Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/148134
The Flavor of Savour FOUR ENTHUSIASTS HELP REDEFINE THE AUSTRALIAN WINE CATEGORY by Megan Wieczorek From September 15 to 18, the wine industry will be looking Down Under as Wine Australia's groundbreaking Savour Australia commences in Adelaide. As the biggest and most comprehensive Australian wine forum in history, the event will provide everything from business seminars to wine tastings to networking opportunities, allowing the unique opportunity for attendees to fully immerse themselves in Australian culture. As THE TASTING PANEL prepares for the Australian invasion, we chatted with four Savourbound wine industry professionals as they shared their excitement for the event, what they hope to bring back to the States and the future they envision for the category of Australian wine. www.savour-australia.com "H ow do we come back with a story that's compelling?" asks Jim Chanteloup, as he sums up the role that he believes Savour will play in the rebranding of the Australian wine scene. As wine buyer for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa at prestigious San Francisco Bay Area–based K&L Wine Merchants, Chanteloup has an extensive knowledge of these sprawling Southern Hemisphere wine regions. Chanteloup was fascinated by the region even prior to its explosion in popularity. Convinced that Australia held something truly special, he became the specialized wine buyer for this part of the world and has trekked Down Under many times since. "Along the way, Australia became perceived as this monolithic style that centered solely around Syrah and Shiraz," Chanteloup explains. "Now our mission is to reeducate the public that this region offers a great diversity of varietals and styles. From Margaret River to Tasmania, any consumer can find a variety of wines in styles from all over the world." PHOTO: NIKKI RITCHER The Author Jim Chanteloup, photographed at the K&L Wine Merchants store in Redwood City, CA. 122 / the tasting panel / august 2013 TP0813_104-132.indd 122 7/24/13 9:41 PM