The Cellar Door, Sirromet Winery, Mt Cotton

Welcome aboard your wine flight!

A visit to Sirromet wines is an excellent opportunity and fun way to gain some teacher currency. This venue brings all the elements of hospitality into one location; vineyard, winery, restaurant, cellar door, wine training academy, along with multiple event venues. Sirromet can also stage major events at their outdoor staging area. On my recent visit I chose to take part in a wine flight, let me share this visit to Sirromet with you.

What is a wine flight? According to Binwise.com “there is no single definitive answer, many believe the term 'flight' was chosen because it means a "group of." However, another common explanation is that the name, flight, was chosen because the presentation reminds people of travelling.”

At Sirromet what you can expect is a “tasting plate” of wine. You are presented with 4 wines from either a standard flight (red, white or mixed) or a premium flight. I selected the standard white flight. The barman carefully presents the 4 wine glasses in a paddle each containing a 40ml pour of the selected wines. I was also given a tasting card that explains the nose and palate of the wine. It was an enjoyable way to taste and appreciate new wines I may not have tried.

The Tasting Card

My take on on the wine

Seven Scenes Cuvee Blanc:  Slightly fruity, gentle on the palette, not overly bubbly

Grant 2023 Vermentino:  Tasted quite dry, pleasant non acidic wine

 Sirromet 2023 Sauvignon Blanc:  Slightly acidic pleasant wine, not quite as fruity as I’d expect 

 Signature Collection 2019 Chardonnay:  Smooth chardonnay, fresh, buttery and a touch of oak

At the time of this article the flight prices were as follows:

Standard flight $20, Premium flight $30

Innovation in sustainability

Sustainability is the buzz word and Sirromet is leading the way with sustainable initiatives across their venture where they aim to make wine of the highest quality without compromising environmental values.

Responsible water usage

Sirromet collects and purifies rainwater for potable use and dam water for irrigation to reduce their reliance on mains supply.

Recycling

All green waste, cardboard and paper from the winery and restaurants – is recycled through an onsite worm farm for later use as fertiliser. Plastic and glass waste is also recycled off-site.

Energy conservation

Sirromet conserves energy through smarter computerised refrigeration by using a modern “one-pass” filtration system, recycling waste heat to make hot water and reducing their carbon footprint via 200kW of solar PV.

Did you know?

Corks 

Portugal is the home of the cork tree where about one third of the world's wine bottle corks are made. Worldwide cork forest covers approximately 2,200,000 hectares. After, no cork at all, cork may be considered the most eco-friendly wine stopper as cork trees live for 200 years!

Acknowledgment: Michael Powell "Time to Wine Down"

Stephen's Take

Tips for Teachers

We all teach a variety of competencies and I appreciate that you may not teach bar or wine and may not see the relevance of this experience. However there is more to this teacher currency experience than just wine. Every time you participate in an experience it is important to look beyond the product you are buying. In this case I purchased a wine flight, however at the same time I observed the bar processes. I was inquisitive about the POS system and clarified what system he used. I experienced the greeting and a level of customer service. Overall I observed the current trends and identified subtle changes in the industry that I use to reflect on my own practice. 

Unit of Competency Mapping

Article and all photos original by Stephen Duncan