Wine in aluminium bottles good for the Environment?

JMB Beverages Pty Ltd has been marketing wine in Brightlite aluminium bottles. The claimed practical and environmental benefits do not appear to be as solid as those for the Banrock Station Ecomate wine in cardboard Tetra Paks.

The Brightlight bottles are finished in bright aluminium finish, with aluminium screw caps and resemble the fuel bottles used by campers. They hold the same as a wine bottle (750 ml) but are slimmer and lighter than a wine bottle. This would reduce the energy used in transporting the wine. However, aluminium requires a large amount of energy to make and unless the bottles were all recycled, this is likely to exceed the energy saved in transport.

The maker also claims the bottles will cool more quickly than glass bottles, which seems reasonable. But red as well as white wine is offered, which does not need chilling.

I did not find the packaging of wine in this way particularity appealing, it looked like it might contain fuel. The bottles were printed in one colour and the aluminium finish showing through looks industrial. Other wine drinkers seems to agree with me. While one online store had it for $9.99, I found it at less than $4 a bottle.

ps: The poorly design web site for the product can't have helped the marketing. The site makes use of Flash, making it difficult to access. There appeared to be no way to get a low resolution image of one of the bottles.

Wine in Tetra Paks good for the Environment?

Banrock Station launched its "Ecomate" in mid 2008. This is wine in cardboard Tetra Paks, using the same technology as for keeping fruit juice fresh without refrigeration. Banrock make much of the environmental credentials of this form of packaging. But apart from reducing the weight and bulk of packaging, thus reducing energy used in transport, it does not appear particularly ecological.

Glass used in wine bottles is able to be easily recycled. The plastic coated cardboard and plastic spout used in a Tetra Prisma would seem much harder to recycle. Also it is curious that the packs do not have a long shelf life, with one purchased in Sydney last week having a use-by date of August 2009 (the same as for Banrock Station casks wine bought at the same time). The carton is labelled as containing preservative 220 (Sulfur dioxide), so this not a preservative free wine.

However, the cartons would be convenient, being much lighter, backing smaller and less liable to breakage. The cartons have been made to have about the same footprint as a wine bottle, so they fit in bottle carriers.They hold 1l, much more than a 750 bottle. The cartons are half the size of the 2l casks Banrock Station also sell in their environmental range (in a brown cardboard box with a "LandCare Australia" logo on it).

While wine in cartons might seem ideal for Internet shopping, Amazon Fresh (Amazon.com's grocery arm), don't sell the ecomate, although they sell other Banrock Station wine in bottles (of the dozens of Australian wines sold by Amazon).

Canberra Wine Festival

Wineries in and around Canberra hold two festivals a year, in March and November. The one last November was a lot of fun with Jazz and wine at the historic home of Professor Manning Clarke. and rabbit pie in a shed (designed by prize winning architect Glenn Murcutt).

The Canberra District Wine Harvest Festival is 31 March to 1 April 2007, with dozens of wineries and events (including the rabbit pie in the shed). The Canberra District Wine Industry Association has prepared a detailed brochure of the events, with a map. But unfortunately they did it as a very large 2Mbyte PDF file. This makes it difficult to download, so I extracted the list of events (minus the map). If you contact a winery, suggest they have their association do a better e-brochure:

