No bull: being Jeremy Paxman plus a round up of 2011 vintage views from Australia

Today I assume quizmaster role, Jeremy Paxman style.  I kid you not.

In the first of 7 rounds, Nottingham and Derby Universities will pit palates and brains in the quest to be crowned Wine Australia’s University Wine Champions (and win a trip to Australia’s wine regions).

I’ve substituted blind tasting challenges for the art and music rounds and had great fun coming up with a gazillion questions, linking my “starters for 10” to tutored tastings of benchmark wines from Australian wine regions far and wide.

And speaking of far and wide, here’s a round up, album style, of my recently posted 2011 vintage video interviews with Australian producers from east to west, so you can now access them from one handy spot.

Tim Kirk of Clonakilla on the Canberra District, New South Wales

Bill Downie of William Downie on Victoria’s prime Pinot Noir regions

Steve Flamsteed of Innocent Bystander on the Yarra Valley, Victoria

David Lloyd of Eldridge Estate, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Nick Farr of By Farr on Geelong, Victoria

David Lemire MW of Shaw & Smith on the Adelaide Hills, South Australia

John Duval of John Duval Wines on the Barossa, South Australia

Stephanie Toole of Mount Horrocks on Clare Valley, South Australia

Jeffrey Grosset of Grosset Wines on Clare Valley, South Australia

Tom Barry of Jim Barry on Clare Valley, South Australia

Tim James of Willunga 100 on McLaren Vale, South Australia

Vanya Cullen of Cullen Wines on Margaret River, Western Australia