Want to expand your palate? Try these six gold-medal wines from the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show

The Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show (AAVWS) has been a place to celebrate wines that fall outside the mainstream for an impressive 25 years. This year's AAVWS results are out now, and below, we're featuring six wines that took home a trophy or a gold medal.

Including a sangiovese rosé, fiano, assyrtiko, albariño and vermentino, the list below is perfect for any wine lover looking to expand their palate. Add these alternative wines to your list.

Gold-medal rosé: 2025 Chapel Hill The Parson Adelaide Sangiovese Rosé

Winemaker Michael Fragos say: The 2025 The Parson Sangiovese Rosé is a dry and textured style that capitalises on sangiovese’s delicious 'sweet' core of sour cherry fruit. 

H. What is special about this grape variety?
MF. Sangiovese is the ideal grape variety to make a dry and textured style of rosé due to its lower colour levels and relatively thin grape skins. The variety allows us to implement up to three hours of skin contact to obtain mouthfeel from the trademark varietal peppery tannins, as well as the moreish sour cherry fruit flavours, without extracting excessive colour.

Best enjoyed: The freshness, flavour and texture of tuna sashimi is elevated to new heights when paired with the finesse and succulence of this wine.

RRP $18 | Drink to 2027 | chapelhillwine.com.au | Shop this wine

Best White Italian Variety Wine: 2025 First Ridge Fiano

Winemaker James Manners says: This fiano recently won the Best Italian White Wine trophy at the Australian Alternative Variety Wine Show, further reinforcing the suitability of this variety in Mudgee. The 2025 is made with a combination of 30% wild fermentation for texture, which is further complemented by some passive extended lees contact. If you want something other than chardonnay, this may be your wine of choice.

H. What is special about this grape variety?
JM. Fiano is such a versatile variety and it is well suited to the Mudgee climate and soils of First Ridge. It maintains its freshness and acidity even in warmer years and can be made in a range of styles – from crisp and fruit driven to barrel-fermented styles. The bright stone fruit aromatics are the highlight for me.

Best enjoyed: Best enjoyed chilled. The added texture on this wine allows it to carry stronger food flavours. An amazing apéritif wine that will also work with crab and shellfish dishes. This wine will work with whatever you normally pair with chardonnay, despite not having any oak influence.

RRP $30 | Drink to 2028 | firstridge.com.au | Shop this wine

Gold-medal assyrtiko: 2025 Mallee Estate Káti Állo Assyrtiko

Winemaker Jim Markeas says: Mallee Estate was founded by my parents, Greek Immigrants Panagiotti and Eleni Markeas, in 1998. Myself and my brother, Arthur, now operate the winery and planted assyrtiko in honour of our parents. This wine won Best Organic Wine in Show and Best Single Vineyard Wine in Show at the 2025 Riverland Wine Show, Best Mediterranean White and Grand Champion Wine at the 2025 RASQ Australian Mediterranean Varieties Wine Show.

H. What is special about this grape variety?
JM. This is one of only two assyrtiko plantings in Australia so we are still getting to know this variety. It is perfectly suited to Australia's climate, requiring less water than the traditional varieties we grow.

Best enjoyed: Serve with fava and paximadia, seafood or chicken.

RRP $30 | Drink to 2029 | malleeestate.com.au | Shop this wine

Best White Iberian Variety Wine: 2024 Weathercraft Barrel Fermented Albariño

Winemaker Raquel Jones says: The Weathercraft albariño is barrel fermented for texture and quiet complexity, offering a savoury, refined expression of the variety. Biologically grown on our estate in Beechworth, it reflects a minerally-rich site and careful, minimal handling. It’s the result of planting albariño here despite the general consensus – a decision grounded in belief in our land and the variety’s potential to flourish here.

H. What is special about this grape variety?
RJ. Albariño brings bright acidity, citrus stone fruit character and a natural savoury edge, giving both freshness and texture. It’s gaining momentum across Australia as growers recognise its versatility and ability to excel in diverse regions. In Beechworth, it shows unexpected depth and precision, rewarding the conviction to plant it here on land that continues to produce wines of remarkable individuality and beauty.

Best enjoyed: Take the bottle out of the fridge for half an hour before serving to let the texture open. A Burgundy glass highlights its savoury detail. No need to decant, though a moment in the glass reveals more layers. It pairs beautifully with seafood, grilled vegetables, chicken, dishes with almond, lemon or subtle herbs or spice – anything that plays to its saline, textural charm.

RRP $45 | Drink to 2031 | weathercraft.com.au | Shop this wine

Gold-medal vermentino: 2025 First Ridge Vermentino

Winemaker James Manners says: Vermentino is a very versatile white variety that sits between pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc. The aromatic profile is often described as pineapple and lemon citrus fruit. The First Ridge example carries crisp acidity and primary fruit characters with no oak influence. Fermented cold with aromatic yeast, it is all about capturing the bright and crisp varietal signature of vermentino. Our 2025 Vermentino has also won a Trophy at the Mudgee Wine Show and a Silver medal at the NSW Wine Awards.

H. What is special about this grape variety?
JM. Its versatility as an apéritif or complement to a range of food. From a viticultural perspective, it seems to have found a second home in Mudgee. It tolerates warm and dry conditions without losing its freshness and acidity and can be made in a variety of styles – from fresh, unoaked wines to barrel-fermented/matured examples.

Best enjoyed: Best enjoyed chilled. It makes a wonderful glass of wine in its own right and will carry over into your meal. Lovely with crisp whitebait or your preferred seafood. Light summer pasta dishes as well as poached chicken and summer salads. Think light and fresh spring and summer dining options.

RRP $28 | Drink to 2028 | firstridge.com.au | Shop this wine

Gold-medal albariño: 2024 Mallee Estate Káti Állo Albariño

Winemaker Jim Markeas says: This albariño has been awarded back to back gold medals at the AAVWS. It is certified organic and sustainable. Estate grown, made and bottled to reduce our carbon footprint.

H. What is special about this grape variety?
JM. Albariño thrives in the Mediterranean climate of the Riverland GI. It retains impressive acidity well into the growing season, allowing us to pick when some tropical flavours have begun to develop in the berries.

Best enjoyed: Serve at 8°C with a cheese platter, lightly fried calamari and dolmades.

RRP $30 | Drink to 2027 | malleeestate.com.au | Shop this wine

Top image credit: First Ridge

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