Professor Robert Lusby (AM), to give him his full title, was a pioneering vascular surgeon based at Sydney University and Concord Hospital, Sydney. In the early nineties he and his family purchased a property on Hermitage Road, Pokolbin, Hunter Valley (Tintilla Estate) and set about producing wines in homage to the Europeans, especially the Tuscans and Burgundians, who had shown the way to integrate family, wine and food.
Now “retired”, Bob, pursues his passion for wine and food living full time in the Hunter Valley. Bob’s passion for wine is not only in the making and drinking of it, but also in the history of how Australian Wines and in particular the Hunter Valley Wines came to be and continue to be some of the best wines in the world. Bob’s Blog tells that story.
Bob’s Blog for VP Day 2020 Today we commemorate the “Victory in the Pacific” the day 75 years ago on which Imperial Japan surrendered, bringing to a close World War Two. Named Pacificus by the Portuguese explored Ferdinand Magellan some 500 years ago for its tranquil qualities, although he had died fighting in the…
Sherry: An old fashioned Aperitif with a long history
At 90 years and still going strong Karl Stockhausen has lived through and contributed to the renaissance of the Hunter Valley wines.
Planning a Wine and Food Dinner; the proof of the pudding… Bob’s Blog “Just wondering if you can do the next dinner, the rest of the year is taken but you missed the Christmas dinner and there is just one spot left – February.” An offer I couldn’t refuse! Like many of our friends in…
Rosé steps forward in time for Christmas!
By any other name would it taste the same? Bob’s Blog -Rosé has become THE recreational drink of choice over the last few years, not just in Australia but worldwide, a global phenomenon
Armistice Day Address Robert Lusby AM Concord Repatriation General Hospital, 11 November 2019 “If ye break faith with us—–we shall not sleep” Words from the Western Front poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae Chilling words from the dead that reflect the social contract between those who have served and the families and community that…
Sangiovese in the Hunter! Our Legend’s lunch this month featured white wines from Germany and reds from northern Italy, just across the border as it were. We really couldn’t think of any serious reds from Germany! The question was asked as to why it took so long for Italian reds to be appreciated in Australia.…
‘Around Hermitage’, Pokolbin. and the Wine Media Conference This is the first time the “Wine Media Conference” conference has been held outside the USA and the Around Hermitage vineyards will be hosting some attendees for a Hunter-Gatherers dinner and showcasing our wines. With the coming of some 300 wine writers and bloggers to the “Wine…
On the origin of Hunter River Semillon; Bob’s Blog I recently went to the Mitchell Library in Sydney where there is an interesting exhibition called ‘Dead Central” which is an account of the Devonshire Street Cemetery that gave way to the building of Central Railway station. The cemetery opened in 1820 and was “occupied” by…
Around Hermitage in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley There are many areas within the wine regions of the world that have unique characteristics that contribute to their regions. The Around Hermitage precinct of the Pokolbin sub-region in the Hunter has developed in such a manner. Other precincts include the Parish of Pokolbin, Central Pokolbin, and Lovedale. This…