"Grand Tour" - an exhibition of works by Wendy Sharpe and Bernard Ollis. Selection of fine wines from United Cellars

Art Exhibition in Perth. Wine Tasting Hosted by United Cellars

What better way to spend an evening than by combining a couple of the finer things in life, wine and art. United Galleries made just such a thing possible in Perth recently with the "Grand Tour" exhibition (by Wendy Sharpe and Bernard Ollis) and a wine tasting event dubbed the "Wines of the Year" hosted by United Cellars.

A good number of art and wine connoisseurs filled the United Galleries Perth gallery in Northbridge to view a collection of pictures inspired by the recent travels of two of Australia's finest artists.

The Exhibition

This is the second time that Wendy Sharpe and Bernard Ollis have exhibited together, but the first time they have exhibited work together based on the same theme.

Both of the artists have been awarded numerous traveling scholarships and overseas residencies. This exhibition includes work from a residency that they shared at the Australian embassy residence in Cairo as well as work produced in studios in Rome, Florence, Lucca, Sienna and Venice and on location in Morocco and India.

"Grand Tour" provides a quite unique opportunity to see all of these places from two different points of view.

Wendy Sharpe and Bernard Ollis

Wendy Sharpe and Bernard Ollis are both figurative, narrative artists with major standing in Australian art. This exhibition clearly shows that the artists have much in common in relation to style, but also highlights a fascinating difference in modes of expression.

Using a variety of media including oils, chalk pastels and gouache, the works capture the light, the atmosphere and the very essence of the cultures of some amazing places. If you have ever visited Italy, Egypt, Morroco or India, the pictures in this exhibition will bring back a flood of memories making a trip to the gallery well worthwhile.

The Wine Tasting

Now for the wine. It did seem that many in the room were really getting into the wines on offer and why not, the selection was first class, and the enthusiasm of the pourers commendable. The selection included a wide range of varieties and styles with wines from major Australian wine regions, New Zealand and even a couple of French gems. Included was a good selection of wines from Lamonts, poured by Jason Lamont himself.

Lamonts Methode Champenoise

When trying so many wines in such a short space of time, it is always very difficult to select a shortlist of the best wines tasted. That being said, one of the the standout wines of the night was the the 2008 Lamonts Methode Champenoise.

This wine shows and interesting complexity no doubt resulting from the base wine including cabernet sauvignon, a factor that also contributes to the wine's attractive pink colour. Expect tight acid structure, freshness, and a lingering dry mousse (sounds like a good choice for Christmas lunch!)

White Wines

Arguably, the best of the white wines were the elegant 2007 Domaine Joseph Cattin Pinot Gris from Alsace in France offering full bodied, slightly smoky flavours, and the 2009 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region in New Zealand. This wine exhibited classic, subtle herbaceous sauvignon blanc characters, reminding one that this variety of wine can be a delight when made at this level.

Red Wines

The pick of the very good reds tasted was possibly the 2008 St Johns Road "Line & Length" Cabernet Sauvignon which offers classic cabernet character with a wonderful nose of fully ripened fruit and the 2004 Punters Corner Cabernet Sauvignon, a medium bodied wine with intense cabernet perfume and great balance. The enthusiasm with which patrons embraced these two wines is testament to their popularity on the night.

Some great discounts were available from United Cellars for wines purchased from the tasting catalog.

Contact United Cellars in Perth for details of future wine tastings and or wine/art events.