For this special day in our calendar, I’ve selected wines that are uniquely Australian because of their style or their history or their label. However, value for money was the first consideration as always. I’ve also suggested the kinds of foods these wines go with, assuming that people will partake in the usual Australia Day fare of barbecued beef, lamb, sausages and seafood.
Leo Buring Clare Valley Dry Riesling 2013 – $15 at Kemenys. The dry Aussie style of Riesling is unique in the world, and Leo Buring is one of the oldest makers. Limes and minerals here, plus ripe, concentrated flavour and a long, dry finish – brilliant match for roasted or barbecued chicken.
McWilliams Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon Cellar Release 2007 – $12 at OurCellar. Mount Pleasant in the Hunter Valley is another household name, and ‘Lizzie’ is an institution. This wine is eight years old, and be warned: you’ll smell honey and butter here but also wet straw and tennis shoes. It’s a perfect match for a platter of smelly cheeses. The price is not a misprint.
Tahbilk Marsanne 2009 – $15 at Dan Murphy’s. Another iconic Aussie with a long history. This little winery in the Goulburn Valley used to be called Chateau Tahbilk, and the Rhone variety Marsanne has thrived here for many decades. This example is 6 years old and showing some rich honeyed flavours, goes well with pork. It’s so cheap because no one knows about it.
Rosily Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2014 – $18 at Kemenys. The vineyard is named after Comte Francois de Rosily, a French navigator who in 1772 made the first chart of Flinders Bay. On the same voyage the captain of his ship claimed possession of the south west of Australia on behalf of France. Had that claim succeeded we would now be speaking French, not English, and our national drink would have been wine, not beer.
Winemaker Mick Scott is a dinky-di Aussie, a keen surfer, swimmer and marathon runner. Margaret River has made this style of wine its own, and it’s so much more interesting than the Sauvignon Blancs from across the Tasman. Real class here,
and the wine will fill out and improve with time in bottle. Terrific with grilled seafood.
Charles Melton Rose Of Virginia 2014 – $20 at Summer Hill Wine Shop Australia’s most attractive Rosé, inside and out. Made from Grenache, Cabernet and a few other varieties, it shows perfect balance between fruit and acidity. Drink with anything or on its own, well chilled.
Kilikanoon Killermans Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 – $16 at Kemenys. This wine pays homage to our Irish heritage. The story goes that Killerman was a trapper who lived 100 years ago behind the Skillogalee winery (near Kilikanoon) and made his own wines in a galvanised iron lean-to. The 2012 Cabernet is a much more urbane customer, well-mannered, cool and smooth. Medium-bodied and great with a good steak.
Devil’s Lair Hidden Cave Cabernet Shiraz 2012 – $17 at Kemenys. The combination of Cabernet and Shiraz is uniquely Australian, and this polished performer shows why it’s such a smart blend. That you can buy a quality crowd pleaser like this for so little money suggests that we’re still the lucky country. Goes well with steak, hamburgers and sausages.
Bleasdale Second Innings Malbec 2012 – $15 at Different Drop. There’s going to be a lot of cricket played on Australia Day, and here’s the wine to drink at the BBQ that follows. If you like your reds soft, round and velvety, look no further. It’s juicy and spicy too, and makes you wonder why this variety has fallen out of favour down under. Great with all kinds of lamb.
Bundaleer Sparkling Shiraz NV – $17 at MyCellars. Sparkling Shiraz is another Aussie specialty, and this stylish example is our current favourite. It’s made by a tiny boutique in the Southern Flinders Ranges region of South Australia. Absolute bargain.
Campbells Rutherglen Topaque 375mL – $18 at Dan M’s. Rutherglen is near Glenrowan in Ned Kelly country. We used to call this wine Tokay until the Hungarians objected. Thankfully, only the label has changed and the wine remains a wonderful drink to have with a rich dessert or orange in dark chocolate or a platter of runny cheeses. A great place to finish our top ten.