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!

• 2023 Golden Child Lazy Sunday Light Red
• 2024 Unico Zelo Fresh AF
• 2023 Nick Spencer Gundagai Light Dry Red
• 2024 Swinging Bridge M.A.W. Pinot Noir
• 2025 Dr Edge Pinot Rain Pinot Noir
• 2025 Ochota Barrels Texture Like Sun Sector 12

2023 Golden Child Lazy Sunday Light Red

This is one of the most gluggable light and breezy red wines you are likely to come across.

Here, Pinot Noir and Shiraz from James Hamilton's family vineyard in Adelaide Hills, combine forces into a red with unstoppable drinkability. The sweet red fruits of the Pinot, the lovely plump mid-palate of the Shiraz, it's such a winning combination.

Looking for something red to knock back in tumblers on your next picnic?

The Lazy Sunday is your winner.

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2024 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.

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2023 Nick Spencer Gundagai Light Dry Red

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)

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2024 Swinging Bridge M.A.W. Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is Tom Ward’s great passion, and the M.A.W. -named for his father, Mark Andrew Ward - is where he introduces drinkers to his vision for Orange Pinot. It’s not about grand gestures or cellar swagger, but about charm, clarity and drinkability.

The 2024 vintage gives exactly that. Bright red cherries, raspberries and a flicker of spice leap from the glass, the palate supple and juicy with just enough savoury grip to keep things interesting. It’s light on its feet, shaped for early enjoyment, yet unmistakably crafted with the care that defines all Swinging Bridge wines.

Think of M.A.W. as your entry point: a window into the style and potential of Orange Pinot, without the wait or the price tag of Tom’s single-vineyard bottlings. A youthful expression that's ready to rip, and it's absolutely delicious.

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2025 Dr Edge Pinot Rain Pinot Noir

Bright, gluggable Pinot Noir from the master with the medical license (not really!), Dr Edge.

With Tassie Pinot prices soaring, we thank Peter Dredge for creating a "vin de soif" style Pinot Noir that brings all the goodness of Tasmanian vineyards without the hefty price tag.

Deliciously red-fruited and easygoing, it's a wine that's ready to go whenever you are. Pop it in the fridge for a minute before serving if you want, drink it in the Purple Rain with your favourite frog or Prince.

Another glass of Pinot Noir goodness from our favourite Tassie Doctor.

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2025 Ochota Barrels Texture Like Sun Sector 12

If there’s one wine that captures Ochota’s free-spirited side, it’s Texture Like Sun. Every year the blend shifts - this time it’s a mash-up of Pinot, Grenache, Gewürztraminer, Gamay and Pinot Meunier – but the result is always the same: utterly drinkable, impossible to pigeonhole.

Sector 12 hums with juicy red fruits, a flicker of spice, a little herbal twist, and just enough tannin to keep things in shape. Gamay and Grenache bring brightness and bounce, Pinot adds finesse, Gewürz sneaks in perfume, and Meunier rounds it all out. The name says it all - this is about feel as much as flavour, with supple fruit and gentle grip that make each glass glide down a little too easily.

It’s not a wine that follows rules. It’s one that makes its own - playful, vibrant, and seriously fun to drink whether it’s on a picnic rug or poured at a white-tablecloth restaurant. The yellow label is a beacon; the wine inside pure sunshine.

As Amber Ochota says: “Juicy and vibrant, perfect for anywhere and everywhere.”

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