Worldly Wine; Cultivating a following for imported wines

d'Or to Door sells imported wines via a mailing list and has a portfolio of fine wines from Alsace, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Chablis and Champagne.  Jeremy says he's been "seriously into" imported wine for the past 15 years.

He graduated from Roseworthy with a wine marketing degree in 1990 and worked in sales and human resources for companies such as Bridgewater Mill and Yalumba.  "We drink a lot of top-end booze at home, 95 per cent of what we drink is French and Italian," he says.

Jeremy started d'Or to Door last November and his regular newsletter is straight-talking, often humorous and informative rundown on the latest wines.

"People who are into these wines want to buy from people who actually drink the stuff and who are into it, like-minded people," he says.

"It's not snobby - there's a niche of people who want to buy it but need a bit of guidance and wnat to learn more."  d'Or to Door brings in the wines through distributors that supply Australia with most of its imported wine. "I'm working on small margins but I don't have the overheads.  I have to sell wine that over delivers," he says.

Jeremy and his wife Heidi like in the Barossa where they make small volumes of premium Shiraz under their family label, Mad Dog Wines.

For more information, www.dortodoor.com

Jeremy's d'Or Stoppers:

2003 Monte Schiavo Verdicchio, Pallio di San Floriani:

The nose bursts with totally exotic aromas of custard apple, mango and pineapple.  The palate is full, rich and viscous with a dry finish.

2002 Chevillon Bourgogne Chardonnay:

Whiffs fo lemon, hazelnut and grilled nuts.  The palate is clean and vibrant with pure stone fruits framed elegantly by some chalky tannin.

2002 Meo Camuzet Hautes Cotes de Nuits Clos St Philibert Blanc:

Aromas of mango, fig and stone fruits, nicely propped by gently spicy oak.  Rich, textured mouthfeel with butterscotch, toast and melon fruits built around a high mineral spine.

2003 Giacosa Dolcetto d'Alba:

Plums leap out of the glass, there are Satsuma, Black Doris, Torwick even Duffy's early Jewell (OK the plums aren't that discernable, I just got their names from a google search, but boy is the wine plummy)

2001 Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico:

This smells and tastes of things you may find in an Italian Alimentare.  There are smoked meats, Maraschino cherry, Espresso (Illy, of course) and some black olive.

2001 Hecula, Spanish Mourvedre:

This wine has a solid graphite core from which blueberry and blackberry fruits build around.  A rustic, rich red that requires a good decant before serving.