It's Summer time, what better time for
Fruit Liqueurs made with fresh fruit ...

Strawberry Liqueur

Made with real, succulent fresh strawberries

You could definitely bury us under the amount of strawberries that have arrived at Castle Glen recently. The strawberry season has kicked off on the Granite Belt and Castle Glen has sourced strawberries from Strawberry Fields, that can't go to market. The fruit that is oversized, under sized and just not perfect enough for the market is just perfect for making liqueurs.

(Strawberry photos)

Strawberries are very good for you!

Strawberries not only look like a fruity heart-shaped valentine, they are filled with unusual phytonutrients that love to promote your health. Strawberries, like other berries, are a rich source of phenols. These wonderful natural chemicals in strawberries not only provide its flush red color, they also serve as potent antioxidants that have repeatedly been shown to help protect cell structures in the body and to prevent oxygen damage in all of the body's organ systems. Strawberries' unique phenol content makes them a heart-protective fruit, an anti-cancer fruit, and an anti-inflammatory fruit, all rolled into one.

We have strawberries coming 'out-of-our-ears'. Besides eating strawberries for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it has been hard work processing half a tonne (½ tonne) of strawberries every day at Castle Glen. We have been making plenty of strawberry products from all of this fabulous fresh fruit.

Strawberry Liqueur is fabulous for cocktails, shooters and meal recipes.

Strawberry Products available now at Castle Glen:

• Strawberry Liqueur - Check out our recipes and specials this month
• Strawberry Champagne - we will notify release date in the future
• Dried Strawberries in White Chocolate Liqueur
• Strawberry Beer - yes you heard right - will notify release date
• Strawberry Jam - the real stuff with real strawberry pieces in it!
• Liqueur Strawberry Chocolate Port - on the shelves now and a real winner if you love chocolate port

We have even created an adult's 'Nutella'. Spread on toast, pikelets, scones and you can heat it up and pour it on ice-cream:

• Strawberry and White Chocolate in a jar
• Strawberry and Dark Chocolate in a jar
• Strawberry and Milk Chocolate in a jar
• Strawberry and Carob in a jar - for the health conscious

Summer is at its best at this time of the year with all of the fresh fruit available. At Castle Glen we are definitely making the most of it.

Fruit Liqueurs Coming Soon

The fermentation tanks are going flat out with one (1) tonne of tree ripened Mangos brought in specially from Mareeba - we hand peel them. See the photos of our wonderful Mangos and Cedric peeling them below. Mango Liqueur will be coming soon.

(photos of mango processing)

This week we will be receiving Limes, Figs and Lychees, all organically grown, a definite requirement for our chemical free and preservative products at Castle Glen Australia. We will keep you posted for when they become available.

What are the benefits of drinking Real Fruit Liqueurs?

With the ever increasing need and desire of consumers to know exactly what they are eating and drinking, it is time to tell the world about a little known secret. Castle Glen has been producing alcoholic products such as Liqueurs, Wines, Sparkling Wines and Specialty Products with real fruit for around a decade and a half. For the last 15 years Castle Glen has added many, many products to their range that all use real fruit, with no chemicals or preservatives and no flavouring essences.

How does Castle Glen use just real fruit, with no added flavours or chemicals, to produce fantastic tasting Liqueurs?

It is all in the processes that we use. For a start, the best fruit we can possibly get, grown without the use of chemicals or other nasties, is sourced and delivered fresh to Castle Glen in Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt. The fresh fruit is then crushed and allowed to ferment for a designated period of time. This fermented fruit is then fortified with alcohol and then in bottled Castle Glen's custom made bottles from Italy.

Do you react to chemical laden alcoholic products, but you love the taste of fruit in your drink or cocktail?

Without naming any names, too many of these products are saying they are fruit vodkas or liqueurs, but they contain little or no fruit content. There would be little difference if you bought yourself a bottle of vodka and a bottle of flavouring from your local supermarket and made your own. Many of the essences used are perhaps made originally made from a natural ingredient, but any life or benefits from the fruits used, have been totally processed out and are laden with chemicals. Many are also using 'nature identical' essences, without a raw natural ingredient in sight.

What would be the difference between drinking an alcoholic product with an essence, verses a product with real fruit?

Besides the taste, there are the obvious health benefits. The Castle Glen process of fermenting the fresh fruit and then fortifying it is an old English method. Fermenting any raw natural ingredient concentrates the effect, or health benefit of that particular ingredient. So instead of harmful effects or reactions to chemical laden products, Castle Glen Liqueurs can actually be good for you, not just good to drink.

The freshest Australian fruit is sourced for the Liqueurs.

