Our Wine and Beverage List

Our philosophy on wines is similar to our philosophy regarding guests – a diverse variety from many different places and with many different characteristics.

We have selected an exciting range of wines, often from small, award-winning vineyards in Australia, New Zealand, America, Italy and France. We are constantly adding (and subtracting) from our cellars – therefore some of the wines listed below may change or be replaced with something equally interesting from another region or part of the world. We put a lot of effort into the research and selection of these wines and, of course, we continue to sample them.

For most meals, we select wines we feel compliment the food served. Naturally, guests are not restricted to that selection – you only need to ask for a particular wine and it’s yours.

At the start of your stay on Turtle Island you are shown the range of wines available in the cellar so you can browse before a picnic or dine-out. We welcome guests’ comments. Like all great pleasures in life, wine is very subjective.

-

Below you will find descriptions of wines currently on our list. But please note – we keep a moderate size of cellar so occasionally the particular wines may be on order and on their own journey to Turtle Island.

Champagne - Sparkling Wine

Taittinger Brut Reserve Non Vintage, France
Founded in 1734, Taittinger is one of the few remaining Champagne houses to be managed by people who bear its name, so quality and respect for tradition are a constant priority. This Champagne has a light golden colour, with a slightly floral nose and hints of citrus and vanilla. The palate displays chardonnay fruit, reflecting elegance and finesse with a creamy mousse. An incredibly stylish wine, with wonderful length. (Honeymoon Starter)

Moet and Chandon Non Vintage, France
Probably one of the world's most recognized and applauded Champagnes. This house Champagne sets a standard that lets our guests know that we have a truly unique and prestigious wine list. This is a classic Champagne with incredible balance and one which will appeal to a broad range of palates.

California Chandon Brut Classic – USA
In keeping with the style Moët & Chandon established more than a quarter of a century ago, Chandon has captured the expressive elegance of California's vineyards in Brut Classic. This sparkling wine presents full flavours that move seamlessly across the palate. When you taste Brut Classic, look for nutty flavours with hints of brioche that build to a refreshing dry finish. The wine delivers complex apple and pear characteristics accented by citrus spice over notes of almond and caramel in the bouquet. The grapes used in the wine include Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir.

Deutz Marlborough Cuvee Blanc de Blanc, Non Vintage, New Zealand
This sparkling wine is made under license from Champagne Deutz in France. It marries premium cool climate grapes with traditional Champagne making techniques, to craft a sophisticated and elegant methode traditionnelle.

Made predominantly of Chardonnay grapes, Deutz Marlborough Cuvee Blanc de Blanc has toasty yeast and lemon flavours which extend to an elegant creamy finish.

Return to top


Sauvignon Blanc

Highfield Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Marlborough New Zealand
Made in the traditional Highfield Estate style, meticulous grape selection with cold fermentation contribute an abundant spectrum of tropical and herbal aromas. This wine received extended lees contact, contributing depth, texture and balance to the palate. Well suited to fresh shellfish, or drinking as an aperitif anytime of day.

Stella Bella Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Margaret River, Western Australia
Heady, exotic sense of freshly pressed citrus oils, lemon verbena, gooseberry and green nectarine. Zesty fruit flavours of tangerine and orange citrus, ripe stone fruits and sweet herbs are further enhanced by a lemon butter richness brought to the palate by the artful use of barrel fermentation.

Textures of chalk lime, citrus pith and peach skin further add mouth feel to the palate, while the finishing acidity is subtle, dry, flinty and fine. A great wine for an afternoon tipple.

Shaw & Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Adelaide Hills, South Australia
This vineyard was established in 1989 to make wines that rank amongst the best of their grape type. The vines, vinefied and bottled at the Shaw and Smith Winery are made exclusively from Adelaide Hills grapes, one of Australia’s coolest and most exciting regions.

This wine is archetypal sauvignon blanc with zingy vibrant flavours and a crisp finish. Regarded by many as being one of Australia’s top three Sauvignons.

Pierro 2004 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Margaret River, Western Australia
The aim of the 2004 vintage was to produce a light dry wine that would be delicious when young, but still have the capacity and backbone to mature and develop in the bottle for several years. For this reason, Semillon was chosen for its ability to mature gracefully and sauvignon blanc for its delicate perfumed aroma and youthful flavour.

The wine also contains a touch of chardonnay for body and power. The result is a wine that is an ideal accompaniment to seafood and white meat dishes.

Return to top

Riesling

Smith-Madrone Riesling 2003 Napa Valley, USA
This wine is grown in cool mountain temperatures, producing intense flavour, structure and longevity. It is a pale yellow with intense aromas of Riesling fruit, finishing with a fullness on the palate which seems to be a mixture of softness and acidity. Only 576 cases of this wine was produced.

