Australian lager firm bags Tony Soter and Etude

Beringer Blass, Fosters' wine division, can now add consultant winemaker Tony Soter's Etude winery to Beringer Vineyards, Chateau St. Jean, Chateau Souverain, Meridian Vineyards, Stags' Leap Winery and St. Clement Vineyards as part of their California stable. Tony Soter, an early master of California Pinot Noir, has in his time acted as consultant to wineries including Araujo, Spottswoode, Dalla Valle, Viader and Niebaum-Coppola.

Beringer Blass's major Australian holding is Mildara Blass with labels such as Wolf Blass, Jamieson's Run, Baileys, Black Opal, Andrew Garrett, Annie's Lane, Eaglehawk, Krondorf, Maglieri, Mamre Brook, Metala, Mildara Coonawarra, Robertson's Well, Rowan, St Huberts, Saltram, Wolf Blass, Yarra Ridge, Yellowglen, Greg Norman and Rothbury Estate (hard won from Len Evans in a bitter takeover). My favourite of this terrifyingly long roster is Yarra Ridge which is making some very fine Yarra Valley Chardonnay in particular.

The advance of these Australo-American conglomerates proceeds, Bin Laden or no.

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Jancis Robinson