Testimonials

"Making a shot of spuds SHAN GOODWIN HE MAY not have been a vodka connoisseur from way back, but David Scott knows a good potato when he tastes one. His father was a potato agronomist and he himself, with a Masters in Science from the University of New England, spent many years as both a government and private research horticulturist. When he first tried a Dorrigo red soil Sebago potato, his first thought was what a shame it was not to turn such a quality product into something really special. So that is precisely what David and partner, Susie Snodgrass, did. They set up Red Dirt Distillery at Dorrigo on the Mid North Coast and became Australia’s only maker of potato vodka. Red Dirt has a range of four vodkas - a lime, apple, potato and the latest is a truffle vodka. While all the ingredients for the first three are sourced from Mid North Coast producers, the truffles are shipped in from Western Australia. Red Dirt also specialises in hand-crafted fortified wines made from fruits other than grapes. The excellent quality water which is a feature of the Dorrigo plateau and the specially-designed distillery with thermal properties for a controlled and slow ferment gives Red Dirt its edge. “We distill our wines and use the spirit to fortify the original wine, thus producing aperitif and port/sherry style wines at a strength of 21 per cent alcohol,” David said. “We prefer to use natural methods and regularly rack the wine to remove the lees and to assist in the clarification of our product. We don’t ‘oak’ our wines and do not add sulphites once fermentation has been completed.” The first potato vodka David ever tasted was his own but these days he is even selling vodka to Russians. The couple also set up a tasting shop next to their distillery in Dorrigo‘s main street called Lick The Spoon and when a group of Russian tourists dropped in to sample the vodkas, David says they were “blown away” by the smoothness of the potato vodka. “The majority of the world’s vodka is based on grain. The potato vodka does not create a typical vodka burn but rather a warming,” he said. "

The Land Newspaper - - October 2011

"Dorrigo has its own winery, the Red Dirt Distillery, which, rather originally, makes wines and spirits from anything but grapes. One of their specialities is potato vodka, made from locally grown Sebago potatoes, and I can testify that it certainly is a very good way to warm yourself up on a cold morning. There is also a café on site which brews up excellent, hangover-curing coffee. Virginia Balfour"

Go Camping Australia - - May 2011

"Moved from Bellingen to Dorrigo in 2005 because of the excellent quality of water in the mountain town it produces Australia's only potato vodka using Dorrigo red soil Sebago potatoes. A tasting is definitely in order here!"

Great Gourmet Weekends in Australia - - November 2010

"This stylish cafe ferments and distils non-grape wines and spirits including green walnut liqueur and potato vodka. Otherwise try the brew from Toby's Estate, then stock up on preserves and chutneys from the deli."

Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide - - September 2010

"Deli-cum-cafe, this glamorous boutique is also home to the owners' fruit wines, aperitifs and vodkas - the Dorrigo Potato is especially lovely. Gluten-free cakes, house made chutneys, jellies and pickles as well as kitchenware are also there too."

Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide - - November 2009

"This chic deli/cafe inside the Waterfall Way winery and distillery serves breakfast, lunch and snacks, plus homemade gluten-free cakes. Sampling the preservative-free fruit wines and jellies is a must."

Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide - - November 2008

"A great two page spread included "the delictable gluten free cakes and fruit wines are the drawcards at Lick The Spoon" and "Forget licking the spoon, this is cup runneth over territory!" ACS."

Country Style Magazine - - April 2007