The 4 Most Common Wine Varieties

If you’re a regular wine-drinker, you’ll know that there’s a drop for just about every occasion. Whether it’s the perfect accompaniment to a nice meal, a refreshing drink on a warm day or a way to unwind after a stressful day, you’ll find a wine for the job. At The Wembley Hotel, we serve a range of fine wines varying in quality and flavour. In this month’s article, we’ll be taking a look at a few of the most widely enjoyed red and white wines in Australia and what situations there are suited to.

Merlot

Source: www.mirassou.com

The go-to red for many, Merlot is often described as being quite soft, with a fruitier flavour than many other red wines. It is made from especially dark coloured grapes which are often harvested earlier - this means that the wine takes longer to mature and can have a lower alcohol content than other reds. In terms of when to enjoy it, Merlot is a classic red meat wine so make sure you have a bottle handy next time you’re cooking up a steak!

Chardonnay

Source: www.sidewalkshoes.com

Chardonnay is a wine known not only for its ‘malleability’ and varied taste from region to region, but for how easy it is to grow in a range of different areas. This has made it one of Australia’s favourite wines for many years as the grape can prosper just about anywhere, regardless of rainfall and altitude. What constitutes a good drop of chardonnay is difficult to pin down, given that the flavours are so varied from region to region. Chardonnay is greatly influenced by the winemaker and you might pick up on any number of different flavours from vanilla to citrus fruit and coconut.

Shiraz

Source: www.waterford.com

Grown on some 40,000 hectares in Australia, Shiraz is the popular red wine in the country. It arrived on our shores back in 1831 and has been widely enjoyed ever since! While it is a red, it’s similar to chardonnay in that flavours can change greatly when grown in different areas - indeed this is one of the great things about wine and wine culture. Australian Shiraz varieties tend to big, striking and highly aromatic, making it a fine choice as an accompaniment to a BBQ or roast.

Sauvignon Blanc

The Sav Blanc grape originated in France and is now grown across every major continent, with Australian varieties often described as being the best wine to enjoy with seafood, including sushi. Usually enjoyed chilled, Sauvignon Blanc can have a sparse, grassy and acidic taste compared to other whites is quite refreshing in hotter weather.

While they’re all special in their own ways, everybody has a favourite drop of wine. Which is your wine of choice out of those mentioned here? We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments section below! Remember to come and visit us at the Wembley Hotel and check out our extensive wine list.

5 of Australia’s Most Famous Hotels and Pubs

Australia is a vast land with some truly amazing sites and natural landscapes, but it is also home to many a fine country pub, which is something of an icon here down under!

While it’s difficult to narrow down the best pubs from around the country to a single list, let’s take a look at just a few of the most famous and renowned pubs and hotels and what makes them so special.

The Pub With No Beer

Source: www.gdaypubs.com.au

While the name of this pub in Taylor’s Arm, NSW is misleading (you can in fact enjoy a cold one here), it remains one of the most famous hotels in all of Australia in part because it shares the name with a hit from of the great country music legend Slim Dusty. Whether the song is named after the pub (or vice versa) is unknown - but there’s no doubt that the bar is special to many locals in the area and nationally. 

In fact, The Pub With No Beer is arguably the most well-known pub in Australia and world-wide and now has a brewery on the grounds.

Australian Heritage Hotel

Source: www.instagram.com/theaustralianhotel/

The oldest licensed pub in Sydney, the Australian Heritage Hotel opened its doors way back in 1824 and has been open and serving a uniquely Australian crop of food and drink ever since (although there was a relocation in the early 1900’s). This includes a fine collection of commercial and craft beers and emu, kangaroo and crocodile dishes. Not to mention the building itself is fairly impressive and registered as an icon with the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.

Young & Jackson

Source: www.instagram.com/youngandjackson/

Melbourne has a vibrant bar scene but we again give the nod to one of the oldest traditional pubs in the city, the Young & Jackson. A stone’s throw away from the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, this city pub is a favourite for AFL fans on the weekend, so a visit during this time is highly recommended.

In addition, the premises has just recently been renovated and now has a terrific rooftop cider-bar.

Adelaide River Inn

Located along the picturesque Adelaide River, visiting this hotel is certainly worth your time if you’re in this part of Darwin. Whether it be the unique characters that the pub attracts, most of whom are up for a chat, Charlie the buffalo, who appeared in Crocodile Dundee or Maritime photos and memorabilia that covers the walls, the Adelaide River hotel is as fair dinkum Aussie as it comes.

Story Bridge Hotel

This Brisbane pub is home to an unusual tradition that you’re unlikely to see anywhere else in the world. Organised cockroach racing, of all things, is run on Australia Day in a nearby street, and has been for the past 30 years. It really is something quite extraordinary and draws plenty of crowds every year, making for an electric ambience. Any other day of the year, you can expect outstanding food/drink and good service in a classic colonial building.

While we’re not so vain as to add our own hotel to the list, we take great pride in the history of our hotel and always look at ways to make atmosphere and menu as enjoyable as possible! The large building has a number of spacious function rooms available, a beer garden and award-winning chefs in the kitchen, making it one of Perth’s most iconic bars and a great place for a private event.