Howard Park Riesling 2004 Margaret River, Western Australia
Lively zesty aromas and a fresh crisp palate of great length set this wine apart. Half an hour spent enjoying this special drop confirm that only the finest Riesling grapes were selected, with minimal handling. The pristine delicate flavours are exquisite.

Grosset Polish Hills Riesling 2005 Clare Valley, South Australia
One of Australia’s most famous and decorated Rieslings. It takes a while to open, but then displays hints of lime zest and savoury minerally aromas, and is intensely flavoured with pristine, freshly squeezed lime juice tastes. It then has a long distinctly lingering dry finish. Steely, tight and powerful, this wine was built for the long haul.

Return to top

White Wine Varietal

Eyrie Pinot Gris 2003, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
This wine is from the oldest producer of wines in the Willamette Valley, with limited production. Eyrie Vineyards was the first producer of Pinot Gris in the United States.

The wine is dry and medium bodied with great versatility. The aromas of pear, apple and clove are complemented by notes of minerals and light citrus. The palate offers soft flavours of pear and tropical fruits with an earthy herbal finish. This is a favourite with food or as an aperitif.

Primo Estate “La Biondina” Colombard 2005
There’s just no going past the wonderfully pungent, fresh aromatics of this colombard. It has a gorgeous fragrance with a juicy pineapple overlay which floods the nose and palate. Passionfruit is the next most obvious element, and it is all supported by hints of banana, melon, herbs and the zingy aromas of grassiness and lemon. This is a friendly wine very suitable for picnics and a late morning or early afternoon aperitif.

Return to top

Chardonnay

Fermoy Estate Chardonnay 2004 Margaret River, Western Australia
The natural beauty, striking natural vegetation, eucalyptus and stunning coastline, surrounded by forest, farmland and sea has all the attributes of a mild Mediterranean climate. Rich soils and fresh winds from the vast unpolluted Indian and Southern Oceans create a near perfect milieu to grow this beautiful Chardonnay.

The fruit is 100% barrel fermented in French Oak and allowed to remain on lees for 5 months before bottling. The wine is full bodied and dominated by aromas of stone fruit and savoury oak.

Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay 2002, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Made by classic French inspired techniques, this wine is brilliant pale lemon in colour. It has a subtle and complex nose with a fine lemon, apple and pear fruit aroma. Sleek and fine on the palate, it displays flavours in harmony with its aromas, having a long even palate structure. It finishes with clean acidity and subtle savoury firmness.

Edna Valley Chardonnay 2004 San Luis Obispo, California, USA
This wine is from a vineyard that enjoys one of California’s longest and coolest growing seasons, owing to sea breezes funneled inland through the Edna Valley. The grapes extended hang time gives this Chardonnay flavours of lush white peach and sweet spice, whilst the ancient ocean sub soil imparts a subtle mineral component.

A fabulous wine with both white and red meats.

Keller Estate 2005 Oro de Plata Chardonnay, Sonoma, California
A hue of brilliant platinum beckons from the glass followed by the scent of chardonnay flowers in full bloom. Exuberant acidity awakens the palate, suggesting refreshing elements of citrus and lime zest. The core of this wine consists of a complex minerality marked by an essence of wet stone, tempered with notes of pear.

Return to top

Rose

Charles Melton 2004 Rose of Virginia –Tanunda, South Australia
This wine is vibrant with a big "V". It is a return to earlier Rose of Virginia’s with more aromatics and sweetness rising from the glass. Lots of sweet Grenache muskiness with a hint of spice and savoury showing later from the Shiraz and Cabernet. A fresh and crisp wine with loads of cherry flavours bursting on the palate. This wine still retains its "fruit - bomb" reputation.

Yering Station Pinot Noir Rose Extra Dry 2004 – Yarra Glen, Victoria, Australia
This wine is light salmon pink in colour with raspberry and strawberry fruit characters. Immediately evident are the subtle notes of redcurrant, spicy/smoky oak, perfumed violets and rose petals. The finish is fresh and clean with delicious lingering flavours. It is best suited to food such as smoked meats or fish, salads, cheeses and other luncheon dishes.

Return to top

Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Blends

Mount Riley Pinot Noir 2004 Wairau Valley, NZ
The colour of this wine is mid-red with purple hues. The bouquet boasts ripe berry, strawberry and plum aromas with an attractive smoky oakiness. The palate is redolent of berries, mouth-filling with a pleasant soft tannin finish. This medium bodied wine is drinking superbly and is a great example of a New Zealand Pinot Noir.

