Be consumed.... by the Barossa

It's not often I just do a small random post without pondering for some time over what the hell I write, however this morning I was catching up on news from home and was so proud to see that the South Australian Tourism Commission in collaboration with kwp! advertising won an award at the Cannes festival for a TV ad promoting the Barossa. Well done South Aussies!

One of the secret hideaways in the Barossa

If you haven't seen the ad, definately go and have a look. It's raw and engaging, particularly with the haunting music of Nick Cave.  

Read the article here and see the ad here; http://beconsumed.southaustralia.com/ 

Lest we Forget

As it's now dawn in Australia (25th April), today's post is dedicated to ANZAC day. 

In honour of all the Australian and New Zealand soldiers past and present.

The lone pine

I will never forget my travel experience to Gallipoli to experience the ANZAC dawn service, so today I hope you will enjoy a little of that experience from way back in 2006.


When you wander down the beach at Anzac Cove it's not what you expect. I'm used to wide sandy beaches and this one is narrow, almost non-existent. Hugging the beach other than the ocean, are steep cliffs. As you look up at them, you can understand why so many lost their lives in those first few minutes as they disembarked from the boats.

Scattered randomly around the area are small grave yards, white head stones that glare beneath the sunlight offering the visitor a poignant reminder of why we are here. As you walk past them you can't help but become emotional as you see the young ages (some of these lads were only 15) of these men who died for us.

Wrapped up in my sleeping bag amongst the crowd of Aussies and Kiwis, it's freezing cold, dark, but sleep never comes. We sit, some silent, others talking and waiting for the hour closer to dawn. 

Movement up on stage is a trigger to roll up the sleeping bag and move closer to the stage and the upcoming remembrance ceremony. I stand among hundreds. 

As the first glimmer of dawn comes across the ocean and gently makes it's way toward us, and in the silence of the morning, the sole bugle player begins playing The Last Post. 

You cannot help but be caught up in the emotion. I hear sniffles of all those around me and find myself wiping away tears. 

As I look around I see them. The ANZACs. They're standing among us.  Young fresh faces, decked out in their dapper kharki uniforms and slouch hats, and all the while retaining that larrikin look, perhaps it's that cheeky grin, that we know so well. Faces that are proud that we still come here and will never never forget.

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them." 

Missing Aussie wine

On a gloriously rainy Saturday in Blighty (I have to put a positive on it), I'm thinking about date night tonight which is down at the local new Bavarian bar and wishing that I could find a nice Aussie wine to drink.

Unfortunately its impossible.

While I enjoy living here, what is really disappointing in Blighty is the lack of good quality Australian wine. 

Bentalls used to stock Bird in the Hand sparkling which was a bit of a novelty. Not from the Barossa unfortunately, but still a good summer sparkling. 

In Waitrose I will walk through the bottle shop area just to see if they have any new Australian wines. Typically though its the standard Jacobs Creek, Yalumba, Hardys or Wolf Blass.  I usually walk away disappointed.

Perhaps I've been spoilt by living in the Barossa Valley where I had the best variety and quality of wine at my finger tips and not just the mainstream ones.

For wine on a summers evening I could pop down to Rockfords and purchase some Alicante Bouchet or a bottle of The Willows sparkling shiraz. During winter a hearty bottle of Henshke or Hentley Farm shiraz. Then there is Tscharkes. I've never gotten through the whole wine tasting list, but I have taken a few people to this spot and they absolutely love it. 

If you can't have it you can dream about it...

For those of you sitting at home in the Barossa, can you please make sure we have a sparkling shiraz to drink when I get home!