'The biggest of these preopening functions was a series of Australian wine tastings and dinners, which were also meant to introduce new wines to be distributed by Le Soufflé's importation subsidiary.'

'The second floor of the restaurant was the site of several booths, representing the seven boutique wineries. Some 24 wines were made available for the guests, not counting those served during the dinner.'

'These being boutique wines, some are just hitting the export market. ... The Hundred Tree Hill range is very basic - three 100% varietals (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz) and the most interesting one, the Cabernet, a blend of cabernets sauvignon and franc.'

'A popular "booth" is a collaborative effort of three wineries from the Yarra Valley in Victoria - Bianchet, Badger's Brook/Storm Ridge, and Allinda. All three are small family-owned businesses. The product range includes the usual varieties, the typical Australian red blends, plus some less typical varietals like Semillon and Riesling. In this batch, I thought the Sauvignon Blanc of Allinda was noteworthy, as it has more complexity than the average Australian and New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. Picked rather late when the grape is quite ripe, the wine thus exhibits a concentration of fruit flavors, but at the same time, it is left on yeast for three months, thus giving it a creamier feel.'

'The real outstanding wines though, in my opinion, served during this rather extensive wine tasting were the Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend from Meerea Park, and the reserve Alexander Munro Chardonnay, also from the same winery. A favorite, since it was just simply delicious, was the Trentham Chardonnay.'

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