Winery of the Month - Lou Miranda Estate

by Caroline Dunn

"Good wine is as important as a loving family and close friends."

Last month our focus was on one of the Barossa’s latest Cellar Door installments, Pindarie Wines, so for a change of flavour, this month we visited one of the Barossa’s more established family wineries, Lou Miranda Estate. 

Australian wine has been a part of the Miranda family’s lives since Francesco Miranda first arrived in Griffith from southern Italy in 1938. Interred as a prisoner of war for the duration of World War II, Francesco was undaunted. He made wine from dried sultanas that were sent to the camps to feed the prisoners. After the war he had a ready market of fellow Italian immigrants and refugees. Francesco went on to build the family business, making a name for Miranda, as well as passionately promoting the Griffith wine region. 

Francesco’s son Lou took over the reins and has spent his life building on his father’s passion and adding his own unique style. The Miranda brand was eventually sold, but Lou kept the Barossa winery, which now bears his name, as well as local vineyards including the hundred year old Trinity Block and historic Angel’s Vineyard. Lou’s daughters Lisa and Victoria are now the driving force behind Lou Miranda Estate, with occasional assistance from sister Angela, and working with their father Lou as winemaker. The sisters have introduced their own selection of boutique wines encompassing two ranges, the Leone range, and the super premium Lou Miranda Estate selection which incorporates exclusive vineyard parcels such as Old Vine and Cordon Cut reds as well as a couple of luscious fortifieds, expressing the family’s passion and drive for excellence.

The Leone range was named in honour of Lou’s mother Caterina Leone, and is associated with the Venetian symbol of the lion which represents justice and strength. A good selection of distinctive, varietal wines of vibrancy and elegance is available under the Leone label, with particular favourites being the 2009 Pinot Grigio, fresh and vibrant with a crisp minerality and citrusy zing; and the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, which shows bright varietal plummy fruit, complexed with hints of earthiness and spice.

The winery, cellar door and restaurant building was built in 1999 in the style of early Mediterranean architecture, encompassing a warm, spacious interior with a polished wooden floor, recycled wooden beams, unique decorative steelwork and large windows allowing maximum use of natural light. The hospitality is generous, welcoming and unpretentious, with knowledgeable staff and a casual relaxed atmosphere reminiscent of an Italian family home. The menu is seasonally focused, incorporating local ingredients, and the food is fresh and reasonably priced. For a light lunch we enjoyed Corn bread topped with minted pea spread, roast beetroot & finished with balsamic glaze; and the Squid three ways - Sumac, Coriander & Ginger, and Chilli with dipping sauce. No doubt, many a long lunch has been savoured here. 

A Taste of the Veneto

To fully experience the Miranda family’s warm Italian hospitality, why not join them for a sumptuous four course dinner “A Taste of the Veneto” being held at the winery on Saturday 28th August 2010.

Starters

Affettato Pacentino – Salami, prosciutto, white anchovies with warm torta fritta

Pizza Fingers with potato, garlic and rosemary

Entrée

Slow cooked goats ragu with gnocchi grande

Main

Quail with roasted fennel and vegetables

Dessert

Rhubarb crostata with Aged Muscat mascarpone & apple chips

Bookings are essential, starting from 6:30pm onwards at a cost of $65:00 per head, not including drinks. For further information and bookings please contact Lou Miranda Estate on (08) 8524 4537.

Lou Miranda Estate

Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat

(08) 8524 4537
Email: lou@loumirandaestate.com.au                         

Visit:   www.loumirandaestate.com.au

Beat the Election Blues, Cheer Your Soul and Warm Your Senses

Beat the Election Blues, Cheer Your Soul and Warm Your Senses

Living Art

by Tania Shirgwin

During the month of August, the South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival is held to celebrate the diversity, techniques and talent of over 3,000 South Australian visual artists. 518 exhibitions are held throughout the state with a large number held in wineries, galleries and cafes throughout the Barossa Valley.

This week, I had the pleasure of chatting to one of the artists about his work, life and wonderment of the ever changing landscape of the Barossa Valley.

Dragan Radocaj’s photographic exhibition at St Hallett Wines showcases the striking beauty that most of us who live in the Barossa take for granted. One would be forgiven upon entering the exhibition, if they imagined this was an exhibition of paintings. The texture, depth and vibrant colour of the panoramas lends one to the momentary belief these works were created by brush-stroke and not camera. Indeed, Dragan freely admits "I seek to combine the best aspects of two mediums - the texture and colour of a painting and the detail of a photograph."

The visually stunning artworks were created by carefully stitching together multiple images shot in sequence and compressing certain parts to create depth and detail as well as gain the panoramic aspect. Both the light and colour that is unique to the Barossa is captured, as well as the ever altering landscape through the seasons.

The man behind the artwork is as intriguing as the art. Only four short years after finishing his Film Degree, Dragan’s photos now adorn walls in cellar doors and private homes, through to The Clubhouse webpage and the 6 metre panorama hanging in Brisbane’s Bar Barossa. He humbly credits James Lindner and the Langmeil Winery team, Robert O’Callaghan at Rockford Wines and the Barossa Grape and Wine Association for giving him a break and helping launch his career, and the Barossa Wine Community for embracing his work. However, his rare talent, eye for detail; unassuming, affable and infectious personality may have also assisted his career far more than he acknowledges.

When asked who are his favourite artists? A sprinkle of paintings throughout history was offered, although not one of his favoured artists used his medium of photography. Each artist was a unique story teller and it may be the story-telling aspect that Dragan prefers over the artist or medium. One artist that he did mention was French Impressionist, Claude Monet. Like Monet, who completed over 250 oil paintings on the one topic – Lillies; Dragan believes his chosen subject, the Barossa landscape provides him with a lot more inspiration, variety and colour than the lilies offered Monet. This wasn’t a boast, but a heartfelt statement from an artist who just loves the focus of his current work, the Barossa Valley. I suggest what we’re currently seeing from Dragan is only a small snippet of future offerings.

The exhibition runs through to 31st August 2010 at St Hallett Wines St Hallett Road, TANUNDA SA 5352 and is a definite must see if you love fine photography or the Barossan landscape.

My personal favourite of the exhibition is “The Perfect Storm” featuring the dirt road to Pindarie, with storm clouds gathering and the ever present vines and hay bales. What's your favourite.