Winter 2010

Back by popular demand!

Reg Rymill, John's Blue Heeler and our official meeter and greeter, is back by popular demand as Mr. August in the just released 2011 Winery Dogs Calendar. This year's calendar features the favourite wines dogs and we are so proud that Reg is one of them; his birthday on August 12th has even been deemed a national wine dogs public holiday.

If you would like your own copy of the calendar for $24.95 plus postage, call Anna in cellar door on 08 8736 5001.

Image: Reg Rymill, © Craig McGill 2009, Wine Dogs

Editor's Welcome

It's still cool, wet and very 'wintery' in Coonawarra so that means roast dinners and Rymill 05 Shiraz most nights to keep warm. In this edition catch-up on vintage news, new releases and our region's special connection with Australia's first Saint, Mary MacKillop. I hope that you can make it to the Coonawarra Wine Tasting Roadshow which visits capital cities over the next two weeks; it's a great way to taste over 100 wines. Read more about this great event in the article below. I'll be in Adelaide with Amelia our Assistant Winemaker next Monday night.

Fiona Luestner, Editor.

Image: Fiona Luestner

Our Own Saint

Mary MacKillop's journey began in our backyard, Penola - Mary MacKillop, who is to be made Australia's first Saint in October, began her teaching career as governess on Old Penola Station, which was long owned by the Rymill family.

Mary came to Penola in 1860 as a governess, teaching the family of her relatives Alexander and Margaret Cameron, who had settled the property just outside the Penola township. Here, they erected a slab homestead for lessons. It was replete with French doors and windows made from glass transported from England by ship and carried across to Penola by horse and cart. In fact, this original slab homestead is still in existence and has been donated by the Rymill family to be soon reassembled by the Catholic Church in Penola.

It was during this period that Mary met Father Julian Tenison Woods and began a collaboration that would have a remarkable impact. The curriculum that they developed in Penola, first used by Mary's Order of St Joseph which she founded in 1866, would form the basis of the entire Australian Catholic education system. The work continues today through the efforts of the 'Brown Joeys' to meet the needs of the most marginalised, isolated and disadvantaged members of our community.

Mary's courageous leadership, boundless compassion and energetic dedication to social justice are remarkable by today's standards, but were extraordinary in a nineteenth century world in which women were largely confined to the domestic sphere.

The impact of the life of this "Saint for all Australians" continues to radiate from Penola, making an impact across geographic boundaries and remains an inspirational example over a century after her life ended.

The canonisation of the Blessed Mary MacKillop will take place on Sunday 17th October 2010 and Penola, the place where it all began, is celebrating this special event with a number of events from Friday 15th to Sunday 17th. For more information visit www.wattlerange.sa.gov.au

Image: Blessed Mary MacKillop, MMKT8 Mary 1895, SOSJ Congregational Archives. Used with permission of the Trustees of the Sisters of St Joseph. Must not be reproduced without permission of the Trustees.

A Shiraz Star

The new release 2005 Shiraz which has been made from fruit grown exclusively on our Coonawarra vineyards has been receiving lots of great reviews.

James Halliday has just awarded it 90 points as has Tony Keys, it is Gourmet Traveller Wine Recommended (August/September) and Fergus McGhie from The Canberra Times describes it as "deep and soft with loads of ripe dark-berry fruits". He gives it four stars and thinks it's great value for money.

We think it's a great example of Coonawarra Shiraz and it's one of the favourites in our cellar door. The wine is available through wine retail outlets Australia wide, or can be ordered directly through cellar door.

Purchase now

Coonawarra Wine Tasting Roadshow

It's August so that means the Rymill team, including our winemakers Sandrine and Amelia, have hit the road for the annual Coonawarra Wine Tasting Roadshow. It's a great opportunity to meet the locals and taste over 100 wines in your own capital city. We would love to meet you so come and say hi and enjoy a taste of our latest releases. We start off in Brisbane on 16th August at the Brisbane Polo Club and all are welcome, bring your friends and have a great night out. Visit our website to find out all you need to know.

Special Sales Offer

To celebrate the great reviews the new release 2005 Shiraz is receiving we are offering our readers the opportunity to buy and enjoy the wine at a great price. Purchase the 2005 Shiraz at 15% off the recommended cellar door price, $20.50 per bottle.

Just write the code SSOS on top of the order form.

Offer is valid until September 15th, 2010.

Purchase now

Vintage 2010 - The Perfect Trifecta!

Mother Nature smiled on us at Rymill this year.

Michael Gruetzner, our vineyard manager reported that we received regular rainfall, followed by breezes which kept disease pressures at bay and also gave us the luxury of being able to pick fruit at its optimum balance between rich, ripe fruit flavours, sugar levels, and natural acidity. It was the perfect trifecta! The first of the 2010 wines has now been released, the 2010 Yearling Sauvignon Blanc, and it tastes fantastic; we can't wait to reveal the others.

Image: Michael Gruetzner

Up & Coming Events

Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations 15th - 17th October

Every year the Cabernet Weekend draws lovers of wine to Coonawarra from all around Australia. Rymill Coonawarra is pleased to be associated with this important event again in 2010.

On Saturday at 10.00am we are hosting the two-hour Coonawarra Cabernet Master Class which will be featuring Coonawarra's Exceptional Vintages between 1990 and 2005; the class will be led by James Halliday. The cost is $150 per person and seats are limited to 60 people.

When the stars come out that night the Coonawarra Barrel Series 13 Dinner and Auction begins at Wynns. A part of this event is the Silent Auction; our item is 'A saintly combination'. We are joining with Mayura Station to present a 14-seat gourmet dinner to be held at the Mayura Station private Tasting Room and are offering two places at the table valued at $500. It will be a great opportunity to feast on a menu of Mayura's full-blood Wagyu beef, matched with an outstanding range of Rymill Coonawarra wines. The dinner will be hosted by our winemaker Sandrine Gimon and Mayura chef Kirby Shearing.

On the Sunday Rymill is holding the inaugural Bee's Knees Family Brunch on the lawns at the winery from 9.30am-1pm. For more information about these events and the rest of the exciting program visit www.coonawarra.org

The Buzz

The New Kids on the Block - We have recently welcomed four new people to our Team: Honi Dolling as SA Market Manager, Keith Fisken as NSW Market Manager, Melissa Pryor as our new Administration Officer and Anna Skeer as Cellar Door Manager. Honi is based in Adelaide and brings with him a deep well of industry knowledge. Keith's focus is the Sydney market and his smooth Scottish tones can be heard all over the city singing the virtues of Rymill. Melissa (Missy) has been with us for three months and keeps us well entertained in the winery office on the second floor. Anna a born and bred local has returned to the region and is the knowledgeable and friendly new face of Rymill cellar door.

Image: Honi Dolling, Keith Fisken, Melissa Pryor and Anna Skeer

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