Description
'Alternative' grape varieties are causing an evolution in Australian wine, and changing the way winemakers and consumers think about our industry's future. These emerging varieties are often better suited to sustainably grow in our warm climate, and provide a myriad of delicious new flavours, textures and food-friendly styles.
This pack allows you to discover some exciting new grapes for yourself, and sample some of the finest alternative grape variety wines in the country!
What's in the pack:
- 2023 Ravensworth Gamay Noir
- 2022 Dune Ain Salah Cinsault
- 2022 Unico Zelo Truffle Hound Nebbiolo Barbera
- 2022 Fighting Gully Road Sangiovese
- 2023 Dormilona Tempranillo
- 2022 Nick Spencer P.A.R. Hilltops Malbec
2023 Ravensworth Gamay Noir
Bryan Martin continues to eke out some of the most interesting wines that NSW has to offer.
This is his Gamay Noir, and surprise, surprise, it is a belter. When a Tumbarumba grower called him up in 2015 with some fruit on offer, Martin jumped at the chance. And since the epic success of the first release, a wine that James Halliday said, "No gamay has previously been made equal to this in Australia", Martin has only refined his stylings further with this much-loved variety.
This falls under the Ravensworth heading of 'weird stuff'. It's definitely left of centre but boy is it dangerously gluggable.
If you're looking for something bright and fun to drink, this is going to thrill you to bits!
"There’s more to it than just another early drinking red, the structure and complexity will see it emerge as an impressive wine with a little age, if you can wait that long."
- Bryan Martin
2022 Dune Ain Salah Cinsault
Made in only minuscule quantities, this single-varietal Cinsault from Dune is a wine to jump on quickly before it’s all gone.
Cinsault is a fascinating variety and one proving to be well-suited to the sunshine of the Vale. Easy to grow, light-bodied and full of bright red fruits - it's a name we're bound to see a lot more of.
This is a jubey, spicy, herbal, wildly delicious little red. Low alcohol and low tannin make it the perfect lunchtime option too, and it loves 20 minutes in the fridge!
Gulp gulp gulp!
2022 Unico Zelo Truffle Hound Nebbiolo Barbera
This is Brendan and Laura Carter's tribute to the Northern Italian reds they love, but in the drink-instantly style that Unico Zelo is famous for.
It's a blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Sangiovese and Merlot. As you might expect, it's a wine built for sheer, joyous drinkability, with a savoury backbone making it great alongside a myriad of foods.
If you're after a moreish light-to-medium red with a bit of x-factor, then this is just a no-brainer.
2022 Fighting Gully Road Sangiovese
There are few viticulturalists in Australia that get Sangiovese right. It's a difficult nut to crack, it seems. Well, here's one that's inspired by the fantastic wines of Chianti, and hits the nail square on.
Mark Walpole works the Aquila Audax Vineyard in Beechworth with an eye only for quality. This Sangiovese comes from the upper exposed slopes of the vineyard, vines planted on shale and metamorphic rock.
With the skilled hands of winemaker Adrian Rodda doing all the right things in the winery, the Fighting Gully Road Sangiovese comes out with classic varietal character and offers excellent value for those who enjoy the savoury, grippy drinking experience that this variety can give.
96 points & Top 100 Wines of the Year
"It has a delicious sour cherry, raspberry and black pepper blend, the palate harmonious, juicy, and as fresh as a daisy."
- James Halliday (Halliday Wine Companion)
2023 Dormilona Tempranillo
Winemaker Jo Perry has extensive experience making wine in Spain, and she certainly knows her way around Tempranillo.
This comes from Jo's Margaret River vineyard, and is crafted in a fresh and juicy 'joven' style, as is Jo's fingerprint with most of her wines.
Tempranillo can often be a bit ripe and over-the-top but this is gorgeously pure-fruited and full of energy. A beautiful all-occasions red here.
2022 Nick Spencer P.A.R. Hilltops Malbec
P.A.R. is a new label from Nick Spencer, started with the intention of focusing entirely on emerging/alternative varieties in Australia, seeing fermentation and maturation only in sandstone amphoras.
The Malbec for this wine is sourced from a vineyard 600m above sea level with decomposed granite soils located around Young in the Hilltops region. The fruit gets picked and sent to amphora for fermentation and further ageing for 18 months.
It comes out bountiful in aromatics and flavour, with it's purple fruited heart to the fore thanks to the lack of oak.
"You can tell it’s Malbec, but also, gee, it’s a lot like a good Teroldego. I really like this."
- 94pts, Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
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Shipping
Delivery is free on orders of $150 or more!
For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.
We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.
Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.
Sydney (Our Vans): If no one is home and there are no special delivery instructions our driver will try to call for instructions. If the driver believes there is a safe space to leave your wine they will do so if not, they will return the item to us and hold your order until further instruction from you.
Melbourne (Anonymous Wine Freight): If no one is home and there are no special delivery instructions, the courier will try to call for instructions. If the driver believes there is a safe space to leave your wine they will do so. if not, they will return the item to their dispatch centre and hold until further instruction from you.
Australia Post: Australia Post will leave the parcel if they have been given authority to leave and it is deemed safe to do so. To give your Authority to Leave, please enter this in the 'SPECIAL REQUEST' box at checkout.
Ordering
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Some things to keep in mind:
- Retrospective price-matching is available for 30 days after you have purchased from us.
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We'll treat each price match request on its merit and reserve the right to refuse where we deem fit. For example, particularly rare wines, from non-trust-worthy vendors, in circumstances we deem illegitimate or if we feel our policy is being unfairly taken advantage of.
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We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.
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