• Free wine tasting Garema Place 5-8 pm 23 March
• Affleck Vineyard Indulge in our new releases and full range of wines. Bring a picnic and relax while taking in the view and the harvest action. Tel: 02 6236 9276. 154 Millynn Road, Bungendore Open: 9am-5pm
• Athenabacchus Vineyard Enjoy the music, hear stories of wineries around the world with great musician and storyteller Brian Hungerford and his bagpipes, and learn about the harvest. Bring your own lunch and use our facilities, or taste ours. Enjoy a stroll in the vineyard and the rose garden. Experience the peacefulness and beauty of the hills around the vine yard. Tel: 02 4848 0288. 699 Lucky Pass Road, Collector Open: 10am-6pm
• Brindabella Hills Winery Come and celebrate with us the sealed road to the vineyards! Join us on Sunday for a barbecued spiced chicken lunch and live jazz. Taste our fabulous first release Chardonnay Viognier - a wonderful wine. Tel: 02 6230 2583. 156 Woodgrove Close via Wallaroo Road, opposite Hall Open: 10am-5pm
• Cafe Schonegg Enjoy an autumn menu featuring a Harvest Salad of smoked trout, almonds and grapes. We will be selling a diverse range of quality local produce including honey, handmade chocolates, lavender oils and works by local artists, craftspeople and jewellers. Sat/Sun 11-4pm. Tel: 02 6227 0344. 381 Hillview Drive, Murrumbateman Open: 11am-4pm
• Clonakilla Taste the new release 2006 Viognier, 2006 Hilltops Shiraz and the 2005 Ballinderry Cabernet Merlot. A last chance to try the legen dary 2005 Shiraz Viognier. Taste our Murrumbateman extra virgin olive oil and some fine international cheeses from the Silo cheese room. Tel: 02 6227 5877. Crisp Lane, Murrumbateman Open: 10am-5pm
• Dionysus Winery An action packed weekend with free wine appreciation sessions (White Wine 10am & 3pm, Red Wine 11am & 4pm daily), home made gourmet pies, a regional produce tasting, new release Shiraz and a special festival 16 to the dozen deal! Bookings preferred for wine appreciation sessions and pies. Tel: 02 6227 0208. 1 Patemans Lane, Murrumbateman Open: 10am-5pm
• Doonkuna Winery Spend a relaxing day at Doonkuna. Enjoy tasting "Federweisser", natural fermenting sweet wine juice, traditionally served only during Harvest time, with our complimentary "Zwebelkuchen", a German Onion Cake. Children are welcome and a playground, barbeque and picnic facilities are available. Live jazz on Sunday from 12-2pm. Email: wine(a)doonkuna.com.au Tel: 02 6227 5811. Barton Highway, Murrumbateman Open: 11am-4pm
• Gallagher Wines Demonstrations of Champagne disgorging process: learn to riddle & disgorge! Light meals available including a Mediterr anean Platter and Fresh Berry Compote on Crepes. Tel: 02 6227 0555. 2770 Dog Trap Road, Murrumbateman Open: 10am-5pm
• Grazing Restaurant A 'must visit' for the dedicated gourmand. A special harvest festival epicurean menu served in the historic stone stables. The region's largest offering of exquisite Canberra District Wines perfectly matched to innovative award winning cuisine and a variety of boutique cheeses. Bookings essential. Tel: 02 6236 8777. The Royal Hotel cnr Cork and Harp Streets, Gundaroo Open: Lunch & Dinner
• Greystones Estate Experience the spectacular views of the Brindabella Mountains and surrounding countryside. Light meals available each day, 10-5pm. Big screen music video entertainment each day. On Saturday join us for live Irish music 6-9pm. $20 from every case sale to be donated to CanTeen. Tel: 02 6226 8700. 153 Magennis Drive, Murrumbateman Open: 10am-5pm
• Helm Wines Witness the making of, and taste, some of Australia's finest Rieslings and Cabernets. The Helm Wine Options game will allow participants to test their wine knowledge and their palate and learn about wine styles (prizes awarded). Ken Helm will be on hand to welcome you. Tel: 02 6227 5953. Butts Road, Murrumbateman Open: 10am-5pm
