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Our next two bottles are both from Mildara of
South Australia. Mildara was a prolific maker of
miniature bottles, filled mainly with Port and
Sherry but also with Brandy. The two Sherries,
Oloroso and Rio Vista Medium Dry must be
some of their last wine bottles as they are 75ml.

Penfolds is another prolific producer and, again,
one still in the business. And one still making
fortified wines. However, Penfolds real claim to
fame is Penfold Grange, the most expensive
Australian wine and one of the few international
wines challenging the Grand Crus of France.
The two bottles shown, Mantilla Medium Dry
Sherry and Semi Sweet Sherry both probably
date from the late 1960’s.

Wynvale calls the barrel like bottle a Minum. For many years they only made Minums in 6⅔ fl.oz.
(nearly 200ml) – definitely not a miniature, although you do see them in some collections. Eventually
they did make a 50ml version. Shown above is a 50ml Rose that probably dates from the early
1970’s.

Accolade Wines is another company that has collected brands over the years. Our next 6 bottles are
all part of that group.

Hardy’s is another very well known Australian brand and one still being made under that name. The
Tintara name is also the name of their South Australian winery. The first bottle, Champion Reserve
Claret dates from the early 1950’s, the Gold Label Port & Special Medium Sherry are 1960’s bottles.
The Glenview name has disappeared but they have left us some nice bottles, including the two
shown, Muscat (1960’s) and Madeira (1970’s). I lived in Melbourne for a time in 1976 and Renmano
wine was everywhere. It was the cheapest of cheap plonk, much of it sold in a bag-in-a-box. The
Amontillado Sherry is probably from the 1960’s.

I have barely scratched the surface of Aussie wines so I will bring you more in a future article.

David Smith

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