Get to know boutique wines
Some of the most exciting wines in Australia are made by hand at boutique wineries whose names you’ve never heard. You won’t find them at your local either.
We take the guesswork out of trying these exceptional wines. We track down those that carry off the trophies and take them for a taste test.
3 top examples
Bleasdale Pinot Gris 2013. A long-established family winery at Langhorne Creek that turns out great reds and more lately some of the country’s best Pinot Gris from Adelaide Hills fruit.
Wickhams Road Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2014 – The wines under this ‘second label’ of Hoddles Creek seem to get better and better. This is Yarra Valley Chardy at a giveaway price, softer and more approachable than the estate wines. Very easy to like.
De Iuliis Semillon 2014 – Mike de Iuliis makes modern Hunter wines at very fair prices. his is riper and richer than most young Hunter Semillons and already lovely drinking while still showing the characteristic lemon and grass notes.
…and many more
Rosily Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2014 – Mick Scott makes terrific wines from his picturesque small vineyard in Margaret River. This is a great example of the Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon style.
Torbreck Woodcutter’s Roussanne Viognier Marsanne 2012 – from a boutique in the Barossa that makes very expensive wines in small quantities, this is a lovely Rhone blend with a $20 price tag.
Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy Chardonnay 2012 – One of the Hardy family who’s struck out on his own in the Adelaide Hills. This chardy that blends the old and the new: lovely round, rich, creamy chardy without any excess fat. Just right in fact, with seamless integration of fruit and oak.
Teusner Salsa Rosé 2014 – Kym Teusner makes a serious Rosé from Barossa Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz. Not big on strawberries and cream, this is a savoury wine to have with food. Great stuff.
Fraser Gallop Estate Cabernet Merlot 2012 – a classic Cabernet blend from a tiny boutique in Margaret River that makes very fine whites and reds in small quantities.
Kalleske Clarrys Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2014 – The Kalleskes are growers turned winemakers, and now produce great wines from their old vineyards like this fine trio of varieties that plays in perfect pitch here. Crowd pleaser at sharp price, the winery is certified organic/ biodynamic.
Bellevue Estate Shiraz 2012 – Corey Vandeleur hand-makes this Shiraz in two tonne open fermenters prior to basket pressing. There is little or minimal fining or filtration. Only 1000 cases made.
Phaedrus Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2012 – hand-made wine in a tiny Yarra Valley winery, where Ewan Campbell and Maitena Zantvoort specialise in Pinot Noir.
Head Red Shiraz 2013 – Alex Head has fast made a name for his rich and stylish Barossa reds, which sell out quickly every year.
Moppity Lock & Key Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2012 – Jason Brown makes some terrific wines up in the hilltops near Young, from fruit grown on his own vineyards and at Tumbarumba.
Bundaleer Sparkling Shiraz NV – this is a rich but elegant sparkling red from a tiny family boutique in the Flinders Ranges
Mitchell Noble Semillon 2012 – Another long-established and underrated family winery in Clare that makes fine regional wines from old vines on biodynamic vineyards