From grass to glass – Sustainable grazing between the vine rows
Peter Christen. If you've ever wandered through Panacea Estate and seen a flock of sheep wandering between the vine rows, you might have wondered: What are they doing here? The answer is simple and surprisingly effective. They're helping us make better wine.
Homeshare model gets spotlight ideas
Members of the Legislative Assembly Environment and Planning Committee came to Dhelkaya Health in the first week of May. They heard from representatives of Homeshare Mount Alexander, including Homesharers and Home providers and the Homeshare peak body, the Homeshare Australia and New Zealand Alliance (HANZA).
The steam engine that stole the show
Now that the dust has settled and the amazing Maldon Easter weekend is behind us, I am thinking back to one of the larger vehicles that you may have noticed in the parade. It's a 1909 John Fowler Power Traction Engine, made in Leeds England.
All British Rally
Last Saturday was the 47th All British Rally featuring the ride to Main Street Maldon. I met my wife Robyn through a mutual interest in old motorcycles and her late father Merv Cooper was one of the founder members of the BSA owners club who organise the rally.
The art of blending wine – balancing personality, structure, and style
Peter Christen. While it might sound like a technical process (and sometimes it is), blending wine is also deeply creative, it’s where intuition, experience and a touch of gut instinct meet to craft something that’s more than the sum of its parts. At Panacea Estate, blending is one of my favourite parts of winemaking.
MANet presents three artistic gems
Nancy Whittaker. The MANet gallery is proud to present not one, but three artists exhibiting this month ... three local well-known artists to present their work. They are Catherine O’Leary, Fionna Madigan and Mary Caspar.
Easter bilby news
The Australian alternative Easter emblem, the bilby, is iconic but at risk. Bilbies once occupied much of arid and semi-arid Australia but have disappeared from about three quarters of their historic range.
In the barrel – why oak matters
Peter Christen. There's a certain silence in the winery right now. The rush of harvest is behind us. Fermentation tanks have calmed, but many exciting steps of the process still need to be completed. Now, it is barrel time.
Australia first survey targets the role of local papers
Political leaders across Victoria are being asked their views on the importance of local newspapers and their ongoing sustainability as part of an Australia-first research project. The Victorian government is the only state government in Australia to make this guaranteed commitment.
Guerilla piano in Maldon for Castlemaine Fringe
An underground piano movement is putting donated upright pianos in prominent locations around the shire as part of Castlemaine Fringe Festival, which runs from Friday 21 March until Sunday 6 April. One of the pianos will be plonked at Maldon Bakery and available to be played by the public or in pop-up concerts by ‘Pianists at Large’.
