2011 Wines from Wineries List: V

Haven’t tried Verdelho? Try this. From the unique maritime climate of Margaret River to the coolest site in the middle of the great Karri forests in the South West of Western Australia comes a Verdelho with icy crispness and startling fruit clarity. Like water from the deepest aquifer the DIVINE LIGHT is as pure and refreshing as wine can be. Sparkling in the glass the wine is water white with crystal clarity. The aromas are restrained, tight bright minerally and citric. The palate is racy and alive, citrus and tropical fruit flavours, clean refreshing acidity and a bracing finish.

Here’s a wine that has a playful label that depicts the legends of the Circus. The Salome Rosé is all about seduction and sensual pleasure, utilising the spicy and savoury grape Tempranillo to make a Rosé that is full of passion. It’s lifted with vibrant berries and subtle aromas of Turkish delight before a fresh palate of berried fruit that’s refreshing yet ends dry. An impressive addition to any picnic; especially when served with some spicy food.

The Vinaceous wines are all about entertainment from the decorative labels inspired by a circus to the entertainment contained within the bottle. This is seriously good Grigio made in the Italian mould so you can expect it to be crisp and clean with a refreshing. Clear in the glass it shows restrained florals and aromas of spiced pear ensuring it would make a fine match for white fish. Lively on the finish it culminates with a stonefruit intensity and crisp, fresh acids.

Curious name isn’t it? It’s the result of joining the words Vintner and elope together, to make a new word that roughly translates to ‘your wine escape’. Winemaker David Bowley is a shrewd operator who runs everything from the marketing to the picking, to the bottling of his very passionate project. The wines speak for themselves, very pure expressions of vineyard sites with a minimal input from the winemaker. This McLaren Vale Gris shows apple, pear and spice before a mineral laden palate that ends slightly spicy. A character-filled wine that unquestionably suits food, including fish or pork dishes.

If you want cool, then this is your label. Everything that David Bowley touches is imbued with his contemporary take on the Australian wine scene. He has no winery or cellar door, just one man on a mission to find the best fruit from around South Australia. The best way to stay as cool as this producer is to drink his Rosé that deserves to be chilled to perfection. Attractively berried on the nose, it’s a glass of pure refreshment that should be enjoyed on a summer’s day.

Vasse Felix is one of the most famous wineries in the Margaret River having been the first in the region. They have never lost sight of their original aim to produce distinctive and unique wines that are expressive of their surroundings. So what does classic dry white really mean? Well it’s code for a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon and this is a seriously attractive bundle of grass and tropicality, that’s fresh and vibrant and perfect with seafood.

Villa Maria remain one of the most awarded and prolific producers coming out of Marlborough, and it’s not just the Sauvignon Blanc that they are famed for. This Chardonnay was sourced from Gisborne and Hawkes Bay with a touch of Marlborough so that the full spectrum of Chardonnay flavours can express themselves. Peach, pear and citrus provide the intense aromas and all appear on the palate amidst some nutty oak complexity. A wine with an exquisite creamy texture that is well structured and balanced.

Villa Maria is one of the success stories of the New Zealand wine scene. They won their first award in 1962 and since then have not looked back and now export to over 50 countries worldwide. They are famed for their Sauvignon Blanc and this Private Bin is sourced from two areas of Marlborough. It has all the freshness of sticking your head into a fruit salad, showing gooseberry, passionfruit, and lime all framed by a regional herbaceousness. The palate is juicy, intense, fulsome and refreshing with crisp, zingy acids.

A new wine from our mates at Vinrock, this spicy McLaren Vale Shiraz Grenache combines the best of both grapes - a generous spoonful of chocolately Shiraz to start, lightened up by the red fruit of pretty Grenache through the middle and finishing with typical grainy Shiraz tannins. No more than a mid-weight wine, but a good one, this red blend is super easy to like.

Vavasour wines are the pinnacle of Marlborough, showing what’s possible in the region beyond the savvy stereotype. This is a Pinot that makes an impression thanks to the unique soils of the Awatere Valley. Think of pairing it with Chinese duck for a match made in heaven and breath in the intoxicating aromas of concentrated berries. Layered with soft and silky tannins and a hint of vanillin oak, you’ll be hard pressed to refuse a second glass.

It’s not just the grinding winds from the west or the imposing presence of Tapuae-O-Uenuku, the towering peak that looms over Marlborough’s Awatere Valley. It’s not just the deep, rocky soils formed millions of years ago by relentless glaciers that molded the landscape. It’s not just the arid climate marked by sundrenched days and cold nights. It’s the combination of all those things together that shape the inimitable character, flavours and textures of Vavasour wines. All Vavasour wines are 100% varietal and true, honest expressions of their Awatere Valley terroir. A serious, concentrated and expressive wine, Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc flaunts a powerful bouquet of fresh ...

This is the kind of Riesling that could start revolutions, or at least get a few more people into the style. If there’s one man capable of pulling a crowd of cool cats it’s winemaker David Bowley, a man with an incredible knack of making wines with real appeal while using contemporary marketing nous to spread the word.This is classic Clare Riesling showing fruit purity and expression. It’s wonderfully perfumed and textured with a combination of citrus and grapefruit before taut and tailored acids push through the finish.

A beautifully intense and lively wine, overflowing with aromas of ripe gooseberry, melon and passionfruit with hints of grapefruit, lime and nettles. The wine is mouth-filling and juicy with vibrant fruit and fantastic mid palate richness and weight, finishing rich and racy with excellent length and crispness. Food Match: Salmon, tomato, green bean and potato salad.

The rich, silky textured palate exhibits the same fine flavours with an elegant finish with a hint of citrus. CELLARING - Ready to drink on release and will reward further careful cellaring. This wine is sealed with a screw cap to ensure optimum quality and freshness. SERVING TEMPERATURES - Best served between 10-14°C (50-57°F). FOOD ACCOMPANIMENT - This Chardonnay would be a great match with either grilled shrimp and garlic butter or a creamy chicken cabonara dish.

Pale sunshine yellow color and slight frizzante, this Moscato d'Asti has intense aromas of peaches, rose petals and ginger. On the palate it is delicately sweet and sparkling with modest acidity, good balance, good complexity and a finish of fresh apricots. Food: As aperitif, perfect accompaniment to Pan-Asian cuisine and lobster as well as pastry, fruit based and creamy desserts and blue cheeses.

Appearance: Intense, shining cherry-red. Nose: Fresh red fruit, very well-combined with notes of vanilla and wood. Palate: Red and black fruits, smooth rounded tannins with a sweet, pleasant finish. Food: Red meats, pork solomillo and beef pasties.

Appearance: Pale yellow with golden highlights. Nose: Papayas, white peaches and ripe pears, with delicate hints of wood. Palate: Intensely fruity, syrupy and enveloping, with delicate touches of vanilla. Food: Chicken or turkey, crustaceans au gratin and fish with creamy sauces.

Appearance: Deep red with violet highlights. Nose: Fresh red fruits, black plums and delicate notes of vanilla and leather. Palate: Fruity, with friendly tannins, and juicy, balanced acidity. Food: Vegetable bakes, pizzas and pastas with tomato-based sauces.

What’s does classic dry red mean, well it’s a classic blend of Cabernet and Shiraz and it’s got a dry finish but more than that it comes from one of the original wineries of the Margaret River region. Vasse Felix are as famous as the surf breaks that dot the region and this wine is one of their more down to earth offerings that has turned up at a multitude of barbecues in the past. Expect equal amounts of raspberry and pepper with a generous, mouth-filling palate and soft, even tannins.