Vines down under

As early as 1606, Dutch explorers made landfall on the western coast of Australia. The noted Dutch explorer Abel Tasman visited what is now named Tasmania in 1642. He laid claim to this island in the name of Holland, calling it Van Diemen’s Land, to honour his patron the Governor of the Dutch East Indies.

By 1769, Captain James Cook had travelled east across the Pacific in the HM Bark Endeavour reaching Sidney Harbor (or, Botany Bay as it was called then) and claimed it for the English Crown. From little acorns mighty oaks grow, and from this small beginning the stage was set for the introduction of the vine into Australia.

The first fleet arrived at Botany Bay in 1788. The fleet of 11 ships made the voyage via Tenerife, west to Rio de Janeiro, then catching the southerly trade winds to the Cape of Good Hope, before crossing the Indian Ocean. At the Cape of Good Hope, the fleet would stock-up with fresh water, food, livestock, horses, poultry and, most importantly, vine cuttings to plant and produce wine, making life more bearable for the First Governor, Admiral Phillips. Keeping “The Cape” stocked with provisions was a huge undertaking, as all items for survival were transported from Europe to sustain this new colony.

Botany Bay was a penal colony and as such was divided into guards and prisoners. It became a dumping ground for the overcrowded jails of the British Isles. Prisoners were offered pardon after time served with the promise of land.

The initial vine plantings were unsuccessful and given the early struggles to establish this new colony, it was not paramount. Since the first colonists were convicts and wine was not essential, priority was given to food crops. Despite the initial setbacks new settlers imported more vines and by the early 1820s wine was being produced for domestic consumption in the Hunter Valley.

This set the stage for the potent award-winning world-renowned wine that was to follow. But that is for next week.

To accompany this week’s recipe I suggest you try Casa-Dea Estates Winery’s newly released 2009 CD Rosso ($13), by winemaker, Paul Battilana. This is a blend of estate-grown Gamay and Zweigelt. The former is the grape of Beaujolais and the latter, a cross of Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent, which was developed in 1922 by Austrian Fritz Zweigelt. Zweigelt is a hearty vine that releases a lot of fruit flavours and, combined with Gamay, creates a tasty mouthful. Lots of barnyard and black fruit on the nose; the flavours are full of cherry, damson skins, leather, cured sausage and basil. The finish is pomegranate acidity, which is perfect with a tomato sauce.

This wine is a crowd pleaser and is available at your local L.C.B.O, or at the winery at 1186 Greer Road in Hillier.