Strawberries from the local growers for 'Strawberry Liqueur', peaches for 'Peach Blush Liqueur', cherries for 'Cherry Liqueur' and 'Cherry Brandy' and apples for 'Apple Liqueur'. Pineapples have been sourced from the Sunshine Coast for 'Go Troppo Liqueur', honey dew melons for 'Melon Liqueur' and blueberries for 'Blueberry Liqueur'. Fresh fruit for many other liqueurs needs to be sourced where it is available in season, locally or interstate. Liqueurs such as 'Passion fruit' and 'Passion fruit Creme', 'Banana Creme' and 'Dark Choc Banana', 'Lemon & Lime Liqueur', 'Mexican Lime', 'Lemoncello', 'Lemoncello Creme', 'Orange Liqueur', 'Orange Brandy' and 'Mandarin Liqueur'. We even make a 'Goji Berry Liqueur', with real goji berries.

'Mango Liqueur' made with real mangos from Mareeba in Far North Queensland will be released soon. A new shipment of fresh limes, figs and lychees are arriving any day to make some wonderful new Liqueurs. Raspberries, Loganberries and Marion berries will be harvested next year from Castle Glen's very own bushes, making wonderful Berry Liqueurs.

There is an ever increasing need, a greater demand for 'All Natural' alternatives, Liqueurs made without chemicals, preservatives and additives. It can truly be said that Castle Glen Fruit Liqueurs truly are just 'Fruit-In-Bottle', fresh fruit, fermented with alcohol added. We really can't let this stay a secret any longer! Finally there is a natural, great-tasting alternative from right here in Australia, produced by Castle Glen in Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt.

News From Castle Glen Vineyard

2010 Vintage is still on track. The grapes that were frosted have reshot, however, there is only a few small bunches forming - so there won't be much in the way of Shiraz and Muscat this season. No new wines will be released this month.

The Chardonnay, Semillon and Cabernet Sauvignon, from the top block, are looking just great. In fact the Chardonnay is the best we have seen in recent years. For those Chardonnay lovers we hope to be able to make an Unwooded Chardonnay and of course our famous Pink Chardonnay, 'The Wicked Witch' - a favourite that just flies off the shelf.

Our graftings are shooting and growing well, though they are a little bit all over the place due to the hot and cold weather which has had a stop start effect on them.

Pink Chardonnay, the second bottling of this summer, a favourite that is selling fast, is available at the Cellar Door, Montville or Eumundi Shops. Hurry in to secure your supply. This wine is light and fruity, great with a salad or seafood. At only $16.00 from the Cellar Door, (Montville & Eumundi $20.00) this is a great value.

With Australia Day Celebrations just around the corner Castle Glen Vineyard's Sparkling Wines (method Champenoise) are just the ticket. Some of our customers who drank these for Christmas Day believe they are better than the French stuff going for $90.00+ per bottle.

White Wines

2002 Chardonnay/Semillon - $45.00 Cellar Door
($58.50 Montville & Eumundi)

2002 Chardonnay/Semillon with 24kt Gold - $55.00 Cellar Door
($71.50 Montville & Eumundi)

2002 Cabernet Sauvignon - Oaked - $45.00 Cellar Door
($58.50 Montville & Eumundi)

For those lovers of all things Ginger - the Sparkling Ginger Brew (9.5% alc.) is another perfect alternative to have with your celebratory lunch.

Drink Healthy, Drink Castle Glen Wine Today!

Cheers (and bottoms up),

Cedric and Carol-Anne Millar

Changes to Opening Times

There have been a few changes to opening times:

Cellar Door, 9.00am - 5.00pm 7 days
Montville, 10.00am - 5.00pm 7 days
Eumundi, 9.00am - 5.00pm Tuesday - Sunday, Monday Closed
Eumundi Markets, Wednesday and Saturday weekly

Berry Passionate
15ml Strawberry Liqueur
15ml Peach Blush Liqueur
15ml Passionfruit Creme Liq.

A Fruity Affair Cocktail
30ml Strawberry Liqueur
30ml Peach Blush Liqueur
30ml Passionfruit Creme Liq.
60ml Pineapple Juice
Top up with lemonade
Garnish, with a fresh cut strawberry
Crushed or Shaved Ice

1. Pour all ingredients except lemonade into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.

2. Strain into 2 Martini Glasses and top up with lemonade.

3. Garnish the rim of the glass with pineapple and maybe your favourite novelty items.

4. Drink and enjoy.


For those of you have purchased the Passionfruit Liqueur - yes that one with all the pulp - also works beautifully with this Shooter and Cocktail. There is always a Castle Glen product that will adapt itself to be used in your favourite Shooter and/or Cocktail.

Montville Store:

Shop 10,
171-183 Main Street,
Montville
(Opposite Information Centre)

PH: (07) 5478 5600

Eumundi Satellite Cellar:

Eumundi Photo Hut
Shop 3,
104 Memorial Drive,
Eumundi

PH: (07) 5442 7710