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 Koerner La Korse Sangiovese Blend
- 2022 Brash Higgins NDV Nero d'Avola
- 2023 Dune Ain Salah Cinsault
- 2022 Rudderless Vineyard Malbec
- 2023 Ravensworth Barbera & Nebbiolo
- 2022 Unico Zelo Jungle Jungle Dolcetto
2023 Koerner La Korse Sangiovese Blend
The Koerner brothers are running head on at Clare Valley wine. They've put together one of the region's most dynamic ranges of wine, investigating unsung pockets of the area with energy and creativity. It's exciting stuff.
The La Korse is not your average Clare Valley red. Here the boys combine Sangiovese, Grenache and Sciaccarello with a splash of Carignan & Malbec to create a vibrant, mischievous red with epic drinkability.
This is a new look Clare Valley red.
2022 Brash Higgins NDV Nero d'Avola
When it comes to Nero d'Avola in Australia, Brash Higgins' NDV is in a league of its own. Brad Hickey has been pioneering this Sicilian variety in McLaren Vale since 2009, and his 2022 release marks the 12th vintage of this drought-tolerant, sun-loving grape. It's a Nero d'Avola that speaks fluently in both Italian and Australian, blending tradition with innovation in a way that sets it apart.
Crafted in a style that honours its Sicilian roots, the NDV is wild, spicy, and brimming with energy. What truly makes this wine special is its amphora ageing process. The grapes are fermented wild in beeswax-lined clay amphoras, a technique that preserves the transparency of the variety and allows the wine to age on skins and seeds for six months. This ancient method brings out layers of complexity that you won’t find in your average Nero.
Crimson in colour, the NDV bursts with aromas of mezcal, black cherry, tomato, and Indian spices, with a hint of orange peel—a nod to its distinct amphora style. On the palate, it’s like sipping a Negroni cocktail, full of pomegranate, dark raspberry, and morello cherry, all balanced by a sweet-sour cherry acidity. The finish is long, with fine-grained tannins and a savoury edge that demands a second glass.
The 2022 vintage benefited from a cool, breezy February that slowed down the ripening, resulting in excellent acidity and depth of flavour. Organic farming, hand-picked grapes, and gentle winemaking have made this wine a benchmark for Nero d’Avola in Australia.
Perfect for those seeking adventure in their wine glass, the NDV is a must-try if you’re exploring Italian varieties on Aussie soil.
95 points
"A deeply brooding expression of nero, this is bristling with savoury flavour: black plum skin, olive, dried black cherry, panforte, amaro, chicory root, tobacco, roasted hazelnut, bitter coffee. Time on skins has built a formidable wall of tannin, but what a pleasure it is, the chewy, mouth-filling impact of long extraction of natural tannin, pressed judiciously and at a mindful point. It’s an imposing, almost imperious wine, with alcohol creeping up, but it all makes such perfect sense. It’s an impressively individual take on the variety. Bravo."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)
2023 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 Rudderless Vineyard Malbec
The Rudderless Malbec is one of McLaren Vale's best examples of this underrated variety. Sourced from Doug Govan’s rugged vineyard on the slopes of Sellicks Hill, this Malbec perfectly captures the rich concentration and bold character that McLaren Vale can deliver. Malbec isn’t common in South Australia, but at Rudderless, it’s been given centre stage – and with impressive results.
Deep purple in the glass, this vintage offers up dark, brooding aromas of plum, black cherry, and coffee grounds, with underlying hints of dried rose petals and tobacco. It’s medium-bodied but with serious structure, thanks to tightly woven tannins and a vibrant line of acidity that holds everything together. On the palate, mocha and floral notes unfold, leading to a bold, lingering finish that’s packed with savoury complexity.
While the wine is already showing incredible potential, it’s currently a bit shy and will benefit from some patience. Cellar it for a few more years and let its power and depth fully reveal themselves. For those willing to wait, this Malbec promises to be a formidable, flavour-packed wine with a long future ahead.
94+ points
"This was sullen and locked up when I tasted it last night, though I could see it had the makings of something good. Intense purple colour. Plum, dark cherry, coffee grounds, dried roses, rolling tobacco. Medium-bodied, a whole lot of structure here with crisp acidity and tightly packed ferrous and chamois-like tannin, mocha and floral mouth-perfume, with a bold finish of excellent length. Gee, this wine has a lot packed into its suitcase, though maybe wait a while before unpacking (like I do pretty much every time I come back from holidays). Formidable. Intense. Very good."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
2023 Ravensworth Barbera & Nebbiolo
Bryan Martin's Hilltops Barbera is a picture perfect example of an Aussie take on this Italian stalwart variety.
Barbera finds a happy groove amongst the Ravensworth range. The easy approachability as a fresh young wine, the lack of need for additions, the balance of fruit and savoury characters that Italian varieties offer all suit Bryan's winemaking down to a tee.
A splash of Nebbiolo make it into the blend, taking it further into Piedmonte-comes-to-Aus territory. Perfectly ripe, delicious red fruit and a lovely lick of chewy tannin make this one of the most versatile wines we've seen in a while. Anytime, anywhere. If you're looking for something to take to your next dinner party, this would be a great choice.
"Our tilt at the wonderful Lange blends from Piemonte. Barbera is just so juicy and zesty, the introduction of the more serious Nebbiolo tames this acidity and adds a wash of fine tannin. Like mash and gravy, they just work.
- Bryan Martin (Ravensworth)
2022 Unico Zelo Jungle Jungle Dolcetto
The Jungle Jungle (formerly Cherry Fields) has become one of the most popular wines in the Unico Zelo range over the last couple of vintages, and it's in top form again.
It comes from the Polish Hill River sub-region of the Clare Valley, a place Brendan and Laura Carter love sourcing fruit from. When you think Dolcetto you think sweet, fruity reds, but this is anything but.
There's also now some supporting Touriga Nacional from Langhorne Creek, and a touch of Adelaide Hills Nero d'Avola.
Wildly aromatic, vibrantly juicy and surprisingly structural, this is a lot of wine built into not a lot of body. The Carters recommend this wine for "eating with your hands", and 20 minutes in the fridge would do it no harm at all. It's different, yes, but most of all it's just one of those reds that is near impossible to put down.
Customer Reviews
| Price Bracket | $30 or Less |
| Type | Red |
| Country | Australia |
| Size | 7 |
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