Recherché reds

ANGLIANCO Origin: Italy Hither & Yon Aglianico, from the volcanic soils of Campagnia and Basilicata in Italy, is a noble grape variety. And just like the region, it’s not one you stumble across, but seek out for a new experience. The folk at Hither & Yon see their aglianico as the chance to make fine, compelling wine on the savoury, earthy side. Wild mint and violet scents lead you onto a long textural palate of black berries, salted olives, oregano, leather and spice. Rustic, but charming. RRP $33 hitherandyon.com.au

BARBERA Origin: Italy Zerella Wines ‘La Gita’ Barbera 2017 While still regarded as an exotic variety in Australia, barbera is one of the most widely planted red varieties in Italy. Hailing from Piemonte in the north-west, barbera is considered a more approachable, earlier drinking variety when compared to its Piedmontese cousin, nebbiolo. As displayed in the La Gita Barbera, the variety is known for its dark berry fruit flavours, moderate tannins and bright acidity, producing a style ever so suited to slow-cooked comfort food. RRP $35 zerellawines.com.au

GRENACHE Origin: Spain / France Kay Brothers Basket Pressed Grenache Grenache may be an old timer in the Vale, but it’s only recently that this variety has rightfully reclaimed its place in the spotlight. Justifiably held in high regard in McLaren Vale as a versatile variety wonderfully suited to our coastal climate, it produces wines that pair beautifully with food. Kay Brothers’ take on grenache is an elegant and bright wine with red berries on the palate, gentle tannins and refreshing acidity. RRP $29.50 kaybrothers.com.au

BASTARDO Origin: Portugal Lino Ramble - Blind Man’s Bluff 2019 A working holiday to Portugal’s Douro Valley reinforced Lino Ramble’s Andy and Angela’s belief in how suitable Portugese varieties are to our McLaren Vale climate. Bastardo has a short growth cycle and is always the first fruit harvested. The wine is light to medium bodied, fresh and full of vibrant berry aromas with hints of vegetal notes and is an extremely flexible food partner suitable for a large variety of dishes. RRP $30 linoramble.com.au

CARIGNAN Origin: Spain / France Kimbolton Wines 2019 Carignan There’s been some confusion surrounding the carignan grape variety in Australia with many so-called carignan plantings actually found to be mourvèdre. But Kimbolton Vineyards have the real deal. Their carignan is fruit forward with lashings of delicious, vibrant raspberry fruit, grippy tannins, and a spicy, mint like finish. Lighter in style, it’s the perfect red for a warm summer’s day perhaps enjoyed with a dish of crispy duck breast and sauteed greens. RRP $28 kimboltonwines.com.au

Our region is full of new things to discover, including an array of grape varieties from all corners of the wine growing world. These talented and curious winemakers are creating their own versions of some of the most intriguing grapes you may never have heard of. Put yourself in their capable hands and explore some ‘new’ flavours of the Fleurieu.

CABERNET FRANC Origin: France The Stoke Cabernet Franc 2020 Kangaroo Island’s long, slow ripening period really lends itself to this variety. Cabernet franc generally ripens slightly before cabernet sauvignon and after shiraz. KI’s Mediterranean-like cooler days and mild nights allow time for full flavour development in the skins of the berries, leading to beautiful, distinct characters that are true to this great variety. The Stoke Cabernet Franc is powerful yet elegant, exciting and delicious. RRP $35 thestokewines.com

CINSAULT Origin: France d’Arenberg - The Biophilic Silurian 2019 Cinsault is a ideal grape to grow in our climate – producing great grapes at high volume and tolerating heat well. This McLaren Vale wine is made from the oldest Cinsault grapes in the region. d’Arenberg Cinsault takes its name from the Silurian Hypothesis, which speculates intelligent life once roamed Earth, but the evidence is hidden, unlikely to be found. It is believed that ‘once this bottle is open, you will be biophilically attached, experiencing a strong attraction and emotional attachment to this wine.’ RRP $30 darenberg.com.au

DOLCETTO / LAGREIN Origin: Italy Heartland 2018 Foreign Correspondent Dolcetto finds its original home on the slopes of Piemonte in Northern Italy, but it’s just as happy in the cool climate of Langhorne Creek enjoying the extra ripening time to develop full flavour and character. This exuberant and fruity grape – its name means ‘little sweet one’ in Italian – is best balanced with a little structure. This wine pairs dolcetto with the even rarer lagrein variety to provide the perfect balance. RRP $20 heartlandwines.com.au

