers.

This year there will be a Classic Car & Motor Bike Show which will feature the replica Jim Beam V8 racing Car for the Rev. Heads in the crowd, Fun Rides for all the children along with oodles of new Market Stalls and Live Music all day along with our loyal Celebrity Comperes Spencer Jolly and Bruce Paige leading the proceedings.

As a special addition this year Fino Food + Wines will be sponsoring sponsoring Oyster & Seafood Cooking Demonstrations by Executive Chef “Shin” from the well known “Sake” Restaurant in Brisbane. This is expected to draw special interest from the cuisine conscious in the crowd.

There will be a huge selection of foods and beverages available from stalls around the ground and don’t forget to bring your empty Eskys to take home a selection of the fresh local Straddie seafood which will be available for sale .

You will also have the opportunity to win a 5 night stay at Anchorage Village , plus a free return vehicle ferry car trip with the big raffle on the day, be sure and buy your tickets. These prizes have kindly been donated by our sponsors Anchorage Village and Stradbroke Ferries

A boat will run from the Southern Moreton Bay Islands including Coochiemudlo departing Russell Island at 10.30am then via all other SMB islands direct to Dunwich. Phone 3409 9216 to book a place on this as spaces are limited. It will return to SMBI departing Dunwich at 5pm. Fares for this service are Adults $15, Children/Pensioners $10 Return. Mainland visitors transport will be well catered for by catching the Stradbroke Ferries water taxi or vehicle ferries from Toondah Harbour, Cleveland which will drop off at their Dunwich pontoon which is a 2 minute easy walk to the Ron Stark Oval and the Festival. Boats run just about hourly but phone 3488 5300 to check timetables.

A vineyard would have been fun when I was 15

Christmas Dozen Special

2011 Christmas Dozen

And Compliments of the Season

Celebrate Christmas with our special dozen, only $120 delivered Brisbane and Stanthorpe (add $15 delivery elsewhere in Australia). Enjoy a couple of reds with the boxing day bbq, some fabulous crisp whites for a Christmas summer lunch and a bottle of fortified for the pudding.

ORDER NOW AND WE CAN DELIVER BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

1 Shiraz 2005

Extremely elegant cool climate shiraz with great fruit flavours and over all balance. Described by leading wine writer Tony Harper as having “a seamless, plush texture...”. Brisbane News praised its “Rhone like qualities” The only Queensland wine in Courier Mail’s list of best value Australian wine for including in a wine cellar.

Awards

Queensland Wine Awards 2007 Silver

Royal Agricultural Society of Qld 2009 Class 10 Bronze

Queensland Wine Awards 2009 Silver

3 Shiraz 2006

Picked very late - on 17 April. It was very ripe with luscious fruit with very high baume but as a result the ferment left a little residual sugar. Halliday said it was over the top. He was right, but it still won a medal at one of its only outings. It has produced a cool climate wine with a voluptuous taste leaving a slightly sweet finish. It is on quite few restaurant wine lists. Great for the Boxing Day bbq.

Awards

Queensland Wine Awards 2007 Bronze

1 Samuel Bailey 2007

The season started with frosts in November, then drought stressed and reduced the crop. However, it has produced great flavours. The wine was fermented in new French and American oak barrels purchased specially for this premium wine. Des Houghton’s Courier Mail pick for Christmas dinner 2009 and still winning medals.

Awards

Winestate Magazine best of 2009 Annual 2010 Edition 4 ½ stars

Queensland Wine Awards 2009 Bronze,

Australian Small Winemakers Class 44 2008 Bronze,

New England Wine Show 2008 Silver,

Cowra Wine Show 2009 Class 76 Bronze,

Wine State magazine 4 ½ stars

Cowra Wine Show 2010 class 34 Silver

Australian Small Winemakers 2010 Class 45 Silver

1 Shiraz 2007
It is replacing our 2005 on restaurant wine lists. It was bottled very cold after flushing bottles with CO2. Some cases have a little dissolved CO2 in the wine from the bottling. It will keep it fresh for a very long time, but the wine needs to breathe for 30 mins or be decanted to be at its very best.

