Buying Aussie Rhone Style Down Under

[Bob Allen]

During the recently concluded Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, Mitchelton wine maker Don Lewis joined Grant van Every in a "crawl'' around the world of Rhone Valley grape varieties over lunch at Stella Restaurant (159 Spring Street, city). The five top Australian Rhone styles, according to Jeni Port, writing in The Age<http://www.theage.com.au/daily/990223/food/food7.html
>, are listed below with another nine close behind.
1. Heathcote Winery Viognier
2. Mitchelton Viognier-Roussanne
3. Chateau Tahbilk Marsanne
4. Clonakilla Shiraz
5. Charles Melton Nine Popes
6. Others to watch for:
a) Heggies Viognier
b) Elgee Park Viognier
c) Yeringberg Marsanne/ Roussanne
d) Chateau Tahbilk Viognier
e) Penfolds Old Vine Shiraz/Mourvedre/Shiraz
f) Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 2
g) Bannockburn Shiraz
h) Cape Mentelle Shiraz
i) Mitchell The Growers Grenache
As an Australian wine novice about to embark on a trip to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, I would appreciate some suggestions on where, besides the cellar door, to purchase some of these wines, particularly those that are not available in Northern California. Does anyone have tasting notes on the Clonakilla Shiraz, or clues on where to buy?

[Randy Caparoso]

Well, it's hard to say what specific wines CA retailers have at any given time. I've seen decent things from Australia at The Wine House in L.A. (ph. 310-479-3713). You might also wish to ring up Prima in Walnut Creek (800)-707-7462, or Draeger's in Menlo Park (415-688-0682). There's also www.wineauthority.com, which has some kind of on-site search system. Good luck!