Page 187 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK  185

Red Wine
Australia’s benchmark red is Grange Hermitage,
the creation of the late vintner Max Schubert
in the 1950s and 1960s. Due to his work, Shiraz
has established itself as Australia’s premium
red variety. However, there is also plenty
of diversity with the acknowledged quality
of Cabernet Sauvignon produced in the
Coonawarra. Recently, there has also been
a reappraisal of traditional “old vine” Grenache
Vineyards of Leeuwin Estate, and Mourvedre varieties in the Barossa Valley
Margaret River and McLaren Vale. Shiraz Pinot Noir
Grape Type State Best Regions Best Producers
Shiraz NSW Hunter Valley Brokenwood, Lindmans, Tyrrells
VIC Great Western, Sunbury Bests, Seppelts, Craiglee
SA Barossa Valley Henschke, Penfolds, Rockford, Torbreck
SA McLaren Vale Hardys, Coriole, Chapel Hill
WA Margaret River, Great Southern Cape Mentelle, Plantagenet
Cabernet Sauvignon WA Margaret River Cape Mentelle, Cullen, Moss Wood
SA Coonawarra Wynns, Lindemans, Bowen Estate
SA Barossa, Adelaide Hills Penfolds, Henschke, Petaluma
VIC Yarra Valley, Great Western Yarra Yering, Yerinberg, Bests
Merlot VIC Yarra Valley, Great Western Bests, Yara Yering
SA Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley Petaluma, Pikes
Pinot Noir VIC Yarra Valley Coldstream Hills, Tarrawarra
VIC Gippsland, Geelong Bass Philip, Bannockburn, Shadowfax
Beer
Most Australian beer is vat-fermented, or lager, and consumed chilled.
Full-strength beer has an alcohol content of about 4.8 per cent, mid-strength
beers have around 3.5 per cent, while “light” beers have less than 3 per cent.
Traditionally heat-sterilized, cold filtration is now popular. Fans of real ale
should seek out one of the city’s pub brew eries. Beer is ordered by glass
size and brand: a schooner is a 426 ml (15 fl oz) glass and a middy is Middy Schooner
284 ml (10 fl oz). It is also available in bottles, cans and “on tap”, through
a hose connected to a keg and poured straight into glasses at pubs and
restaurants. While mainstream brands produced by big breweries wane
in popularity, craft beers produced by microbreweries and bearing names
reflecting their place of origin, such as Young Henrys Newtowner, have
attracted a loyal following, mainly among young professionals and hipsters.

Juices
While a wide array of fruit-based drinks Young Henrys Cascade
such as juices, frappés and smoothies Newtowner Premium Lager
are easily available, premium juice
products (at premium prices) are
gradually making their mark. Gourmet Other Drinks
Pear and Banana Strawberry and health-focused ranges using exotic Tap water in Sydney is
kiwi frappé smoothie juice fruits and superfood ingredients such fresh and clean, but
as kale and beetroot can be found local and
at supermarkets and convenience stores, as well as at juice bars offering imported
creative concoctions on their extensive menus. bottled
waters are
fashionable,
Coffee and Tea
especially
Sydney’s coffee culture had its beginnings in the 1980s. Now a those with
sophisticated and thriving industry, many cafés feature in-house roasted quirky names,
blends and promote the origins of the coffee beans they serve. Campos, creative bottle
Toby’s Estate and Single Origin are all popular local blends. More recently, designs and
a culture around tea has emerged, with speciality tea store T2 and the innovative
Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar café (see p196) leading the way. labelling. Spring water

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