Toasting Aussie’s top drops Righto, pay attention class. After last week’s tiresome effort we know what Australians drink the most of and why, so let’s have some more of the same. Following shiraz, chardonnay, cab sav, sultana and merlot in the popularity stakes are semillon, pinot noir, riesling, sav blanc and would you believe, colombard. That ends our wine lesson for today, let’s talk about appliances. Have you noticed how short the cords of new appliances have become? Are the manufacturers just trying to tidy up our bench tops or are they forcing us to buy extension cords? I bought some new appliances recently - actually I got them on frequent buyer points. You know, spend $100,000 and get a toaster - and I must say they really look the part. If only they would do their part. It would be churlish to name names, so would a charade do? Two words...first word sounds like autumn leaves, second word is a 17th century English philosopher who thought “matter and motion comprise the only valid subjects for philosophy”, thus providing the impetus for the first pop-up toaster. Coincidentally, therein lies the problem, his namesake device 300 years hence doesn’t actually do the ‘up’ thing. The little cage supporting the toast goes ‘pop’ but the toast escapes and stays steadfastly stuck therein. True, the machine has done its duty, toasted the bread, but you have to wait ‘til it and the toast have cooled down before retrieval is possible. To be fair, my new kettle by the same name heats water amazingly fast and efficiently, but it is so loud you have to leave the room when it’s on. Thomas Hobbes also argued that “man is not naturally social”. Move over Nostradamus, this guy obviously knew what effect his descendant’s kettles and toasters would have on the world. Why not toast some of these lower ladder dwellers in the league of wine and see how social you get. Elderton Riverina Botrytis Semillon, 2003, $18. Funny, even a renowned Barossa winemaker picks their grapes from the Riverland for their sticky. Not a million miles from fellow Riverina gem, Noble One, in geography and quality. 8.6/10. Cahillton 2002 Pinot Noir Yarra Valley, $28. While most people have duck with pinot, I reckon my smoked salmon, ham, coriander and chilli pasta was better. Light wine for light pasta, my new mantra. Incredibly smooth too, which balanced the chilli nicely. 8.7/10. Leasingham Bastion Clare Valley 2003 Riesling, $12. The place was crowded, the joint was jumping, the sun was shining fiercely for an autumn day. What more could you ask for? 8.2/10. Kirrihill Estates Adelaide Hills 2003 Sauvignon Blanc,$15. More sunny winter’s days, nothing better to do than lunch...you wouldn’t want to be a whiting fillet would you. 8.3/10. Let’s just jump straight to the head of second division, grenache... Hamilton Marion Vineyard Grenache Shiraz, 2001, $31. Fancy that, a vineyard still growing in suburbia - Marion is an Adelaide suburb, not some chick that married into the Hamilton family. Who would have thought that grapes would turn out to be a better investment than a bunch of ugly, eaveless, duplexes? Good on Hamilton and Marion. 8.5/10.