Latest Internet offering for wine enthusiasts is the Wine Literature of the World website - www.winelit.slsa.sa.gov.au - a creation of the State Library of South Australia. The website collection presents a conglomeration of ancient and modern wine literature, photographs and illustrations, and much more.

I particularly liked the section describing different grape types and the accompanying 19^th century varietal illustrations. And when I have time I'll explore selections from various rare wine volumes published over the last nine centuries. Also on my schedule is an attempt to answer the site's wine quiz, which will be followed by a quick perusal of some thousands of wine labels.

The site is user friendly, a good read, and a fascinating resource for the amateur or professional wine student. Highly recommended.

Weird wine world

The BBC reports that "The Indian state of Maharashtra is planning to set up a German wine village in an effort to increase foreign tourism. The village will take the form of a theme park, where wines will be served by Germans dressed in traditional costume."

I am informed that in a spirit of appropriate reciprocation the German Ministry of Tourism is planning to build an Indian village in the city of Munchen (Munich). There, tourists will be able to see traditional Indians manufacturing curry paste and sitars. It will be known as the Curry Munchen Park.

Tastings

Hahn Witbier

A wheat beer brewed with orange and coriander in, according to the label, a "traditional Belgian style". Well, I suppose we'd have to poll a few Belgian beer drinkers to test that, it's about as meaningful as a French wine label claiming to be a traditional Australian style. Mid to pale amber. Spice, fruit and aromatic hops on the nose. Full strength - soft and sweetish both on the mid-palate and at the finish. I like a drier more bitter style but the sweet characters should appeal to infrequent beer consumers. Rating: commercial. Price: $AUD10.45 per six-pack of 345 ml bottles. Web: www.lion-nathan.com.au.

Quintessence Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon 1999 - Two-Litre Cask

Western Australia. Pale yellow. Light and fragrant, grassy bouquet. Attractive delicate flavours, slight citric tang. Better than expected cask wine and very easy drinking. I found the tap difficult to extract from the triangular pack and hard to align for easy pouring. To fix this I'd have put the opening in the vertical face rather than the sloping, but then I'm not a packaging designer. Rating: bronze. Cellar: drink now. Price $AUD18.00.

Chambers Rosewood Gouais 2000

Rutherglen, Victoria. Pale and green-tinted. Pre-release tasting. Nose shows generous scents of citrus and pineapple. Big, ripe and appley in the mouth, with a lasting crisp finish. Delicious drinking if you like big whites. The gouais (pronounced goo-ay) blanc comes from three acres of 93 year old vines and is one of the rarest wine grapes in the world. Rating: silver. Cellar: to 2005. Price: not yet available. Cellar door only. Phone (02) 6032 8641 or e-mail wchambers@netc.net.au.

Booth's Taminick Premium Shiraz 1999

Taminick, Victoria. Dense crimson. I tried this wine - masked - on a bunch of palates I respect, their comments included: "Luscious." "Voluptuous." "There are so many grapes in this bottle it's a wonder that there's any room for liquid." Nobody could pick the region. "Coonawarra?" "Margaret River?" I enjoyed the wine, and ordered two dozen that afternoon. Rating: gold. Cellar: to 2010. Price: $AUD14.00 plus freight. Cellar door only. Phone (03) 5766 2282.

Peter Lehmann Eight Songs Shiraz 1997

Barossa Valley, South Australia. Clear, deep ruby. Rich and ripe berries and oak on the bouquet. Mild, integrated tannic astringency lends velvety texture. Unobtrusive French oak supports flavours of berry jam and mocha, leading to a lasting, moreish finish. If they made liquid Black Forest cake it might taste something like this. Rating: gold. Cellar: to 2008. Price: $AUD50.00. Web: www.peterlehmannwines.com.au.