Drop The Wembley Hotel a line or simply pop in for a beer anytime to get more info!

4 Venue Options For Your End-of-Year Christmas Party at Work

Image Source: pixabay.com 

Planning an end-of-year get together at work s a special occasion in the holiday calendar. It allows staffs and management to let their hair down for a night and share some stories about the work year that was; it’s usually an enjoyable event for all involved! There’s significant research to suggest that it goes a long way to build up team chemistry, integrate new members of the team and even boost employees’ productivity. 

This being the case, the Christmas party is something you want to get right and if it’s your job to organise this event, it’s worth giving some thought. If you’re unsure of an appropriate venue, this article might just help. Many of the locations and venues that come to mind for a birthday party also work for the Christmas function; the difference is you usually have to keep more people happy. Check out the list below for some ideas.

House gathering

This is a little less popular in modern times, as but can make for a lovely night if you have a group that is comfortable and familiar with each other. Dinner can be served however some drinks and appetizers shindig is our recommendation.

Catered home affairs can be a lot of fun however for this to work it does require that the host have a large home and entertainment area. If you have the budget for it we’d recommend having a catering company worry about food, open bar with bartenders and DJ or band/musician.

Another option is to give the gathering a theme - Masquerade, Christmas, or Fancy dress-ups are all options.

Restaurant meal

This is a low-risk venue option that generally works well with small to medium sized groups. Obviously a bit factor comes in the restaurant you choose - depending on how your group is you’ll generally want to book at a restaurant where you can have a chat, but that also has some atmosphere and a bit of background noise too. Some of the best Christmas parties are simple meals out, just make sure it’s a structured affair and it should be a success. After dinner those that want to can go hit the bars and keep the night going!

Function-room party

Hiring out a private room in a restaurant, bar or function hall gives you the flexibility to make the party and the vibe however you want it to be. If you want to go down the costume, fancy dress path, have your guests dress to impress with a cocktail party theme or take on the Christmassy angle (complete with tree and mistletoe) you can. Make sure you pick out something spacious and be conscious of the budget. There are plenty of good function venues in Perth - do your research and you’re sure to find something that suits! 

Group activities

The group activities that are appropriate depend entirely on the kind of business/company in question and the people who are involved. But the main idea is that you don’t need to go down the same path going to a restaurant or bar. Although these are great options and are always a lot of fun, don’t be afraid to go for something a little more unique and out-there.

Organising a wine-tasting event visiting various vineyards is one example that we liked.

Another is when a group of programmers at an IT company spent the day playing video game at the arcade. Others include pool parties, going to a show that is on in town, games-day or even a day at the races!

There are plenty of options when it comes to Christmas parties, give it some thought and you’re sure to come up with something that works for you. If you’re interested in hiring a private function room in Perth, find out what The Wembley Hotel has to offer by visiting our website.

5 Great Weekend Music Spots in Perth

Perth is truly a special city and has a unique cultural identity that makes it quite different to larger cities on the east coast. Music culture has always been a big part of Perth, with many young musicians emerging every year and making a name for themselves. Big international names in the music scene are more frequently making their way out to the west to entertain this city’s dedicated festival-goers. But there is also something to be said for the city’s live music scene on the weekend. Whether you’re looking to chill out or get up and about there’s always something going on. Let’s take a look at some of Perth’s diverse weekend spots and function venues for live music!

The Ellington Jazz Club 

No list of live music venues would be complete without a Jazz bar or two. Head on down to the Ellington late at night or even on a Sunday and enjoy good service, great food and some of Australia’s best jazz performers. Relaxed but lively, this spot is perfect if you want to hang out with a few friends and enjoy some good food and drink.

The Wembley Hotel 

The Sunday sesh is a Perth institution and this stalwart of pubs known as the Wembley Hotel has recently made a move to embrace it. Featuring up-and-comers and lesser-known artists in Perth’s music scene, the spacious bar and restaurant hosts intimate acoustic performers every Sunday afternoon to help you wind down the weekend in style.

The Rocket Room 

This cleverly venue is the perfect night out for lovers of contemporary rock n’ roll. Showcasing some of Perth’s best young unsigned talent, this Northbridge bar has recently been revamped with superior lighting and staging, giving patrons more impressive shows and adding more space. This place fills up during the weekdays too if you’re so inclined. 

The Bird 

The Bird is what alternative music is all about. It’s got a really quirky and friendly vibe and a fun crowd that isn’t in any way pretentious, so you’re bound to have a good time if you go along and check out its indie music offerings. The Bird’s managed to establish itself as one of the more trendy live music spots and attracts a constant flow of good artists as a result. It finishes up quite early on the weekends (midnight) making it a popular place for a few early drinks. 

The Odd Fellow 

Formally known as the Basement Lounge, this live music venue is a flight of stairs below the popular afternoon-drinks specialist Norfolk Hotel. Between the two of them, you’ve got yourself a Saturday sorted in Fremantle. Enjoy the breezy courtyard before heading downstairs for a night of good music expect a good crop of local Perth bands.