What is Topaque?

The Rutherglen wine region has been producing luscious dessert wines since the 1850’s and wine merchants, writers and consumers around the globe, acclaim them as truly the world’s richest wines.

The production of these wines is a life long journey of growing, producing, blending and nurturing.  With the right grapes and the right Autumn weather, something magical happens.  The grapes are then harvested, fermented and fortified, (preserved with alcohol), then left to slowly mature, sometimes for generations, ensuring the stocks of aged material for future blends.  It is this maturation process that concentrates the wines and produces the rich, complex flavours and the deep golden hues.  These barrels of varying ages (sometimes six generations worth) are then blended together prior to bottling, to produce the hidden gem now known as Rutherglen Topaque.

WHY DID THE NAME CHANGE AND WHY TOPAQUE?
In 2007, under the terms of the Australia-European Community Agreement on Trade in Wine, Australia agreed to cease using certain European names, including Tokay. 

The Rutherglen region, a producer of Tokay since the 1850’s felt a profound sense of loss of the Tokay name, yet it also provided these same wineries with an opportunity for invigoration.  “It was the ideal time to look at the way we presented this category”, said Chris Pfeiffer, Senior Winemaker and Owner of Pfeiffer Wines.  “We saw it as an opportunity to re-position and the new name was something we truly wanted to embrace.  We were sure the name change could provide revitalisation to the product and we were prepared to surrender the word Tokay, if it meant we could reawaken consumers to this world class wine.”

When the wine industry commissioned research to identify alternative terms for Tokay, they noted consumers saw the wine as rich and golden in hue, with an equally rich, indulgent consistency and flavour to match.  They saw it as a wine that was associated with beauty and rarity and that it imparted a sense of timelessness.  The research team likened all of these qualities to the unique and precious gem, Topaz and the word Topaque evolved.  The name was a natural extension of the word Topaz, intentionally conveying all of the same precious attributes as the golden stone.  And the analogies were not lost there.  Consumer research had also indicated that there was a compelling love for this product, once it had been tasted…and discovered.  “Like the radiant, Topaz gem”, says Chris Pfeiffer, “sometimes you just need to dig a littler deeper to uncover some of the true treasures of the wine industry.”  In the eyes of Chris Pfeiffer, a hidden Rutherglen gem had been re-discovered.

OTHER FAMOUS NAME CHANGES
There is an old saying, “the only thing for certain is that most things change”.  As we adjust to calling Tokay, Topaque, it is a good time to look back on history and be reminded of other changes we thought would never flow off the tongue or be accepted.  Remember when

Telstra was Telecom
The AFL was the VFL
Tasmania was Van Dieman’s Land
St Petersberg was Leningrad
Nissan was Datsun
Muhammad Ali was Cassius Clay
Google was Backrub
Pepsi Cola was Brad’s Drink
Brisbane Lions were the Brisbane Bears
And Westpac was the Bank of NSW

TOPAQUE IS DELICOUSLY GOOD BECAUSE -
 it is a hidden gem ready to be discovered 
 it is a national living treasure and seriously addictive
 it is mysteriously indulgent
 it is like drinking liquid sunshine
 it allows you to savour the flavour
 it can be drunk to warm you at the snow or icy cold at a summer BBQ
 it has a luscious texture
 it is made in Rutherglen, the home of rich, luscious wines
 it takes you on a voyage beyond love
 it is yum : )
 
TOPAQUE IS PERFECT WITH -
 a roaring fire, sweet chocolate and late nights 
 Jack Johnson or David Bowie
 your favourite blue jeans
 a bowl of sun-warmed apricots
 Café lattes
 The Shawshank Redemption
 your best friend
 ice-cream after training or gym on a Thursday night
 after dinner inspiration
 a bath and a good book on a Sunday afternoon

STOP PRESS!
On Easter Saturday 2009, history was created when the industry’s first bottle of Topaque was sold, at Pfeiffer Wines.  Fittingly, the sale occurred in Rutherglen – a proud region that has been producing this decadent, world class dessert wine for over 150 years.