Awards
Wine State Magazine

New England Wine Show 2008 Bronze

Queensland Wine Awards 2008 Bronze

Winestate Magazine best of 2009 Annual 2010 Edition

1 Stirling Mountain Vintage 2007 Fortified Shiraz Picked very ripe late in May for a vintage fortified shiraz. Pudding wine, or give it as a gift.



Awards
Australian Small Winemakers 2009 bronze

New England Wine Show 2009 Class 19 bronze

2 Reserve Chardonnay 2008

The Granite Belt is demonstrating that it can produce some of Australia’s best chardonnays. The grapes were excellent, hand-picked and sorted. The wine was fermented in new French oak barrels. It is quite flinty in a classic Chardonnay style – perhaps unfashionably over oaked. It will keep for many years and more fully integrate the fruit and oak. It received a commendation at the world’s most prestigious and influential wine competition – the International Wine Challenge in London.

Awards

Australian Small Winemakers 2010 Class 3: Bronze

International Wine Challenge, London 2010 : Commended

New England Wine show 2011: Bronze

1 Shiraz 2008

Awards
Gold Medal Class 9 New England Wine show 2009

Trophy for Best Young Red Wine of the Show New England Wine Show 2009

2 Chardonnay Verdelho 2010

 

A signature wine blend for the Granite Belt. It has equal quantities of Chardonnay and Verdelho. Crisp and fruity – a summer wine.

ORDER AND ENJOY

Payment by cheque or BSB

An invoice will be issued on dispatch

Early Spring at Ambar Hill

It is early spring at Ambar Hill.  The vineyard still looks dormant.  But the wild peaches are in full flower, and behold in the vines the magic of another vintage has started: the first shoots on the verdelho have appeared.

The wild peaches are blossoming.

The first shoots for the verdelho.

Spring is sprung at Ambar Hill

The first plum is in flower and the Granite Belt will be blossom full over the next few weeks.  Spring is a magical time to visit the Granite Belt, with all the orchards in blossom as well as the  areas famous wild flowers.  The days are sunny but the nights are still cold enough for a log fire.

Book Ambar Cottage in the heart of the wine growing district to enjoy a classical spring.  Sunny days, some frosts in the morning, fruit trees in flower and some great wines.

Call Judy 0407143749 for bookings

Winter Special Dozen

Winter Dozen Special $120 :

Includes GST and delivery in Brisbane and Stanthorpe. Add $15 for delivery elsewhere in 

Australia.  (Normal retail prices are shown)

2 Chardonnay Verdelho 2010   $11.00

Huge fresh pineapple and passionfruit nose and lovely big fruit flavours –but actually 

fermented very crisp and dry. A fantastic and elegant summer alternative to the now ubiquitous sauvignon blanc. 

2 Shiraz 2008  $16.00 

Very late harvest, very high baume.  

Awards

Gold Medal Class 9 New England Wine show 2009

Trophy for Best Young Red Wine of the Show New England Wine Show 2009 

1 Chardonnay 2008 $19.00

The grapes were excellent, hand-picked and hand sorted.  The wine was fermented in new 

French oak barrels. It deserves several years of bottle age to fully integrate the fruit and oak. 

It is quite flinty in a classic white Burgundy style – perhaps unfashionably over oaked for 

Australian tastes.   But it received a Commendation at the 2010 International Wine Challenge 

in London, regarded as the largest and most prestigious wine show in the world.

Awards

Commendation, International Wine challenge, London 2010. 

Australian Small Winemakers 2010 Class 3: Bronze 

2 Shiraz 2007 $14.00 

Again a very late harvest.  Well awarded.  It was bottled very cold and bottles were sparged 

with CO2 to keep total freshness.  Some bottles are releasing a little of that dissolved CO2 on 

opening so we recommend decanting at least 10 mins before drinking to allow the CO2 to 

dissipate.  Australia’s premier wine magazine awarded the maximum five stars.

Awards

Wine State Magazine        

New England Wine Show 2008 Bronze 

Queensland Wine Awards 2008 Bronze

Winestate Magazine best of 2009 Annual 2010 Edition        

  

2 The Samuel Bailey 2007  $14.00

A reduced crop was effected by both the extremely cold start to the season with snow and 

frosts in November, then stressed by the drought.  However, it has produced intense flavours. 

