Description
The rise and rise of lower alcohol reds that are begging to be banged in the esky is one of the best modern developments in Australian wine.
From familiar varieties such as Pinot Noir and early-picked Grenache, to the explosive recent popularity of varieties like Pinot Meunier and Gamay, or creative blends that place style at a premium over traditional varietal characteristics - the world of light Aussie reds is one of the most exciting vinous wormholes you can fall down at the moment. Here's the pack to get you started!
- 2025 Two Tonne Tasmania TMV Pinot Noir
- 2025 Sentio Gamay
- 2024 Aphelion Welkin Grenache
- 2025 Unico Zelo Fresh AF
- 2024 Express Winemakers Drinking Wine Red
- 2023 Nick Spencer Gundagai Light Dry Red
2025 Two Tonne Tasmania TMV Pinot Noir
This is the wine that started it all for Ricky Evans, and after 14 vintages, it remains the definitive snapshot of the Tamar Valley. The TMV is a clever puzzle of fruit sourced from three distinct areas of the valley - a mix of estate blocks and long-term leased sites that Ricky knows inside out.
The 2025 season was another warm one, forcing an early start to the harvest. Because sugars were moving fast, Ricky focused on picking for freshness, being light-handed in the winery to avoid over-extraction. He stayed cautious with the whole-bunch component, settling on a 10% inclusion across the final blend to add just enough spice and aromatic lift without overshadowing the fruit.
The result is a classic, pretty Pinot that captures the Tamar wonderfully. It’s loaded with bright red berries - think raspberry and wild strawberry - wrapped in fine, chalky tannins. Spending 11 months in oak (only 10% new) has kept the palate juicy and vibrant. It’s a fragrant, effortless Pinot that’s made for immediate enjoyment, though it has enough structure to keep things interesting. As always with Two Tonne, it’s dangerously drinkable and stocks never last long.
Read More2025 Sentio Gamay
Chris Catlow’s Sentio wines are mostly Beechworth-focused, but when the right fruit pops up elsewhere, he’s not one to say no. This Gamay comes from the Upper King Valley and is all about crunch, spice, and sheer drinkability. No overthinking, just a seriously good time in a glass.
It’s Gamay done three ways - some whole bunch, some whole berry, some a mix of both - fermented in concrete and aged in a combo of foudre and small oak. The result? Bright, juicy fruit with a bit of savoury grip, the kind of wine that disappears way too fast.
A fun, expressive take on Gamay that’s as at home on the dinner table as it is straight from the esky on a warm afternoon.
Read More2024 Aphelion Welkin Grenache
This is the bright, early-drinking side of Grenache that Rob Mack does so well. It’s made to be fresh, juicy and delicious without losing any of the variety’s character. The fruit comes from a few of Rob’s favourite McLaren Vale sites, picked early for vibrancy, and handled gently to keep that lively, red-fruited energy intact.
Whole berries, wild fermentation, and a short time in old French oak – that’s pretty much it. No tricks, no makeup. The result is a light to medium-bodied Grenache full of red cherry, raspberry and spice, with a fine herbal edge that keeps it savoury and moreish. There’s a lovely crunch to the fruit, and just enough grip to give it shape.
It’s the kind of Grenache you can drink chilled on a warm day or pour next to dinner and not think twice. A bargain.
Read More2025 Unico Zelo Fresh AF
Few wine ventures are as committed to the idea of sustainability as Brendan and Laura from Unico Zelo. Their championing of Italian varieties, particularly Nero d'Avola and Fiano, comes from their belief in their suitability to Australia.
Nero is a particularly hardy grape and it thrives in warm, dry climates. So, here they take the fruit from one of the warmest and driest wine regions on the planet, and make a glugable, slurpable red which is ideal quaffing for just about any night of the week.
A dash of old vine Zibbibo (white wine) adds lift and a super zippy crunch of acidity. It's great drinking at a great price and a little left-of-center. More inventive stuff from this energetic winemaking couple.
Read More2024 Express Winemakers Drinking Wine Red
Winemaker Ryan O'Meara doesn't overthink this one, and neither should you. The 'Drinking Wine' is exactly what the label suggests - a red built for pure, high-rotation smashability. It’s a bit of a kitchen-sink blend of Shiraz and Pinot Noir with splashes of Malbec and Cab, all sourced from organic sites across Margaret River and the Great Southern.
The 2024 is another tip-top release of this much-loved cuvee. It’s juicy, crunchy, and feels very much alive in the glass. Ryan leans into a fresher style here, so while there’s plenty of vibrant red fruit and a bit of Shiraz spice, it never feels heavy or bogged down.
Throw it in the fridge for twenty minutes, rip the top off, and get stuck in. This is about as easy-drinking as Aussie red gets.
Read More2023 Nick Spencer Gundagai Light Dry Red
"Nick Spencer is one of the better winemakers in this country.”
- Gary Walsh
"Australian wine can be a brash place, but it still manages to provide harbour to some considered, thoughtful souls, of which Nick Spencer is one. He is the real deal, in short. His wines are more than wines. They are their grapes laid bare
- Campbell Mattinson
Inspired by the classic ‘Burgundies’ of 1950s–70s Australia, Nick Spencer’s Light Dry Red is a fresh, modern take on those elegant, medium-bodied Shiraz-Pinot blends that once defined the Hunter Valley. This is bright, aromatic, and built for effortless drinking, but with enough depth to keep things interesting.
A 50/50 blend of Shiraz and Pinot Noir, each variety was picked and fermented separately - 100% destemmed and fermented on skins for 14 days, before spending 12 months in old puncheons and amphoras. The 2023 vintage is silky, pure, and bursting with red fruit freshness.
Aromatically, it’s blueberries, red cherries, and spice, with subtle notes of cassis and earth adding dimension. The palate is supple and juicy, with fine, powdery tannins and a clean, mouthwatering finish.
Complex yet carefree, serious yet smashable - this is modern Aussie red wine at its best.
95 points
"It’s a beauty, and perhaps more mid-weighted than light... It’s unencumbered, and the result is a delicious drink."
- Jane Faulkner (Halliday Wine Companion)
95 pointsRead More
"Its varietal composition – pinot noir and shiraz – and its unashamedly svelte shape are a nod to the classic ‘Burgundies’ we made around the middle of the last century. Sometimes nostalgia is a noose, but here it’s a look back that takes us forward."
- Nick Ryan (Top 100 Wines of 2025)
Customer Reviews
| Price Bracket | $31 to $40 |
| Type | Red |
| Body | Light Bodied |
| Country | Australia |
| Size | 8 |
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