NEWS

Garry's 'Endangered' wine a family project

It would be fair to assume that Italian grape varieties and sea turtles don't have a lot  in common.  But for Garry's latest wine 'Endangered' this is not the case.

In 1995 when he saw Italy's Arneis becoming forgotten, he planted the Piemontese variety on the estate, the first vineyard in the Southern Hemisphere to do so we believe.  2018 is tthe final vintage of his Arneis as the vines are now grafted to Chardonnay.

Fast forward a little from 1995..While Garry and his grandson Oscar were watching a video "Straw no More"(Google Molly Steer), Oscar decided to help the sea turtles by campaigning to abolish the use of plastic straws; even writing to McDonalds to fight for the cause.

Oscar had given Garry a picture of the turtles he'd drawn at school. Seeing synergies between the two plights, Garry decided to use Oscar's picture as the label for his latest, and final, Arneis release. A lovely culmination between the two projects. 

To further support Oscar's cause, Garry is personally donating $20 for every case of Endangered wine sold to a Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in Cairns.  

Garry's 'Endangered' Arneis is available for tasting and purchase in our wine centre, however with only a small quantity produced, we suggest not waiting too long... 

Images supplied my Mornington Peninsula Essence Magazine, images by Yanni 

21/11/2018 at 10:47 AM Permalink

Saludos Spritzer Recipe

Looking for the perfect aperitif before your next dinner with friends? Bring a touch of Spain to your dinner and get everyone talking.. 

This Crittenden Family recipe is a great way to use our Saludos.  We served it to guests at our recent Pre Vintage BBQ and it was a huge hit. 

So here’s the recipe...

Pour into a glass:

100mls 2017 Los Hermanos Saludos

30mls Aperol (about a shot)

Build on Ice

Top with a little tonic water and garnish with a sprig of mint and slice of orange. Perfect.

The Saludos Spritzers were a definite success at our Pre-Vintage BBQ event, empty glasses everywhere! 

08/03/2018 at 2:30 PM Permalink

Media Review "The Big Chair" by Max Allen

The esteemed wine writer Max Allen has written an article on Garry Crittenden's feature wine "The Big Chair" in the Australian Financial Review. Click here to read. 

12/02/2018 at 2:17 PM Permalink

It’s Silver for Crittenden Estate at the Victorian Tourism Awards

The Crittenden Estate Wine Centre was recently awarded Silver at the Victorian Tourism Awards in the category of Tourism Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries.

For a business that prides itself on not only high-quality wines but a high-quality visitor experience as well, we were thrilled to win silver at these state awards. 

The Crittenden team were proud to be amongst an amazing array of businesses in this category including Bright Brewery, a very deserving winner of the gold, and Mornington Peninsula Brewery who were awarded Bronze.  Special mention of course to the other finalists in the category, Little Creatures Geelong and Sedona Estate.

Reflecting the complete visitor experience at Crittenden Estate, it was a wonderful achievement that our Lakeside Villas at Crittenden Estate were also awarded Silver in the category of Self Contained Accommodation.   

The Victorian Tourism Awards represent an industry framework for peer recognition which fosters a culture for business development excellence and innovation.

They present an invaluable benchmarking opportunity, looking at all elements of a business from Marketing, Sustainability, Business and Community engagement.

The award is a credit to the Crittenden Estate team and the amazing work that they do not only within the Wine Centre but with the broader wine industry, tourism industry and community as a whole. 

The Crittenden Wine Centre is open 7 days per week, 10.30 - 4.30pm providing seated wine tastings for guests to enjoy.

24/11/2017 at 9:42 AM Permalink

Garry Crittenden awarded "Tourism Legend"

Each year the Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism legend award recognises the outstanding contribution by an individual to the Mornington Peninsula tourism industry.

Last night we were honoured to learn it had been awarded to Garry Crittenden.

Announced at Moonah Links golf course by last year’s recipient, Max Paganoni from Max’s at Red Hill Estate, the award was presented to Garry in front of industry colleagues and the State Minister for Tourism, The Hon John Eren MP.

Over the years Garry has served on many industry and tourism bodies at a regional, state and federal level, always taking a broad view of the importance of industry cooperation.

A major driver and strategist for tourism growth for over 25 years, he played a lead role in the very first umbrella-peninsula tourism group when he headed up the Mornington Peninsula Tourism Forum.  “It’s fair to say that in the years that MPTF was in place, it catapulted us from a sleepy backwater of holiday homes for the rich, to a must visit year-round destination, helped in no small part by the burgeoning wine industry.”  Garry said.

Garry has always recognised the importance of tourism and engaging the customer. It was 1992, when we opened our first official cellar door and with it the first winery café on the Peninsula. It was early days, but Garry and Margaret recognised the importance of pairing a food and wine experience and helping to promote the Peninsula as a food and wine destination.

Garry said, “It’s wonderful to see how the destination has grown and evolved over those years The Mornington Peninsula is now recognised nationally as a premium food and wine destination.”

In his acceptance speech, Garry acknowledged the work and innovation of his wife Margaret in establishing the restaurant and Cellar Door at Crittenden Estate, “While I was at a wine tasting event in London for Australia Day, showcasing Australian wine, unbeknown to me, Margaret was at home working with draftsman and creating the concept for what our food and wine experience was to become.  This award is a reflection of Margaret’s contribution, just as much as it is mine.”

In 2012, Garry was inducted as a Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Legend. This was recognising his pioneering work introducing new Italian grape varietals to Victoria, for his commitment to the development of the Mornington Peninsula wine region and inspiring many Australian winemakers.

22/11/2017 at 1:52 PM Permalink