The wine was fermented in new French and American oak barrels purchased specially for this premium wine.   Courier Mail’s Des Houghton reviewed it as his preferred wine for Christmas day 2009.

Awards 

Winestate Magazine: Best of 2009 Annual Edition 2010  4.5 stars

Queensland Wine Awards 2009 Bronze

Australian Small Winemakers Class 44 2008 Bronze

New England Wine Show 2008 Silver

Cowra Wine Show 2009 Class 76 Bronze

Wine State magazine      4 1/2  

Cowra Wine Show 2010 Class 34 Silver

Australian Small Winemakers 2010 Class 45 Silver

1 Stirling Mountain Vintage  2007 Fortified Shiraz   $23.00

We picked a small quantity of very ripe shiraz late in May for a vintage fortified shiraz.  It is 

excellent and will be released over the next 2 decades.

Awards 

Australian Small Winemakers 2009 bronze

New England Wine Show 2009 Class 19 bronze 

1 Shiraz 2006 $10.00

Picked very late - on 17 April – perhaps one of the last Shiraz pickings in Australia.  It was 

very ripe with luscious fruit with high baume but the ferment left a little residual sugar. We 

debated its future, as it is totally out of character for us - but decided to bottle anyway.  It has 

produced a cool climate wine with a voluptuous taste leaving a slightly sweet finish. A wine for the mistress not the wife.  

Awards

Queensland Wine Awards 2007 Bronze

1 Shiraz 2005

Extremely elegant cool climate shiraz with great fruit flavours and over all balance.  Described 

by leading wine writer Tony Harper  as having “a seamless, plush texture..” and “irritatingly”  

cheap....  Brisbane News praised its “Rhone like qualities”. The only Queensland wine in 

Courier Mail’s list of best value Australian wine for including in a wine cellar.  

Was listed on many Queensland restaurant and hotel wine lists.  Sold out – this is from our own cellar.

Awards

Queensland Wine Awards 2007 Silver

Royal Agricultural Society of Qld 2009 Class 10 Bronze

Queensland Wine Awards 2009 Silver

Please email at gldalton@bigpond.com for orders.

Ambar Hill Wines Vineyard and Winery: 364 Mt Stirling Rd, Glen Aplin Q4381 Australia  

www.ambarhillwines.com.au

Winter Update

With the last few weeks of winter, we are still getting hard frosts, and some lovely sunshine. The first early plums have just started to flower. In the vineyard we are nearly back to normal. Pruning is all finished, but we are still cleaning up after the huge wet – fallen trees especially. Bud burst is still nearly a month away. This will probably be our last news letter.  We will rely on more frequent blogs to keep our many friends in touch with special offers etc.  No wines were produced this year because of the wet.  But looking to a great 2012 vintage.


In the Village

Glen Aplin hall this week end held a wonderful exhibition of quilting from the district. I 
am trying to persuade the ladies that it should be an annual event.  


Sponsorships
Last year our boat Ambar Blue suddenly lost power in the middle of Moreton Bay. To 
the rescue came the Manly Coast Guard. We are now proud to be sponsors.  

The Big Wet

The last 10 years were spent learning to farm the drought and doing that very well. Now it is time to learn to manage rain. The area has experienced record rain. Old timers say they have seen nothing like it in at least a generation. In the vineyard, new rivers and creeks and swamps have appeared. The equipment is constantly being bogged up to the axles. Spraying is very difficult. The decision is not to make any wine this vintage. We are only interested in producing premium wines and this is not the year for that.

At Ambar Hill earth moving machinery is installing new agricultural drains at the lower end of the main vineyard to get rid of the water that is saturating the ground. Unfortunately, they got bogged as well.

But, when finished, flood or drought Ambar Hill is good.

In Brisbane, our apartment was flooded in the basement and we were without power for several days. But our Brisbane warehouse near the river was fortunately spared the flood despite of the forecast that it would go under.