DURIF Origin: France Rusticana Wines 2018 Durif This durif is a big wine. The aromas and flavours are similar to a shiraz, while the colour is a dense, impenetrable purple, almost black. After spending 22 months in a combination of French, American and Hungarian oak, this wine emerges saturated with blackberry and prune fruit and a touch of liquorice. It’s rich, flavoursome and full bodied with excellent length on the palate. To match durif’s intensity, pair with richly flavoured foods. RRP $27 rusticanawines.com.au

GAMAY Origin: France Scarpantoni 2018 Gamay The famous Beaujolais grape variety gamay was not planted in Australia until 1982, when Scarpantoni petitioned the Department of Agriculture and became one of the first recipients of gamay rootlings in Australia. Over the last 40 years their gamay has been made in many styles, with rose being the most popular and highly awarded. Recent demand for lighter style reds has sparked the return of this classic Beaujolais style. RRP $25 scarpantoniwines.com >

GRACIANO Origin: Spain Samuel’s Gorge 2019 Graciano Graciano is a grape prized for its acidity, structure and intense aromatics. The wine typically displays notes of Szechuan pepper, dried herbs, bright, balanced fruit and has a vivid purple hue. The graciano vines at Samuel’s Gorge yield few bunches, but the fruit is exquisite. It’s as at home here in McLaren Vale as it is in its native soils of Spain’s Rioja region, thriving in our arid coastal landscape. RRP $40 gorge.com.au

MALBEC / TANINO Origin: France Bremerton 2018 Special Release Malbec The Langhorne Creek region has a long history with malbec, going back to the very early days, when Frank Potts planted it on the banks of the Bremer River at Bleasdale. The region has become known as Australia’s foremost region for growing and producing the variety. This fruit-forward, full-bodied red wine has often been used in blends, but is fast gaining ground as a standalone variety, including this delicious release from Bremerton. RRP $24 bremerton.com.au

MATARO / MOURVEDRE / MONASTRELL Origin: Spain Lazy Ballerina 2017 Mataro What is mataro? Well, it’s the Australian name for a grape variety that was imported from France (where it’s called mourvédre) and Spain (monastrell) during the 19th century. It can make a wine that is portlike in flavour, but a more appealing style will taste of black cherry and flowers – violets and lavender in particular. You’ll see all three names used on wine labels interchangeably, but Lazy Ballerina’s version goes by mataro. RRP $35 lazyballerina.com

MENCIA Origin: Spain Olivers Taranga 2020 Mencia Never tasted mencia before? Oliver’s Taranga suggest you start now. This Spanish variety is the new kid on the block in Australia, with a handful of producers putting in new plantings in recent years. This version is packed with violet florals, cherry syrup, and a bright, punchy, savoury palate. Whip up some paella and settle in for a long lunch (and a lifelong love affair) with this Spanish beauty. RRP $35 oliverstaranga.com

MONTEPULCIANO Origin: Italy Hastwell & Lightfoot 2018 Montepulciano (mon-tae-pul-chee-ah-no) is challenging to pronounce but it is a juicy emerging variety in Australia. Monte, as we call it, is well established in its Mediterranean home of central Italy and responds well in the similar Australian microclimatic conditions of McLaren Vale. The best examples are deeply coloured, medium bodied and flavoursome wines. It’s lovely savouriness and gentle tannins make it a perfect match with spicy pork ragu rigatoni, fresh parmesan and of course wood-oven pizza. RRP $25 hastwellandlightfoot.com.au

PETIT VERDOT Origin: France Geddes Wines 2017 Petit Verdot Petit Verdot translates to ‘small green’, a slightly passive-aggressive reference to its struggle to mature in its home region of Bordeaux. Mainly used for blending, this variety has a firm tannin structure, deep colour and balanced acid versus sugar development. Under the McLaren Vale sun, this grape shines and Geddes have celebrated its potential in this single varietal wine with a rich, floral, structured longevity and medium to full body. RRP $25 geddeswines.com.au

