I was wondering if anyone had put on a rainbow wine tasting in support of marriage equality.

The red would be easy, followed by an orange muscat, most white wine is yellow, but even better, there’s a French wine called Vin Jaune, if I remember correctly. Next, to Portugal, for a vinho verde. Germany has Blue Nun (ok, so the wine isn’t blue but the name is). Indigo has me stumped, but I’m pretty sure lots of wines have ‘violet notes’.

Then again, I’m not sure it would be such a good tasting. The Blue Nun worries me.  Perhaps the labels could be the seven different colours, then we would have some better wines to make the point.

But on the subject of tastings, next time you see someone doing one, support the cause. Sample his or her (gender not important here) wares and be appreciative. If you like the wine, buy some. It doesn’t have to be a whole case, just a bottle or two – you are in the bottle shop to buys something. It can be a lonely existence behind that make shift table and ice-bucket spitoon. (I know from first-hand experience.)

And you never know, you might get a free bottle like I did the other day when I tried some Lerida Estate Wines at Vintage Cellars. I had a choice of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and a Pinot Noir Rose. This was no time for prejudice so I tried all three. The first was light and elegant, with just the right about of oak. It would probably be overcast in a wine show, but if you like your Chardy subtle it’s worth a go. It was a 2016 but didn’t have that raw young taste. The Pinot was much the same – but obviously different – pale in colour and without too much carbonic maceration. If you like French burgundy you’ll probably like these two, both around $24. The Rose was under 20 and very drinkable, as rose can be. My enthusiasm, and the purchase of a couple of bottles of each was repaid with a couple of free roses. Thank you Wayne.

Two bottles of pink from a Canberra winery. It must be a sign.

If you’re ever in Melbourne make sure you visit Milk the Cow in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. It’s a very special wine bar which specializes in cheese and things to drink with it – not just wine, you can have a cheese and whisky set. We had the wine set that went with two local goat cheeses, a French soft brie-like thing and a merlot infused cheddar from the US of A that was some sort of world champion cheese.

I could have stayed there all day.

Strangely, I remember the cheeses more than the wine. But I do recall the wine I had after the tasting wines. Maybe that’s because there was more of it – a good, full glass – but more likely, because I took a picture of the bottle – Airlie Bank Yarra Valley Franc, 2017. Yes, a red from 2017 in 2017 and a very drinkable one it was. No idea what it costs, but I’d suspect $20 something. In fact, I can’t remember much about it other than liking it. Hopefully that’s enough to go on.

Cheers.