Ambar Hill has had a long relationship with the farmed seafood industry, and some producers we know well in Cardwell and Innisfail have taken hard hits. Ambar Hill is sponsoring some recovery events with wines for raffles and functions to help raise money. The Australian wine industry has organised a major fundraiser with Ambar Hill amongst the many industry donors. See the notice at the end of this news letter for how to buy a ticket.

Days of Summer : Tasting Doz – Only $120

Celebrate summer with our special tasting dozen of mixed wines. There are plenty of white wines to laze at a picnic or just to sip as the evening cools. The cost is just $120 delivered Brisbane - plus $15 delivery anywhere else in Australia. Phone 07 38908089 or email your order gldalton@bigpond.com – payment by BSB or cheque – delivery Australia Post. A full price list is also attached.

1 Shiraz 2005

We found a few more cases of this fantastic wine at the back of the winery and can include it in our tasting dozen again. But as the famous Ochre Restaurant in Cairns has reserved cases for their wine list this will probably be the last time it is listed. Extremely elegant cool climate shiraz. Described by leading wine writer Tony Harper as having “a seamless, plush texture..”. Brisbane News praised its “Rhone like qualities” The only Queensland wine in Courier Mail’s list of best value Australian wine for including in a wine cellar.

Awards

Queensland Wine Awards 2007 Silver

Royal Agricultural Society of Qld 2009 Class 10 Bronze

Queensland Wine Awards 2009 Silver

1 Cabernet Merlot 2006

The first of our Cabernet Sauvignon/ Merlot. Needs more bottle age. Tannic finish will soften with time.

Awards

Australian Small Winemakers 2009 Bronze

1 Shiraz 2006

Picked very late - on 17 April. It was very ripe with luscious fruit with very high baume but as a result the ferment left a little residual sugar. Halliday said it was over the top. He was right, but it still won a medal at one of its only outings. It has produced a cool climate wine with a voluptuous taste leaving a slightly sweet finish. A wine for the mistress not the wife. It is on quite few restaurant wine lists.

Awards

Queensland Wine Awards 2007 Bronze

1 Samuel Bailey 2007

The season started with frosts in November, then drought stressed and reduced the crop. However, it produced great flavours. It was fermented in new French and American oak barrels. Des Houghton’s Courier Mail wine pick for Christmas dinner 2009.

Winestate Magazine best of 2009 Annual 2010 Edition 4 ½ stars

Queensland Wine Awards 2009 Bronze,

Australian Small Winemakers Class 44 2008 Bronze,

New England Wine Show 2008 Silver,

Cowra Wine Show 2009 Class 76 Bronze,

Wine State magazine 4 ½ stars

Cowra Wine Show 2010 class 34 Silver

Australian Small Winemakers 2010 Class 45 Silver

1 Shiraz 2007

This wine will be replacing our 2005 on restaurant wine lists. It was bottled very cold after flushing bottles with CO2. Some cases have a little of that CO2 still dissolved in the wine from the bottling. It will keep it fresh for a very long time, but the wine needs to breath for 30 mins.

Awards

Wine State Magazine

New England Wine Show 2008 Bronze

Queensland Wine Awards 2008 Bronze

Winestate Magazine best of 2009 Annual 2010 Edition

1 Shiraz 2008

A great vintage for us with considerable complexity in the wines whilst still retaining fruit freshness

New England Wine show 2009 Gold Medal

New England Wine Show 2009 Trophy best young red wine

3 Reserve Chardonnay 2008

The Granite Belt is capable of producing some of Australia’s best chardonnays. In 2008 we produced our first as a single varietal. The grapes were excellent, hand-picked and sorted. The wine was fermented in new French oak barrels. It is quite flinty in a classic Chardonnay style – perhaps unfashionably over oaked. It deserves several years of bottle age to fully integrate the fruit and oak. It received a commendation at the world’s most prestigious and influential wine competition – the International Wine Challenge in London.

Awards

• Australian Small Winemakers 2010 Class 3: Bronze
• International Wine Challenge, London 2010 : Commended

3 Chardonnay Verdelho 2010

Huge fresh pineapple and passionfruit nose and lovely big fruit flavours –but actually fermented very dry -reflecting the lower baume than previous years.