WINE ... with David Bray
A good idea is a good idea. Anywhere. There’s always something new in wine. Look at The Trucks, apparently really big in the USA.
Red Truck Wines began when Fred and Nancy Cline who ran California’s Cline Cellars in Sonoma fell for a painting of an old red truck by Sonoma-based artist Dennis Ziemienski and bought it at an auction raising money for the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. We learn that “the light-filled painting of a vintage truck set against a typical Sonoma landscape of soft, golden hills, bright blue sky and cotton ball clouds seemed destined to become a sensational new wine label with universal appeal’’.
Red Truck wine, a blend of syrah, petite syrah, cabernet franc, mourverdre and grenache, appeared in 2002. At first it was the label that attracted customers, but wine lovers quickly discovered the wine, made by talented winemaker Charlie Tsegeletos, and kept coming back for more.
Today’s Red, White and Pink Truck wines are driven by 585 Wine Partners, who bought the brand in 2005. They have put out several new models, still made by Mr Tsegeletos, who is said to be “puttin’ the pedal to the metal to make bold, bright wines that rev up the palate and make the engine purr . . . not too serious, yet full of bold, classic style. Wines sure to make you smile.”
On our side of the Pacific, the story as related in the blurb is as follows: After the success of The Trucks wines in the States, 585 Wine Partners suggested to their mates in Australia at Cheviot Bridge that they recreate the wines here. Cheviot Bridge licensed the brands in Australia and put winemaker Shane Virg, in charge of putting an Australian engine in this American classic.
The labels remain the same but the wines are made from 100 per cent South Australian fruit. Following the philosophy of the original wine, Shane and the team behind The Truck wines are serious about making great wine, but they don’t take themselves too seriously.
Mr Virg’s line is: “We had a great time jumping in our utes and driving all over the South Australian countryside in the sunshine, selecting the best quality grapes to use for these new wines.”
“Then the serious part kicked in and we went through a rigorous selection process. We tasted lots of different varieties and involving lots of different vineyards and winemaking techniques. We must have put over 50 different blends up on the bench at least five times, for each wine.
“The driving factor for selection was definitely quality but we did also keep in mind reflecting the original style of the wines – a smooth ride of big-hearted, bright, juicy flavours, full of youthful energy and fun. It is a great added bonus that the wines are also distinctively Australian, with shiraz being selected for the red blend and chardonnay for the white .”
. The Red Truck 2008 Shiraz is made from 60 per cent Barossa Hills grapes, 20 each from McLaren Vale and Clare.
. The White Truck 2009 Chardonnay is from Adelaide Hills and Eden Valley. They are cheerful, easy drinking and interesting wines. Each will set you back $15 or less in the local shop.