NERO D’AVOLA Origin: Italy George’s Folly 2019 Unguarded Moment Originating from Sicily and adapting well to our Mediterranean climate, Nero d’Avola’s flavour can run from delicate and floral to heavier and more robust, depending on soil conditions. A mediumbodied wine, aromatically it’s pomegranate, quince, violets and plums. Flavour-wise it’s savoury and packs a punch – think dried herbs, tobacco and leather. With high acidity and generous tannins, it’s a wonderful food wine particularly well matched to rich meaty dishes and pungent cheeses. RRP $28 georgesfolly.com.au

SAGRANTINO MATARO Origin: France Aphelion – 2020 Welkin Sagrantino is an Italian variety with its home in the small town of Montefalco, Umbria. It’s famous for its structure and is the second most tannic variety after tannat. Aphelion’s take tames the tannin with earlier fruit picking, a short ferment on skins and minimal pressing, softened by 30% mataro to add further interest. Drink with a rich mushroom ragout and buttered pasta to balance this assertive wine. RRP $28 aphelionwine.com.au

SANGIOVESE Origin: Italy Coriole 2019 Sangiovese Australia’s first sangiovese vines were planted in the 1980s at Coriole. In the 40 years since, the Lloyd family have been on a journey of discovery to learn how the variety best thrives. Blended in the vineyard to create the optimum expression of McLaren Vale sangiovese, this wine shines on the table, alongside Italian dishes shared with family and friends. Featuring bright fruits with floral notes, and a savoury palate driven by fine but firm tannin. RRP $28 coriole.com

TEMPRANILLO Origin: Spain Samson Tall 2017 Tempranillo Spanish native tempranillo has its roots deep in the regions of Rioja and Ribera del Duero but has found a new home here on the Fleurieu. It’s a versatile grape that finds its best expression where it can ripen well but still maintain some acidity, producing delicious wines from fresher, unoaked styles like rose to age-worthy, oaked reds. Samson Tall’s version has savoury layers, lush texture and bright fruit that works brilliantly with food. RRP $30 samsontall.com.au >

TOURIGA NACIONAL Origin: Portugal SC Pannell 2019 Touriga Touriga nacional is at the heart of many of SC Pannell’s blended red wines, delivering exotic perfume, powerful flavour and fine tannin. On those summer days when the northerlys blow and the thermometer nudges the high 40s, it’s touriga that seems happiest (far happier than the humans). Unable to keep its identity secret any longer, touriga nacional could well be the unsung hero of many Fleurieu reds. Look out for it at Womadelaide 2021. RRP $22 pannell.com.au

SYRAH Origin: France Guroo – By Charlotte Dalton 2019 Shiraz? Syrah? What’s in a name? This wine goes by syrah due to its light-medium bodied style more reminiscent of leaner French reds rather than a full-bodied new world shiraz. The grapes that went into Guroo were picked a little early and fermented with indigenous Kangaroo Island yeast. 50% whole bunch adds complexity on the nose and structure on the palate, while twice-weekly stirrings for six weeks flesh out the palate to create a very tasty wine. RRP $50 guroowine.com.au ZINFANDEL Origin: Croatia Kangarilla Road 2019 Black St Peter’s Zinfandel This zinfandel comes from some of the oldest plantings of the variety in Australia grown from Californian cuttings, though its original home is Croatia where it’s known as crjenak. Zinfandel is difficult to manage in the vineyard, growing voraciously with tight heavy bunches. It needs thinning to ensure a quality wine which you will find in this rich and luscious version by Kangarilla Road best enjoyed with venison loin with Chinese five spice or duck. RRP $50 kangarillaroad.com.au

SAPERAVI Origin: Georgia Hugh Hamilton Wines ‘The Oddball’ Saperavi 2017 Saperavi finds its origins in Georgia – a country with over 8000 years of winemaking history. In the early 2000s, Hugh’s interest in this ancient and quirky variety was sparked, quickly becoming an obsession. Despite Saperavi’s absolute rarity in Australia and its preference for cooler climates, Hugh was compelled to tear out his old Petit Verdot vines and plant the region’s first Saperavi. Almost 20 vintages on, James Halliday crowned ‘The Oddball’ 2017 as Australia’s best Saperavi. RRP $70 hughhamiltonwines.com.au