Crispy

Crispy started his career working with books and magazines and advertising in Australia, he launched Culture Magazine and Leadership Digest and contributed to numerous others.

His obsession with wine started with growing up in South Australia's McLaren Vale wine district, he continues to search for the ever elusive perfect wine.

Crispy writes about wine, food and travel. He is always keen to meet and interview people with fascinating stories.

110 articles published

EAT EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Bellota Wine Bar & Food (18/20)

Last week I was back eating in one of my very favourite restaurants and I realised that it was also one of the first restaurant reviews written for Almanak, so I thought it needed an update. Needless to say we had another outstanding meal and brilliant wine. In full disclosure Bellota used to be…

ByCrispySeptember 1, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Domaine Tollot-Beaut Chorey-Les-Beaune Protégée 2018 (93/100 points)

I am very fond of the flavour profile found in Burgundy wines made from grapes grown in Beaune, and while this wine is described by the maker as a "classic rustic red wine" I think it deserves more love and recognition because it is a lot better than that. THE WINERY The Tollot family have…

ByCrispyAugust 30, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Yeringberg – Pinot Noir 2019 (93/100 points)

THE WINERY Yeringberg and the de Pury family are original pioneers of wine making in the Yarra Valley of Victoria. The original vineyard was established in 1863, though many of the grapes were pulled out with vines replanted in the 1970s. In 1969 Guill and Katherine de Pury (already the 3rd…

ByCrispyAugust 28, 2023

TRAVEL TRAVEL > ITALY

TRAVEL > Almanak Guide to Siracusa, Sicily

CONTENTS Getting There Where to Eat Where to Drink Where to Sleep Where to Swim Click to Google Map list The Almanak Guide to Syracuse is now available in print from the blurb store print its just $13 USD plus shipping for 40 pages of full colour - click here. When you are…

ByCrispyAugust 25, 2023

TRAVEL TRAVEL > ITALY

STAY > Masseria Trapanà, Lecce Italy

This is the first of a series of articles on some of the best places to visit in Italy during summer - watch out for Almanak organised Tours to these locations for summer 2024. Hidden away 12 minutes from the historic Italian city of Lecce (often referred to as the Florence of the South) you…

ByCrispyJuly 18, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Riesling

WINE > Mac Forbes RS20 Strathbogie Riesling 2022 (90/100 points)

Mac Forbes makes some great wines from fruit grown in the Yarra Valley; Pinot Noir and Chardonnay released as Single Vineyard, and Village. As well as Cabernet and Merlot released under the 'Hugh' label. But for me the most interesting stand out has been the RS range of Riesling which predominately comes from the Strathbogie…

ByCrispyJune 21, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Chatto ‘Bird’ Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 (93/100)

Its the beginning of winter and for me that always means a range of delicious foods come onto the menu. It is a time to enjoy anything with truffle, slow cooked meats, rich pate, sharp smelly cheese, and warm soups. And being a pinot-phile I am drawn to drinking Pinot Noir over any other varietal,…

ByCrispyJune 15, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Terra Sancta – Shingle Beach Pinot Noir

PREFACE The first think you notice with Terra Sancta wines is how the label jumps out at you, it is both bold and totally different to what you find from most Australian and New Zealand premium wines today and yet this could easily be a classic European bottle with its styling. This feels reflective…

ByCrispyMay 24, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Merlot

WINE > Paternoster ‘Heaven’s Door’ Merlot 2001

Ferreting around in the cellar and looking for a nice bottle to share with my father I found a bottle of Paternoster ‘Heaven’s Door Merlot’ sitting on a bottom shelf, it was a 2001 vintage. I vaguely remembered buying the wine from Cloud Wine in South Melbourne after one of Geoffrey’s wine tasting…

ByCrispyMay 12, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Irrewarra Pinot Noir 2020

The Irrewarra Pinot Noir comes from grapes dry grown on a plot of land planted in 2001 by the Calvert family, in the Western Plains of Victoria. This wine made Nick Farr now also wine maker for ByFarr Wines. Nick Farr readily acknowledges the influence of his father (the legendary Gary Farr who established…

ByCrispyMay 10, 2023

Crispy

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