• Jeir Creek Wines Witness the winemaking process first hand! Taste the fruit, fermenting wines and the newly released 2004 Sparkling Shiraz. Educational tours on Saturday at 12pm & 2pm. Enjoy harvest platters and Botrytis wine matched with scrumptious fruit tartlets. Live music from Cassidy's Ceili, Sun 12-3pm. Tel: 02 6227 5999 Gooda Creek Road, Murrumbateman Open: 10am-5pm
• Kamberra Wine Company Free wine tastings/winery tours (booking essential for tour). Wine Master Class for Young and Old Canberra Wines by local wine makers. Cheese Master Class by Bruce from 'Jones the Grocer'. Degustation Lunch on Sunday with our fabulous Kamberra and Meeting Place wines (some surprises). Email: events(a)kamberra.com.au Tel: 02 6262 2333. Cnr Northbourne Avenue and Flemington Road, Lyneham Open: 10am-5pm
• Koonaburra Vineyard Taste an "Ice Wine" styled wine - a delicious dessert wine made from Riesling grapes. Try also our Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Rose wines. Tel: 02 6236 9019. Summer Hill Road, Bywong Open: 10am-5pm
• Lambert Vineyards and Cafe View harvest activities and learn how we monitor fermentation. Celebrate with our chef's delicious harvest menu accompanied by live music on Sat/Sun 12:30-3:30pm. Bookings essential. New release tastings. Tel: 02 6238 3866. 810 Norton Road, Wamboin Open: 10am-5pm
• Lark Hill Winery Enjoy a marvellous wine and food experience at Lark Hill's new Vineyard Restaurant. Share wine flights & museum wines, and the synergy of good food and fine wines during lunch and dinner. Live music in the restaurant. Biodynamic winemaking in the winery, Sat/Sun, Cellar door 10-5pm, lunch 12-3pm, dinner 6-10pm. Bookings essential. Tel: 02 6238 1393, 521 Bungendore Road, Bungen dore Open: 10am-5pm
• Lerida Estate Winery 'Good Wine, Good Health?' lecture & wine tasting, Fri 30th 6pm, University House. Balloon ride over Lake George & breakfast Sat/Sun 6:30am. Bookings essential. Learn how to make red/white wines & taste fermenting wine, Sat/Sun 11am. Lunch and jazz: 'As Famous As The Moon' Sat, 'Mike Bukovsky Quartet' Sun, both 12-3pm. Espresso coffee/cakes all day. Tel: 02 6295 6640. Federal Hwy, Lake George Open:10am-5pm
• McKellar Ridge Wines Taste our exciting range of award winning wines. Watch winemaking demonstrations. Learn how to decide when the grapes are ready to pick. Taste the grapes and see if you can identify the flavours eg spicy flavours in Shiraz. View the display of Janet's watercolour paintings. Tel: 02 6258 1556. 2 Euroka Ave, Murrumbateman Open: 11am-5pm
• Milimani Estate Vineyard Taste the new vintage and take the opportunity to buy older vintages before they sell out. Bring the family, a picnic, and check out the spectacular views. Tel: 02 6238 1421. 92 The Forest Road, Bungendore Open: 11am-5pm
• Mount Majura Vineyard Smokey Jack's gourmet wood fired pizzas available from 11:30am-3:30 to enjoy with a glass of wine. Relax with the Aron Lyon Trio playing vintage tunes from 12-4pm. Take your time and savour the moment with a gumboot tour around the vineyard to see how vintage is progressing 11am Sat/Sun. Bookings essential for tour. Tel: 02 6262 3070. RMB 314 Majura Road, Majura Open: 10am-5pm
• Mundoonen Winery Enjoy the winemaker's delectable cakes, tea & coffee free of charge, take a tour of a working winery at harvest time and talk to the winemaker. Bring a picnic to have by Yass River. View the historic barrel shed and antique wine artefacts & corkscrews. Tel: 02 6227 1353. 1457 Yass River Road, Yass Open: 11am-5:30pm
• Pankhurst Wines Celebrate harvest and the vineyard's 21st Birthday with our bubbly red & white wines amongst the hills and vines. Matched by lunch from Ginseng & bluegrass/folk sounds from "Round John Virgin and the Strange Bedfellows". Sat/Sun 12-3pm. Learn how to assess when to harvest and test grapes for ripeness with Allan Pankhurst 12pm and 3pm Sat/Sun. www.pankhurstwines.com.au Tel 02 6230 2592 "Old Woodgrove" Woodgrove Rd, Hall Open 10am-5pm
• Pialligo Estate Winery and Cafe Join in the vintage activities: in the morning test grape sugars, handpick grapes and foot stomp or basket press in the traditional way. Enter the boules tournament. Recover over a long harvest-themed 2 or 3 course lunch, accompanied by wine and relaxing live music. Bookings essential. Tel: 02 6262 6692. 18 Kallaroo Road, Pialligo Open: 10am-5pm
