These new releases from the charming winery Ashton Hills could help make your day, featuring a 2019 Chardonnay ($35), 2019 Pinot Noir ($35), Estate 2019 Pinot Noir ($55) and 2017 Vintage Rosé ($40). The wines are perfect examples of length and flavour, made with grapes grown in the Piccadilly Valley, one of the coolest areas in South Australia. You tend to hear ‘cool climate’ a bit too much in Australian winemaking. But it really is cold here, especially at night, but also in the day. I visited on a day in the 2020 summer (an Australian summer) and it was just 12C! .  The estate was founded by Stephen George in 1982, a pioneer of Pinot Noir in the Adelaide Hills region. Shope online here.

Henschke has released its 2016 The Rose Grower Nebbiolo (RRP$50) sourced from the Eden Valley just above the Barossa. Nebbiolo is a fickle variety and Henschke have devoted many years of trial and experimentation to get the wine to this level of quality. The Nebbiolo, an Italian grape named after nebbia which abounds in the northern part of Italy Piemonte from where the grape originates, will last well 10+ years (from vintage). The 2019 Percival’s Mill Grüner Veltliner ($38) is made from vines planted in 2011 as Australian wineries expand away from French varieties. Buy online here.

WOW for these wines! Hahndorf Hill Winery owners Larry Jacobs and Marc Dobson have won loads of medals and their dedicated team at the cool climate Adelaide Hills winery know how to make sophisticated wines – and offer customers value for money. These Austrian varieties feature the superb Gru Gruner Veltliner 2019 (RRP$29), sadly sold out, the White Mischief Gruner Veltliner 2020 ($24), Reserve Gruner Veltliner 2017 ($45), Blueblood Blaufrankisch 2017 ($47) and Zsa Zsa Zweigelt 2018  ($35). The winery is Australia’s only producer of Zweigelt – popular in Austria. Buy online here or visit the winery, just 25 min from Adelaide CBD.

Australian wine brand Orlando will return to shelves from mid-October with two ranges, The Legends and The New Heroes. The portfolio will feature regionally focused wines, including the 2019 iconic Eden Valley Riesling Steingarten (RRP $35). The New Heroes range is the 2019 Orlando Hillary Adelaide Hills Chardonnay ($35), 2019 Orlando Cellar 13 Barossa Grenache ($35), 2018 Orlando Printz Shed Northern Barossa Shiraz ($35) and 2014 Orlando Bungalow Lane Barossa Cabernet ($35). Available in retail stores and online.

JACOB’S CREEK™ has launched a new label, Nature’s Craft Organic, certified 100% Organic. The Nature’s Craft Organic Chardonnay and Shiraz Cabernet (RRP$19.99) are both available now and the Rosé launches in late October. Jacob’s Creek™ and Nature’s Craft™ are owned by Pernod Ricard, which is expanding its organic range of wines across wine labels to meet rising demand. More details are here. 

 

November 12 marks the inaugural annual vintage release for celebrated Barossa winery St Hallett and get ready for some new labels. St Hallett will unveil two new vintage wines, the 2016 Old Block Shiraz (RRP $159), 2018 Blackwell Shiraz ($54.99), and three new releases – the 2018 Higher Earth Syrah ($60), 2018 Mighty Ox Shiraz (1.5L) ($210) and St Hallett’s most luxurious Shiraz to date, 2015 Planted 1919, sourced from vines over 100 years old, producing intensity and flavour. Visit St Hallett’s to buy online.

Iconic Barossa Valley winery Grant Burge’s 2020 release features the flagship 2016 Meshach Shiraz (RRP $229.99), only released in exceptional vintages, 2016 Shadrach Cabernet Sauvignon ($114.99) and 2018 Filsell ($47.99). Also available is the 2017 Nebu Cabernet Shiraz ($99.99), 2017 Abednego Shiraz Grenache Mourvèdre ($99.99), 2018 Holy Trinity Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre ($47.99), 2018 Balthasar Shiraz 2018 ($47.99) and Corryton Park Cabernet Sauvignon ($47.99). Shadrach received a Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon in Show at both the 2018 and 2019 Barossa Wine Show, and Gold at the 2019 Adelaide Royal Wine Show and 2018 Barossa Wine Show. Visit Grant Burge wines.

Petaluma 2020 releases in October
More of South Australia’s best. Petaluma’s 2020 premium Yellow Label collection will arrive in Australian stores from 21 October 2020, including the 2019 Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay (RRP $53.00), 2018 B&V Vineyard Adelaide Hills Shiraz ($49.99) and 2015 Evans Vineyard Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot ($76.99). The 2006 Croser Late Disgorged Piccadilly Valley ($66.99) will also be available from late October in stores and at Petaluma Online. Even better, visit the impressive winery in the picturesque Adelaide Hills.

New bubbles in House of Arras portfolio
House of Arras has unveiled the first new wine to its portfolio in over six years, House of Arras Blanc de Blancs NV ($34.99). Also released are the House of Arras Brut Elite Cuvee No. 1501 ($60.99), Rosé 2008 ($121.99), Grand Vintage 2009 ($108.99), Museum Release Blanc de Blancs 2004 ($349.99), E.J. Carr Late Disgorged Magnum 2004 (1.5L) ($399.00). House of Arras was born in 1995 as a project to create an Australian sparkling wine on parity with the world’s finest champagnes. Today, House of Arras is Australia’s most awarded sparkling wine brand with over 95 trophies and 242 gold medals. More details here.

Penfolds 2020 Releases, July 2020
The Penfolds Collection 2020 is a family of fine wines with white and red wine Australian vintages. Led by the 66th consecutive release of Grange retailing at $950. Penfolds is also launching a new wine blended from four Grange vintages, ‘Penfolds g4’, with ‘the exceptional’ 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2016 vintages. Only 2,500 bottles will sell for A$3,500. More details here.

Grand Barossa new look, August 2020
Château Tanunda has announced here a new look for their famous Grand Barossa wine as part of their 130th anniversary celebrations in 2020. Exported to Switzerland, UK and Denmark, the Geber-family owned winery is now targeting Australia with its first full retail release. Why? Shiraz sales in the Australian A$20-A$29 segment rose 7% in the past 12 months (MAT March IRC). The Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and retail for A$26.

De Bortoli releases 17 TREES wine
Australia’s De Bortoli has created another sustainable
wine range, 17 TREES. One of De Bortoli’s first sustainability projects in 2008 was to plant 17 trees for each company vehicle to offset carbon emissions. Now, it releases a new sustainability range, with 17 TREES Shiraz, Pinot Grigio and export wine, Chardonnay, giving a commitment to plant one tree for every six bottles sold. RRP $19.50. More details here.