News
There’s always plenty happening here at Thomas Wines.
Keep up to date with all the latest.
Semsational Semillon Lunches
Could 50 be the new 20? A stretch perhaps, but as we know you’re entering your prime around 50, and at 20 you’re just hitting your strides.
In the case of Thomas Wines 2019 is much cause for celebration as we celebrate our flagship vineyard’s 50th anniversary of its planting, and our 20th consecutive vintage of this wine at the top of our stable. It could be said that in 2019 at 50 and 20 we’re at the top of our game as we celebrate the coming of age.
And Newcastle Semillon lovers may rejoice, as Thomas Wines has just released just 30 tickets to an exclusive seaside Semsational Japanese Wine Lunch on Friday 27 September (which sold out in a heartbeat) and has now released a second lunch on Thursday 26 September at the celebrated Nagisa on the waterfront at Honeysuckle. Under the watchful eye of two, now local larrikins, Thommo and Yohei, you’ll be delighted by the range of Thomas Wines Hunter Valley Semillons from the outstanding 2019 vintage perfectly accompanied Nagisa’s signature dishes. You won’t meet two guys more committed to their respective causes, and you’ll enjoy a few laughs with them both over the course of the afternoon. Super limited tickets available for $120 per person. Bookings essential.
16/08/2019 at 3:19 PM
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Halliday Results
The Halliday 2020 Wine Companion results are in with great scores for our current range of Shiraz
2017 Dam Block Shiraz - 97pts
2017 Kiss Shiraz - 96pts
2017 Elenay Shiraz - 96pts
2017 Two of a Kind Shiraz - sold out - 96pts
2017 Sweetwater Shiraz - 95pts
2017 Belford Shiraz - Members only - 94pts
2017 DJV Shiraz - 94pts
2017 Synergy Shiraz - 93pts
Need to stock the Cellar? Supplies are getting low on some of these so head to our online shop here.
08/08/2019 at 4:32 PM
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Reviews & News
With our Single Vineyard Shiraz from the exceptional 2017 vintage now released we've had some great reveiws.
Here are a few of the latest stories about Thomas Wines
- The Australian - Great Hunter wines with a dash of McLaren Vale - Nick Ryan
- Podcast - Drinks Adventures - Drinks Collaborations - James Atkinson
Enjoy.
05/07/2019 at 5:30 PM
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Let's talk dirty - our Single Vineyard Shiraz Tasting
Thomas Wines specialises in Semillon & Shiraz, proudly producing only these two signature Hunter Valley varieties.
A tasting with us digs deep ... it takes you on a focused journey of the Hunter Valley through the soils, their textures & colours, discussing how these affect the resultant range of single vineyard Semillon & Shiraz on offer.
If you take note when driving around the valley you will see the colours & textures of the soils vary quite considerably.
The flats of the Hunter Valley are ancient river courses with pale, sandy alluvial soils. These flats offer perfect conditions for growing Semillon.
In contrast, as a general rule, you'll see the soil on the hills is darker, crumbly, clay loam with rich red & chocolate overtones, perfect shiraz growing country.
Our Single Vineyard Tasting includes maps, soil samples & of course our Single Vineyard wines. It offers a visual explanation as to the varying aromas, flavours & textures of Semillon & Shiraz when grown on different sites throughout the Valley.
Our Single Vineyard tasting currently includes three Single Vineyard premium Semillon and seven Single Vineyard premium Shiraz. The seated tasting takes approximately 45 minutes; the fee is $15pp but we'll only charge you this fee if you can't find a bottle (or 12) from our Single Vineyard range to purchase at the end of the tasting.
Bookings and prepayment of (an unredeemable) $15pp apply for groups of six or more.
28/06/2019 at 2:34 PM
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An exceptional Weekend of Shiraz
2017 is widely regarded as an exceptional vintage for Hunter Valley Shiraz; over the weekend of 4-5 May Thomas Wines is releasing their range of 2017 Single Vineyard Shiraz with a series of experiences.
So what makes a vintage "exceptional"? Some nice rain in the initial growing season, with warm dry conditions during ripening & harvest. The 2017 range of single vineyard Shiraz are testament to this. The tasting of nine Shiraz from separate vineyards throughout the Hunter Valley begins with Synergy Shiraz for the novice moving through to the flagship, & somehwat of a cult wine, Kiss Shiraz for the enthusiast or that special celebration.