• Poachers/Wily Trout Vineyard Come and spoil your taste buds with a tasting of our renowned smoked meats matched to the Wily Trout wines. Enjoy listening to Jazz whilst eating lunch in the award winning Smokehouse Cafe. A sensational experience that combines a wonderful mix of the region's food, wine and countryside. Tel: 02 6230 2487. 'Marakai' Namina Road, Hall Open: 10am-5pm.
• Redbrow Garden B&B An oasis of natural beauty and tranquillity only 20 min from Canberra. Superior 4.5 star lakeview ensuite garden rooms. Tel: 02 6226 8166. 1143 Nanima Road, Murrumbateman Open: 7 days
• Shaw Vineyard Estate Sunday ONLY: Sit back, relax and listen to the smooth tunes of Dos Locos, 12-3pm. Sample the delicious a la carte menu including traditional Italian style wood-fired pizzas and taste our award winning wines at cellar door. Breakfast 8:30am-11am, Lunch noon-3pm. Bookings essential. Tel: 02 6227 5827. 34 Isabel Drive, Murrumbateman Open: 8:30am-5pm
• Surveyors Hill Vineyards Taste trophy winning 2006 Riesling and over 10 other wines including Halliday-rated and medal winning Shiraz, Touriga, Cabernet Franc Rose and Sauvignon Blanc. Try the Shiraz-Touriga 2005 Blend. Estate grown olive oil, other olive products, chilli jam and other farm-produced conserves available for tasting/purchase. Tel: 02 6230 2046. 215 Brooklands Road Wallaroo, Hall Open: 10am-5pm
• Tallagandra Hill and Cafe Discover the delights of Gundaroo - Fine Art, Fine Food and Fine Wine. View the works of local artisans in steel, clay and paper. Sample locally prepared gourmet food matched to Talla gandra Hill's latest wine releases including Viognier, Shiraz Viognier, Riesling and Rose. Tel: 02 6236 8694. 1692 Murrumbateman Road. Gundaroo Open: 10am-5pm
• Wallaroo Wines Come sit in the garden and taste our new Sparkling Riesling while listening to live music. Gourmet platters of local produce will be available. Tel: 02 6230 2831. 196 Brooklands Road, Hall. Open: 11am-5pm
• Yarrh Wines Jazz it up at Yarrh Wines this Harvest Festival! David Brown and friends play cool jazz Sat/Sun 1-3pm. Enjoying our now-famous gourmet food and wine matching platters - $15. Take part in vintage activities. Tel: 02 6227 1474. Greenwood Road, Murrumbateman Open: 11am-5pm
• Yass Valley Wines Explore the cool climate vineyard and enjoy food & wine matching; Yass Valley Wines matched with local produce. Tel: 02 6227 5592 Crisps Lane, Murrumbateman Open: 10am-5pm
• Urban Wine Trail Dinner Mount Majura Vineyard, Pialligo Estate and Kamberra Winery offer six fabulous courses matched with twelve of their best wines, Milk and Honey Restaurant, Civic, Fri 30th. $110 pp. Bookings essential. Bookings close March 26. Tel: 02 6262 2333

ps: A technical person with some time to spare might like to do a mashup map showing where the wineries are. Google Maps already seem to have most of the wineries listed.

Manning Clark House

This uninspiring set of stairs leads to the study of Professor Manning Clark, where he wrote books, including "A History of Australia":

Manning Clark House (MCH), designed by Robyn Boyd in 1952, is the house where Manning and Dymphna Clark lived and worked from 1953 until their deaths in 1991 and 2000 respectively.

The house is typical of the post-war Melbourne regional style and Boyd's Peninsula house design, with its low-pitched gable roof, widely projecting eaves and large areas of timber framed glazing.

From: The House, Manning Clark House Inc., 2002

The house, is is the Canberra suburb of Forrest, within sight of Parliament House. It is now a cultural and scholarly centre. On Saturday it was hosting Little Bridge Wine who put on jazz and wine tasting in the grounds, as part of the WiNE, RoSES & aLL ThAT JaZZ FeSTiVal by local Canberra wineries.

At first I felt a little uncomfortable wandering around what looked like someones home, but unlike your average historic house, this is one you can rent a room in.