Return to top

Shiraz

Ned & Henry’s Shiraz 2002, Hewitson Barossa Valley, South Australia
The vineyard growing this wine is situated on a limestone plateau covered in red dirt. On each side are gully’s where geisers funnel up to take the heat from the warm summer days. This wine is a full bodied shiraz matured in French Oak. It has concentrated fruit flavours, great balance and fine supple tannins.

Dalwhinnie Moonambel Shiraz 2001, Pyrenees, Central Victoria, Australia
Black coffee beans, liquorice, gun smoke and traces of vanilla characterise this wine. The palate shows raspberry and smoky red cherry fruits, dry spices, nutmeg and lots of acid. This elegant wine has a light body, with fruit sweetness and fullness.

Eppalock Ridge Shiraz 1998, Heathcote, Victoria, Australia
This is a classic central Victorian red. The colour is deep, dark and purple. The nose exhibits all the characters of pepper, spice and cherry/plum, leading on to a full and generous palate of fruit and vanilla oak, all brought together with satiny, soft tannins. A great wine experience.

Return to top

Cabernet and Cabernet Blend

Zema Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Coonawarra, South Australia
Made from 100% cabernet sauvignon grapes grown on the famous terra rossa soil, this wine is matured in small French and American Oak for 16 months. It has the full berry characters of the cabernet fruit, and is a vibrant rich wine with attractive full flavours that are developing in the cellar as you read this.

Waterbrook Reserve Merlot 2006 Washington, USA

Plum blossoms and soft talc make for a pleasant nose backed up by cinnamon, date and fig flavors, appearing modestly amongst juicy ripe black cherry and boysenberry gliding into a seamless finish.

Return to top

Merlot & Other Reds

Lovegrove Merlot 2001, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Delicious sweet blackcurrant, rose petal and violet aromas are early indications of the class of this wine. The soft generously fruited palate and pleasing fine – grained tannins do not let you down. This wine goes exceptionally well with a wide variety of pasta dishes, Mediterranean foods and spices. The movie “Sideways” was wrong – this Merlot is fantastic!

Jan Kris Merlot 2003, Pasa Robles, USA
This soft and elegant wine exhibits full fruity flavors of cherry, blackberry and raspberry. It is smooth, evocative, and has a superbly soft finish consistent with the outcome of the finest Merlot grapes. It is known as the Mother Merlot of Paso Robles.

Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2004, California, USA
This velvety smooth Zinfandel offers flavours of raspberry, blackberry, white pepper, chocolate and coffee, with a long finish. A stunning concentration of wonderful dusty raspberry, spices, and a subtle vanilla quality nicely complements this wine’s explosive jammy fruit notes. Nine months was spent aging in American oak barrels. What a way to spend the first nine months of your life?!

Return to top

Dessert Wines

Andrew Rich Gewurztraminer 2003, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA
This wine was principally grown in the Columbia Valley, with some contribution from Oregon. It has 16% residual sugar and is an outstanding example of a fine US dessert wine.

Seifried Riesling Ice Wine 2004, Nelson, New Zealand
Ripe citrus flavours and spicy honey nose. Luscious, morish and richly delicious. This wine is from a family owned vineyard which was the first to be established in one of the sunniest areas of New Zealand in 1973. A great addition to the Turtle Island list.

Johanneshof Gewurztraminer 2004 Marlborough, New Zealand
From a tiny sloped vineyard at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, this wine has been described as one of the best examples of a dessert Gewurz in the Southern Hemisphere. Super heady aromas, with lychees, Turkish delight, honey, citrus, pickled ginger and clove. This wine is weighty in the mouth with a marvelous sensation of flowers, musk, rose petal, yet finishes clean as a whistle. Rated 92 points by Cuisine Magazine.

Lilly PillyNoble Blend 2000 Leeton, New South Wales, Australia
Glowing gold, luscious, peachy, complexity offset by lingering, fine acidity. This is a top example from the Riverina region. This dessert wine has won many awards both in Australia and internationally, and is rightly so – it is world class.

 

Return to top

Beer

There are times, when an icy cold beer is all you need. It is not possible to stock every type of beer, particularly considering the re-emergence of microbreweries all over the world. We've picked a representative range of beers from various parts of the world - why not try them all?

  • STEIN LAGER (New Zealand)
  • LION RED (New Zealand)
  • HEINEKEN (The Netherlands)
  • CORONA (Mexico)
  • VICTORIA BITTER (Australia)
  • CROWN LAGER (Australia)
  • FOSTERS (Australia)
  • FIJI GOLD (Local Fijian Premium Beer)
  • FIJI BITTER (Local Fijian Beer)
  • FIJI CARLTON COLD (Local Cold Filtered Beer)
  • FIJI CARLTON LIGHT ALE (Local Light Beer)
  • O'Douls Non-Alcoholic Beer (USA)

Return to top