Grateful Palate Airwines — First Class

100% Shiraz

McLaren Vale, Australia

2006

Producer Notes

The Grateful Palate went into receivership a couple of years ago.  While in business, they sourced some excellent wines that you can still find if you look hard enough.  “R” wine labels including Marquis Philips (which we’ve listed on WineChump) and other distinctive wines such as First Class and Boarding Pass were some great wines at fairly good prices.  The degree to which R wines spent time on their labeling reveals their pride in the product.  Share with us a look back at R wines, and if you can, pick up some before they’re all gone.

The following text was excerpted from the Wayback Internet Archive (web.archive.org):

Welcome to the world of Grateful Palate Imports. In 1997 I bet my life savings on red: I invested every penny I had in a partial container of Australian Shiraz from a dozen and a half producers. At that time there was virtually no market for world-class, ultra-premium Australian Shiraz anywhere in the world. But my philosophy was simple then and remains the same today: I only buy wines I’d be happy to drink if they do not sell.

Over the years, we have assembled the world’s finest portfolio of Australian Shiraz, including producers such as Chris Ringland, Trevor Jones, Rick Burge, Marquis Philips, Noon, Kay Brothers, Greenock Creek and many more that you can explore through our web site. We focus on South Australian Shiraz, primarily from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Padthaway, but also great Shiraz from regions like Heathcote, and also other wines like old vine Grenache, Cabernet, and Riesling. In 2007 we introduced our first wines from California: Napa Cabernet and Merlot and old-vine Mourvedre and Carignan.

We believe that the context for great wine is great food. While the wines of Australia are well known, the food (and cocktail scene) is not as well known. Here are some of our favorites: Anise in Brisbane, Gerald’s and Der Raum in Melbourne, The Victory Hotel in McLaren Vale, Bailycroft Cheese in the Barossa, Jade View Inn in Adelaide, where you’ll find some of the freshest, most honest, innovative pleasure giving food on the planet.

Grateful Palate Company Mission Statement?

To create and discover distinct, full flavored delicious wines from Australia and around the world that are always a great value, unbeatably consistent, and food worthy. Invent a portfolio of wines unlike any the world has seen—one that is solid, dependable and aggressively growing. To build a company that delivers pleasure, profits & bacon for all. Oh, and one more thing: WE LIVE TO SERVE!

WineChump Notes

This is one of those occasions that saddens me quite a bit.  I’ve had several of the R wines, and I’ve liked nearly every one of them.  One of my favorites has to be Marquis Philips (No 9).  I found the Airwines (Boarding Pass and First Class) to be excellent in every way; and it disappoints me to think that what’s out there is it.  It’s always fun to bring a wine to a party flashing a really cool label and sporting a great nose and smooth finish.

Average Price: $28.99
Find it at Canal’s Mt. Ephraim