Welcome to Genxywines
What we are building is one of Australasia's (Australia and New Zealand) largest free to access, independent wine review and education sites. It is written by ordinary (albeit passionate) wine consumers to provide frank hype-free advice to other wine consumers - and we aren't trying to flog you any particular brands. We are also getting around to all the wine regions across Australasia to visit and photograph the winery cellar doors and regional highlights to help punters decide for themselves which are the best to visit.
If you would like your wine reviewed on this site, please contact us. During this summer break (until mid Feb 2015) can you use our alternative genxywines@yahoo.com.au address
Finding wineries and wine reviews on this site
If you're looking for a winery, a wine region or wine review in Australia or New Zealand, go to the regions section. If you want to learn about wine...then go to that section....getting the picture yet? If you don't know in which region a winery is located then go the Search section and it will take you to our A-Z winery listing that will tell you where it is located.
New Feature 1: Our Most Highly Rated Wines From 2014
Canberra based Clonakilla's Riesling, Viognier and Shiraz Viognier has been ranked as gold medal standard by genxywines in 2013
I have gone through the notes on the 2,025 wines I have tried in the 2014 review cycle (technically from late 2013 to Dec 2014) and have provided a full listing of all the four star and above rated wines according to varietal or style categories. To see the 2014 listing click here: GenXY Recommended Wines From 2014
New Feature 2: 2014 Wine Festivals and Memorable Wines
Bendigo Winemakers Festival at Castlemaine Botanic Gardens every Easter Sunday
These are my reviews of major wine festivals open to the public I have visited during 2014. I will add to this as the shows happen. News and Features page (scroll down to find feature)
New Feature 3: Spring Is Here
Some of my best sparkling, white and Pinot Noir picks for Spring season festivities News and Features page (scroll down to find feature)
Dalwhinnie Estate in the Victorian Pyrenees
April 2016
- Adelaide Hills (SA): Ashton Hills, Chain of Ponds, Henschke, Nova Vita
- Barossa Valley (SA): Head, Neil Haan, Spinifex, Yalumba
- Canberra (NSW/ACT): Clonakilla, Lark Hill, Nick O'Leary, Ravensworth, Yarrh Wines,
- Cental Otago (NZ): Carrick Bannockburn, Mt. Difficult, Peregrine, Pisa Range, Quartz Reef, Rockburn
- Clare Valley (SA): Adelina, Jim Barry, Kirrihill, Leo Buring, Mitchell , Mount Horrocks, Pike's, Reilly's
- Coonawarra (SA): Hollick, Katnook Estate, Leconfield, Lindeman's, Majella, Parker, Penley Estate, Petaluma, Raidis Estate, Rymill, Wynns, Zema Estate
- Cowra NSW): Windowrie Estate
- East Gippsland (VIC): Nicholson River, Sarsfield
- Eden Valley (SA): Henschke, Pewsey Vale
- Geelong (VIC): Austins & Co., Bellbrae Estate, Brown Magpie, Clyde Park, Leura Park Estate, Mt. Moriac, Paradise
- Grampians (VIC): Montara
- Great Southern (WA): Alkoomi, Castle Rock, Plantagenet
- Hawke's Bay (NZ): Te Mata
- Heathcote (VIC): Chalmers, Foster e Rocco
- Henty (VIC): Crawford River, Seppelt Drumborg
- Marborough (NZ): Cloudy Bay
- Macedon Ranges (Vic): Hanging Rock
- Mudgee (NSW): Wild Oats
- Mornington Peninsula (VIC): Dromana Estate, Kooyong Estate, Moorooduc Estate, Paringa Estate, Port Phillip Estate, Scorpo Wines, Yabby Lake
- McLaren Vale (SA): Coriole
- Margaret River (WA): Hayshed Hill, Leeuwin Estate, Woodlands
- Nelson (NZ): Neudorf
- North Tasmania (TAS): Delamere
- Orange (NSW): Printhie
- Port Phillip Zone: (VIC): Cannibal Creek, Dinny Goonan
- Pyrenees (VIC): Taltarni Estate
- Rutherglen (VIC): All Saints, Morris Cellar, Rutherglen Estates, Scion Vineyard And Winery, Stanton & Killen
- South Gippsland: (VIC): Bass Phillip, Lithostylis
- Western Victoria: (VIC): Eastern Peake
- Yarra Valley (VIC): Coldstream Hills, Domaine, Dominique Portet, Gembrook Hill, Giant Steps, Luke Lambert, Medhurst, Mount Mary, Oakridge, Punt Road, Yarraloch, Wantirna Estate, Tarrawarra Estate
- Wellington (NZ): Ata Rangi, Dry River, Craggy Range, Escarpment Pahi, Palliser Estate, Te Kairanga
Coldstream Hills, founded by James Halliday, in the Yarra Valley
Explanation of GenXY Wine Review Rankings
(*****) National or regional benchmark for variety, gold medal standard, a prima donna that demands worship
(****1/2) Outstanding quality and style, silver medal standard
(****) Stands out from the pack, bronze medal standard
(***1/2) Better than average, good varietal expression or interesting innovation
(***) The Pack, solid boutique wine making level showing consistent varietal expression and free of faults, generally will complement rather than dominate food
(**1/2) Competent winemaking at the bulk commercial wine level, price is important, late night drinking after you have drunk the more expensive stuff
(** and less) Showing technical faults or nasty edges, only buy to give to people you really don’t like
Wine of the week:
Nicholson River Sangiovese 2013(East Gippsland (VIC) Tasting: Jan 2016, a surprise for the region both in choice of variety and the quality of this second release, flavoursome, ripe and brambly blackberry, sour cherry and plum with olive and bay leaf notes, the mid-palate is sumptuous without heaviness and the alcohol is a modest 12.8% (more Tuscan than Australian), the chalky tannins provide a well balanced counterpoint, excellent line and length with a restrained dark chocolate/hazelnut oak finish, shame that only 70 dozen were made so it will be hard to get hold of (*****)
Our Winery Tour Photos: You can click on the pictures below to go straight to winery page and additional photos
Symphony Hill in Queensland's Granite Belt
Josef Chromy cellar door on the outskirts of Launceston
Old Grenache Vines at Barossa Valley's Turkey Flat
Gralyn Estate in the Margaret River (WA)