[question] Question submitted by Peter Vaughan, Australia. Jeremy, I have magnums of “The Centenary of Federation Wine – a special celebration” in sealed boxes. I do not want to break the seals – yet, Any idea, please, of what the wine is and when it might reach its optimum? Many thanks. [/question] [answer] Back in 2000, Each of Australia’s then 61 wine regions contributed 225 litres of ‘premium red’ from the 1999 vintage to create a red wine blended by Len Evans, Brian Croser, John Hanley and Ian McKenzie. This became the Centenary of Federation blend. A large number of magnums were produced with the intent to raise $10 million for the National Wine Foundation. Dividends were then to be directed to community organisations and nominated projects in line with the Foundation’s charter. The wine was also to be presented as a gift to the Heads of State throughout the world and at all Commonwealth celebrations throughout 2001. Like most things associated with what was developed as the National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide, it failed to live up to expectations. The wine, which was sold at around $100 per magnum, is not worth a fraction of the price asked. It didn’t capture a market in retail, and has since been generously donated as a fund-raising exercise by the Winemakers Federation of Australia to charitable organisations. In fairness, it must be said that such wines, coming from so many sources, rarely deliver the quality in the bottle to meet what are typically unrealistic expectations. [/answer]
