2025 Stargazer Tupelo
2025 Stargazer Tupelo

2025 Stargazer Tupelo

Stargazer |Tasmania |Riesling
The talented Sam Connew's take on an Alsatian classic white, a tasty blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer.
4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
4 Reviews
Price:
$37.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Tupelo is Sam Connew’s love letter to Alsace – a textural white blend that proves “other varietals” can more than hold their own. The 2025 release brings together Pinot Gris (39%), Pinot Blanc (30%), Gewürztraminer (24%) and a touch of Riesling (7%), each variety adding its own brushstroke to the picture.

The Gris brings weight and pear-driven fruit, Pinot Blanc adds lift and brightness, Gewürztraminer layers in spice and florals, while Riesling ties it all together with finesse and line. The result is fragrant, layered and gently glossy, with notes of pear, mandarin, musk and ginger riding over a clean, fresh finish. A hint of residual sugar softens the edges, but the balance is spot on – it’s juicy, textured and moreish without being heavy.

The name Tupelo nods to the black gum tree, whose rare honey is prized for its perfect balance of sugars – a neat metaphor for what Sam chases in this wine. It’s also a Van Morrison song, and the birthplace of Elvis. Big shoes to fill, but Tupelo more than lives up to the name.

As always with Stargazer, quantities are limited, so grab it while you can. This is aromatic blending done right, relaxed, balanced, and seriously great value.

95 points
"Sam Connew's 'Tupelo' is consistently one of my favourite wines in her vinous quiver... It's a ripper."
- Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)

Dave Brookes

Dave Brookes

Halliday Wine Companion 95 Points

Sam Connew's 'Tupelo' is consistently one of my favourite wines in her vinous quiver. You see, it's a blend of pinot gris, riesling, gewürztraminer and pinot blanc and it's a case of the whole being more that the sum of its parts. It's slinky and textural, with characters of poached pear, wildflowers, honeysuckle, crushed stone, clover, iced peach tea, ozone and almond paste. It is complex and wildly easy to drink at the same time ... no mean feat and of course, being Taswegian, there is minerally energy to burn. It's a ripper.

Customer Reviews

4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
Based on 4 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 1 Total 4 star reviews: 3 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
4 reviews
  • NL
    neil l.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    1 year ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Reviewing
    2023 Stargazer Tupelo
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Tassie white

    A good blend with an interesting depth.

    Was this helpful?
  • SD Profile picture for Sharon D.facebook logo
    Sharon D.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    3 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Reviewing
    2022 Stargazer Tupelo
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Loved it

    First experience of this blend and I loved it.

    Was this helpful?
  • GD
    Gabi D.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    3 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    Reviewing
    2022 Stargazer Tupelo
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Smashable food wine

    Aromatic, good acid balance and food friendly. Lychees, rose, lemon. Almost off dry. Perfect with spicy rich foods. Thai curry, even stands up to spaghetti bolognese. This wine maker has the Midas touch

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“A wine that continues to defy the ‘Other varietal’ black hole on a wine list just by shining too bright to be missed. Stargazer’s Tupelo continues to be loved by trade and consumer alike. Between Samantha’s Tupelo and Paul Pujol of Prophet’s Rock Pinot Gris we feel very lucky to have these beautiful textural whites to offer.

The blend of the 2025 is 39% Pinot Gris, 30% Pinot Blanc, 24% Gewürztraminer & 7% Riesling. This unusual blend mirrors the famous Alsatian ‘Gentil’ styles marrying the body and texture of Pinot Gris, exuberance of the Pinot Blanc with the spicy aromatics of Gewürztraminer and finishing with the finesse and acid structure of Riesling. That’s straight from Samantha’s own words.

The name Tupelo was inspired by the Tupelo black gum, of which its honey is highly sought after for its unique characteristic of having the perfect balance of sugars that it doesn’t crystallise. Samantha’s passion for white blends and the drive to find the perfect balance of sugar, acid and texture with her wines makes the naming of this wine perfect. Plus it’s the name of a Van Morrison song ‘Tupelo Honey’ and the place where Elvis was born. Given the praise this wine has received in recent vintages I’d say it’s keeping up with its heady namesake.

Samantha highlights how delicious Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer taste straight off the vine in Coal River Valley, so much flavour in the skins.

All the grapes are hand picked, destemmed. All varietals are left on skins for 8 hours before pressing. Wild fermented mostly seasoned oak, with a tank component of Pinot Gris + the small Riesling component fermented in Egg. ees post ferment for 2 months. Left on lees for 2 months post ferment. Wine is fined and filtered due to the 3.1 grams of RS purposely left in the wine.

“This unusual blend mirrors the famous Alsatian ‘Gentil’ styles marrying the body of Pinot Gris, the exuberance of Pinot Blanc with the spicy aromatics of Gewürztraminer and the finesse of Riesling. Pale yellow in colour, the nose is delicately fragrant showing some dried mandarin and musk lolly spiciness with a hint of crystallised ginger and honeysuckle. The palate is glossy and textural, with positive phenolics playing an important role in framing the richness of the mouthfeel.” – Samantha Connew – owner + winemaker

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type White
Body Light Bodied
Variety Riesling
Country Australia
Region Tasmania
Australian State TAS
Feature Women in Wine
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
Closure Screw Cap

Stargazer

Stargazer is the pint-sized Tasmanian passion project of the talented Samantha Connew. Sam is one of the country's most respected wine judges and a greatly influential voice in the Australian wine industry. Stargazer is her one-woman show, focused around Sam's small, beautiful vineyard works in the Coal River Valley.

She only makes tiny parcels of a few wines. Riesling (and Riesling Blends), Chardonnay & Pinot Noir are her chosen varieties. The quality is outstanding across each and every wine and they rightfully sell out in next to no time each year.

The Stargazer range is a set of beautiful, ethereal representations of the Apple Isle.

Samantha Connew in her Vineyard Discover Stargazer

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