BANKERS, brokers and lawyers around Perth seem to have warmed to the idea of buying politically incorrect wines for Christmas, namely from the vineyard that likes to poke fun – Alston Wines.
Launched this year by three businessmen wine enthusiasts, the mix of grape, bottle and label has hit the spot for many a Perth consumer.
Coogee Chemicals chairman Gordon Martin, Cape Range Wireless chairman Ron Wise, and The West Australian cartoonist Dean Alston are finding sales of their politically incorrect wines are on the rise.
Alston Wines labels include a political collection, featuring the likes of John Howard (aged in pork barrels), Mark Latham (a wine of questionable balance) and Carmen Lawrence (fruitcake character) or the incorrect selection (sampled above).
Most of the grapes were grown at Mr Martin’s small vineyard at Bunker Bay, which he says is the region’s most northerly vineyard and the wine was made nearby at Wise Wines, owned by Mr Wise.
They continue a growing tradition of business types spending some of their hard earned money on wineries, with Michael Chaney at St Aleno Estate Wines, Peter Fogarty at Millbrook Estate and Malcolm McCusker at Western Range.
John Poynton is doing his bit to reverse the trend, recently selling his stake in Brookland Estate.