2009 Retrospective: The Top 5 Eats and Drinks

Nothing says end of the year like top 5 lists of hits. So for what it’s worth here are my favourite wine discoveries and in keeping with the party season, my favourite watering holes of the year.

Best Wine Discovery under $30

1. Cloudy Bay Pelorus.

The non-vintage is a reliably tasty celebratory drop. Fresh and smoky with a buttery finish. Great value.

2. Pewsey Vale Riesling – Eden Valley

This is a stunning Riesling. Simple clean finish with grassy lemon tones.

3. Les Nuages Sauvignon Blanc- Loire Valley France

This savvy is good value. It’s a great quaffer and very different from NZ savs, low acid and with a slight oaky tang.

4. Magpie Estate ‘The Schnell’ Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz

Yum Yum. A cosy wintry evening with this in tow great friends and hearty foods. A simply delicious big red blend

5. Teusner- Avatar Grenache Mataro Shiraz 2006

This drinks like the bigger wiser bolder father of the Magpie Estate Schnell full of berry and pepper with a deep smooth finish.

Best Watering Hole

1) Lock N Load Bistro Boundary Street West End

Perfect to head to with a group of friends. Really good tap beer and imported beer selection. Live music and tasty food. Has both a bar snack menu and an a la carte menu

2) Sky Lounge Wickam St Fortitude Valley

If you like well blended cocktails this place is for you! Groovy interior, plays good ambient tunes so that you can enjoy great conversation with your company and beautifully mixed drinks. While gazing over the valley crowds from the veranda.

3) Sling Boundary Street West End

A compact cocktail lounge mixing fine drinks. The drinks list is the size of a bible (amen!). Make a beautiful campari cocktail

too.

4) Glass Bar Judith Wright Centre New Farm

Perfect for pre show tapas and wine. Those who prefer to refresh with a martini won’t be disappointed.

5) Merthyr Bowls Club Oxlade Drive New Farm

Merthyr Bowls club has arguably one of the best views of any establishment in Brisbane and is totally GFC proof. Great to go for a chilled out beer and soak up the river views and the bowling. The club also serves lunch and dinner. There is a reasonable selection of tasty food. Did I mention the drinks were at 1970s prices? Yay for that.