Yarraman Estate is an Australian winery with a distinguished history and an international reputation for outstanding quality wines. Located in Australia’s oldest wine growing region, the Upper Hunter Valley, the region boasts a history of viticulture and wine making dating back to 1825. The Estate vineyard was originally established as the famous Penfolds Dalwood Estate in 1958 by the founder of Grange, Max Schubert, and McGuigan winemaking patriarch, Perc McGuigan with Shiraz vine cuttings from the Magill vineyard and other varieties that were little known at the time.

Yarraman’s highly regarded Chief Winemaker, Ian Long, was formerly Group Operations Winemaker for Southcorp Wines which included brands such as Penfolds, Lindemans and Rosemount.

Yarraman own 632 acres and operates 1,312 acres of property in two topographic regions in NSW. The Upper Hunter vineyard has 200 acres under vine whilst the Gundagai vineyard totals 470 acres. Both vineyards provide Yarraman with premium wine grapes covering the worlds most popular varietals:

-Shiraz
-Cabernet Sauvignon
-Merlot
-Chambourcin
-Chardonnay
-Semillon
-Gewurztraminer
-Sauvignon Blanc
-Verdelho

This wine is particularly interesting because it is a little older than one might normally drink a white like this.  In this case, it is a good thing.  Semillon develops a beautiful, honeyed, waxy, nutty nuance as it ages, and Verdelho isn’t a wine that one normally ages it really works here.  The acidity and wild tropical fruit of the Verdelho give the waxy, nutty character of the Semillon a perfect foil.  Really cool, interesting wine.  Try this with softer cheeses, asparagus, artichokes, roasted or grilled chicken with herbs.  drink NOW – 2009 (yeah, that’s now)