May 2010 be the greatest year of your life!

We look forward to sharing the best of our discoveries with you in the New Year and raising a glass together at Bar Barossa.

In the meantime, Tempest Bebende!

Smallfry has capped a breakthrough year by being recognised by Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine as producing one of Australia’s best value wines in 2009.

Gourmet’s wine panel listed the Smallfry Tempranillo Garnacha Joven 2009 as one of the best buys for $20 and under.

Max Allen, wrote, “Inspired by memories of the joven (young) red wines he has relished in Spain’s tapas bars, winemaker Wayne Ahrens decided that during the 2009 vintage he’d have a crack at making the unwooded, early-release style himself. So he bought a parcel of Barossa-grown tempranillo grapes and blended them with some grenache from his own old vineyard. The result is simply delicious: medium-full red in colour, it is full of juicy fresh berry fruit but finishes dry, snappy and savoury.”

Purple Palate is offering a 10% discount on all dozen purchases.

Smallfry also earned a five-star rating from James Halliday this year and was listed in his latest Australian Wine Companion as one of Australia’s “ten dark horses” in 2010. Halliday wrote, “The pick of the crop and skilled winemaking come up with the right answer.’’

The winner of the Barossa Belle Hamper Competition has been announced.

The winner, Carl Clasen of Bank of Queensland, dropped into Purple Palate Queen Street in Brisbane to collect his prize of a mixed dozen Barossa Belle wines, a special release Barossa Belle T-shirt and an apron.

Carl was delighted with the prize. “Now I don’t have to buy Christmas presents,” he said.

Carl was presented with his prize by Purple Palate’s Marketing and Media Executive, Elyssia Nelson.