Welcome to the blog of Johnathan Grieve.
I am the proprietor of Avondale wine estate, and pioneer of the BioLOGIC® approach to sustainable viticulture. The transformation of Avondale from over-used and abused land into a thriving, robust vineyard ecosystem has been a personal learning journey of more than a decade long. This blog is where I share some of what I have learnt about promoting life on our farm and the wonderful impact this has had on our handcrafted premium quality wines.
Johnathan Grieve
White Chocolate Coconut Panna Cotta with Pomegranate Jelly Recipe
We held our second La Luna Dinner at Avondale’s Tasting Gallery on the 5th of May in celebration of the ‘Super Moon’. This is a once a year occasion when the moon is closest to Earth and appears 20% larger than usual. Celebrity chef, Sonia Cabano devised the sensational 6-course dinner, perfectly paired with Avondale’s delicious Nature-friendly wines. Thanks to Sonia for sharing with us how to make the stunning dessert which she adapted from a recipe by Donna Hay. We served this with Avondale’s rosé wine, Camissa, and it was a match made in heaven!
Avondale’s spectacular La Luna dinner – “Once in a Blue Moon”
On Friday 31 August 2012, Avondale Proprietor Johnathan Grieve will be collaborating with Chef Reuben at the estate’s elegant Tasting Gallery to produce a sumptuous six-course feast, each dish divinely paired with one of Avondale’s exquisite handcrafted wines. Guests will be taken on a journey of discovery to learn how Avondale uses the BioLOGIC® approach to create our range of extraordinary wines.
It’s World Environment Day! – “Green Economy: Does it Include You?”
At Avondale, we celebrate World Environment Day, reminding ourselves and others of how important it is for us to care for the environment. This global event was initiated by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP); and 2012 marks their 40th anniversary. This year’s theme, “Green Economy: Does it Include You?” is certainly one that pertains to Avondale.
Luna Taste Test – The Verdict
“We would like to thank our fantastic team of panellists for being part of this experiment. The Luna Taste Test has convinced us that there is merit to the theory that the moon and planetary cycles influence the way we enjoy wine. The conclusion drawn has been that, with the exception of perhaps the Root cycle, there are no “good” and “bad” days for tasting- it would ultimately depend on the palate and preferences of the individual,” concludes Grieve.
Luna Taste Test – Day 3
Given the wines’ apparent lack of joie de vivre, it was interesting that Avondale proprietor Johnathan Grieve’s preamble to the tasting focused on natural sources of energy and how these can be identified and harnessed by the biodynamic winegrower.
Biodiversity in Action – The Owls of Avondale
Biodiversity, the variety of life in an ecosystem, is a tangible measure of the health and balance of a particular habitat. At Avondale, we have been compiling a bird list over the years to chart the re-emergence of species on the farm as we have worked to restore soils and cleanse water naturally, clear invasive aliens and revive the native vegetation.
Luna Taste Test – Day 2
Having tasted six biodynamically made Avondale wines on Monday, and found them generally forthcoming and fruity, the Luna Taste Test panel revisited the same wines yesterday – which corresponded with a different cycle of the lunar calendar – and were amazed to find significant differences.