Bites

A region-to-region winemaker exchange is about to take place between Western Australia and Washington state in the US, supported by the Wine Industry Association of WA and the Washington Wine Commission, with the aim of increasing the wine quality in both regions.

According to WIAWA, the two regions have similar climatic conditions, are dominated by boutique producers making small amounts of ultra premium wines, and account for less than 4 per cent of their nation’s wine production.

They also produce more acidic, refined wines.

Winemaker for Walla Walla’s new Cadaretta Winery, Virginie Bourgue, is the first to take part in the exchange.

She has just arrived in WA from the US for three weeks of winemaking with Larry Cherubino from the Yard Winery/Cherubino Wines.

Mr Cherubino will then join Mrs Bourgue in Walla Walla during the 2008 Washington harvest in September and October.

••• Universal Bar is about to open the Terrace Bar, a new room located upstairs in the Northbridge live music venue.

The indoor and outdoor venue will aim at providing a corporate function space during the week as well as an extension to the existing bar often crowded on the week end.

It will officially open on April 4 and will cater for 130 people adding to the existing 220-person downstairs venue.