THE AUSSIE BUNCH
Our favourite local producers including some seasoned professionals, hot young guns and exciting up and comers. From Margaret River, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, Heathcote, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Tamar Valley…
ARFION - YARRA VALLEY
NSW ONLY
Arfion means “Our Wine” in Scottish Gaelic. After 10 years of making someone else’s wines, Dave Mackintosh thought it time to stomp his own grapes – to get a little closer to the land and the entire wine community. So in 2011, with his brother and father, he started Arfion - a small independent wine company where he’s free to take some risks and do things differently. Based in the Yarra Valley, Arfion creates thoughtful wines with minimal winemaking interference. Intuitive, evolving wine syles that reflect his interpreta- tions of the vineyard soil. Single sites and small volumes. Fresh, textured and delicious.
BONDAR - MCLAREN VALE & ADELAIDE HILLS
NSW ONLY
Bondar are a little family wine company run by winemaker Andre Bondar and marketing manager Selina Bondar. Making wines from their favourite regions McLaren vale and Adelaide Hills, their home is the iconic Rayner Vineyard in McLaren Vale. With a philosophy of making wines that are lighter, brighter, more savoury, structured and intriguing, they are definitely new comers to watch.
CIRCE - MORNINGTON PENINSULA
NSW ONLY
Circe is a partnership inspired by growing up on the Mornington Peninsula and a love of Pinot Noir. Dan Buckle and Aaron Drummond met at Mount Langi Ghiran in 2007. After a vintage of Shiraz it was inevitable that the conversation would turn to any other varietal except Shiraz. With both of us growing up on the Mornington Peninsula, we were keen and curious as to what we could do with Pinot Noir from such great soil.
FAUX PAS - MCLAREN VALE
NSW ONLY
Faux Pas Wines began with three friends passionate about making good wine. At the time we were all working in different regions, the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and the Clare Valley, we didn’t want to limit ourselves to one region or one variety. So the idea was born to make a different wine each year, purchasing small portions of quality fruit from regions that interest us and varieties that perform well in these regions.
FREDERICK STEVENSON - BAROSSA VALLEY, EDEN VALLEY, CLARE VALLEY
NSW ONLY
Refined, elegant and tightly structured, the wines of the elusive Frederick Stevenson focus on fruit sourced from two vineyard sites – the biodynamic Vine Vale property in the Barossa Valley, and a rugged hilltop to the north of the Eden Valley.
The dogged passion of youth, melded with a myriad of thoughts from shoe-less galavants around the northern hemisphere educate the wines of Frederick Stevenson – they present themselves as a nod to both traditional Australian wines and an exploration of less familiar varieties and styles. Small batches, minimal intervention, it starts in the vineyard and ends when the bottle is empty.
GOON TYCOONS - MARGARET RIVER & FRANKLIN RIVER
“We are Goon Tycoons. Sophisticated, engaging, loyal, rebellious, adventurous, dynamic and bold.” Are the words used to describe the newest wine label to emerge from the exciting Western vines of Australia.
Incredibly talented winemaker Julian Langworthy (head winemaker at Deep Woods) is behind this tongue-in-cheek label. The wines are punchy, fresh and dynamic; everything we want to see from WA. We welcome this (new age) style of winemaking with open arms.
THE HEDONIST - MCLAREN VALE
The Hedonist wines adopt a minimalistic approach to winemaking, believing that good wines are “made in the vineyard.”
Great care is taken in the estate grown certified biodynamic vineyard.
A dynamic trio – the winemaking team consists of Walter Clappis, veteran winemaker of 31 vintages, daughter, Kimberly and her partner James Cooter. Walter’s experience and wisdom plus the energy and enthusiasm of the new generation has created the perfect balance in the winery. All the wines reflect a purity which is consistent with the Winemakers and their philosophies.
HOME - YARRA VALLEY, BAROSSA VALLEY & MORE
NSW ONLY
Home is a range of varietal and price point friendly wines made by good friends of ours to be enjoyed with good friends of yours!
From Yarra Valley Pinot Gris to Barossan Shiraz there is something for everyone, and with more to come.
Approachable, affordable and most of all delicious. A winning combination.
NGERINGA - ADELAIDE HILLS
NSW ONLY
Situated below the Mount Barker Summit in the Adelaide Hills South Australia Ngeringa is Erinn and Janet Klein, a husband and wife team that have a traditional and minimal approach to winemaking.
Adhering to Biodynamic principals they produce small batch and hand crafted wines from three predominantly different vineyard terrior’s. Mt Barker Springs East, Mt Barker Springs West and Nairne. The J.E range are approachable wines that still come from estate grown fruit, where the Ngeringa label is the top selection creating wines with vitality of fruit and a traditional style.
SOMOS - MCLAREN VALE
NSW ONLY
"Somos means “we are”, and in essence, Somos is what we are and what we like to make and drink. It was born out of making wines that we wanted to experiment with and that had interest, and most of all, were very drinkable . It is our small contribution to the Australian wine revolution.
We make alternative varieties that are well adapted to this part of the world, but that also have the unique expression from McLaren Vale's highly varied soils. Made in a minimal intervention style, these wines see partial whole bunch fermentation, foot treadding and most of them are pressed early to keep them fresh and vibrant. The wines reflect us, young and juicy!” - Winemakers; Ben Caldwell and Mauricio Ruiz Cantú
STONEY RISE / HOLYMAN WINES - TAMAR VALLEY
NSW ONLY
Joe Holyman worked in wine on the mainland, first in sales and then making stuff in Robe before heading home to Tasmania several years ago. Joe has a clear vision for what he wants to achieve with his wines, and the first thing he did upon buying the old Rotherhythe vineyard overlooking the Tamar was rip up all the Cabernet Sauvignon and torch it while drinking a great bottle of Burgundy. He produces two labels: Stoney Rise and the very limited Holyman range, specialising in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and is at the forefront of a new generation taking Tassie wine to the next level.
SYRAHMI / GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS - HEATHCOTE
NSW ONLY
Syrahmi is Adam Foster’s baby. Adam’s (a sommelier-turned-winemaker) interests lie in making Shiraz that is able to express the true terroir of the vineyard and vintage through a non-interventionist approach. Each year, fruit for Syrahmi are sourced and selected from a different vineyard in the Heathcote region. He believes that the ancient Cambrian soils of Heathcote could produce the best possible Shiraz. So, with every new vintage comes a cracking a new Syrahmi.