The Cellar Door and Winekmaing teams are offering a series of experiences across the launch weekend to showcase their range of Shiraz.
Across the weekend call into Cellar Door, or better still book in advance, and the team will take you through a vertical tasting of the range of Single Vineyard Shiraz. They'll take you on a journey of the Valley, sharing the textures & colours of the soils, explaining how these influence the taste of the Shiraz. Cost is $15pp but only if you can't find a bottle within the range to purchase at the conclusion of your tasting.
To celebrate in a befitting style, Thommo is hosting a release lunch at EXP Restaurant on Saturday 4 May. Chef Frank Fawkner has created a four course menu to pair with the nine Shiraz. The lunch has already seen high demand so if a long leisurely Shiraz lunch with the Winemaker tickles your fancy, we'd suggest you book now.
On Sunday 5 May the team from The Artisan Cheeseroom will join us in Cellar door for three Mini Masterclasses. The unique half hour Masterclasses (10am, 11.30am & 1pm) will be hosted by Thommo & The Artisan Cheeseroom Cheesemonger, Paul Thompson. Guests will take home tips for Shiraz and cheese matching, whilst discussing tastes and terroirs of wine and artisan cheese and how regionality, vintage, seasons and provenance all influence the perfect pairing. With only 12 seats in each session bookings are essential. $30pp.
Can't make it to see us in the Valley? The full range of Shiraz will be available online from Saturday 4 May - why not purchase one of each, invite a few friends around & conduct your own tasting session.
09/04/2019 at 2:40 PM
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Vintage Update
The Semillon & Shiraz grapes are now harvested and in the winery! It's a comforting relief but this doesn't mean the hard work is over for Thommo and the winery crew.
The Semillons have finished fermentation, have been chilled and are resting in tank, allowing the dead yeast cells to slowly drop to the bottom. From here the Semillons will be racked, (siphoning the clear wine from the cloudy sediment on the bottom), filtered & bottled.
The Shiraz are currently fermenting in tank (with regular pump overs to manage the fermentation), or going through a secondary malolactic fermentation in barrel. One of the more unusual scenes in the winery at this time is seeing Thommo or Eden with their ear against the barrel bung hole. They do this to see how the fermentation is progressing as you can hear it fizzing & bubbling when the yeast are active.
So what's Thommo think of vintage 2019? He's excited. He's calling the last three warm, dry vintages a "hat trick"; the 2019 Semillon being the standout over these three years; the Shiraz, a little early to call, but his gut feeling is that the 2017 and 2018 vintages will be marginally better than the 2019.
In between all this Thommo is selecting & packing the wines for your next Member packs. There's no rest for the wicked but there's plenty of coffee & Peroni & they help.
21/02/2019 at 4:25 PM
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Kiss is in the Winery
It's been a fast & furious harvest with all the semillon & most of the shiraz now in the winery.
We harvested the majority of the shiraz this week, the quality is exceptional but yield down a little. Thommo is particularly excited by the quality off the Kiss Vineyard.
Visit us at Cellar Door this weekend & sample the 2019 vintage.
15/02/2019 at 5:04 PM
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Vintage 2019 Update
An update from the Winery
The lead up to vintage 2019 has been warm & dry and the vineyards are looking great. The Semillon has ripened nicely with great flavour; we are half way through picking our Braemore vineyard.The Shiraz is showing great colour & flavour will follow close behind with harvest beginning next week. 
The Cellar Door Team love sharing a taste of Vintage, and the winery action with visitors. Throughout the harvest window they have grapes, ferments & juices for sampling - it's an exciting time to visit the Valley.
31/01/2019 at 4:30 PM
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Size Matters
Looking for an impressive wine to suit the whole family at Christmas? We've got back vintages, magnums & double magnums of Braemore Semillon & Kiss Shiraz available.
With exactly 100 numbered magnums & only 12 numbered double magnums these are a collectors items for the wine lover or one heck of a party & the way to impress family & friends. Contact Rowena in Cellar Door for pricing & availability 02 4998 7134.
07/12/2018 at 2:32 PM
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The Thomas Wines Story
There's always more to discover ...
Thommo talks about Thomas Wines in the new Hunter Valley campaign "Here's to the Good Life".
Thommo is originally a McLaren Vale boy from a winemaking family so what brought him to the Hunter Valley?
07/09/2018 at 5:52 PM
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