From bubbles, rosé, riesling, and sauvignon blanc to lesser-known grapes like vermentino, fiano and chenin blanc – these 10 wines are fruity, fresh and ready to drink this summer.
2022 Chaffey Bros. Wine Co. NOT YOUR GRANDMA’S Barossa Rosé
Evocatively aromatic, juicy, bright and pure. Hints of pink grapefruit, guava, strawberries and pomegranate. Sweet spice, soft natural acidity and creaminess from the old vine grenache, with a savoury lick via the mourvèdre…perfectly balanced, delivering mouth-watering crunch with juicy texture for a lingering and dry finish. Handcrafted, cool fermented with minimal intervention and unfined, giving it slick texture and making it vegan friendly.Winemaker Daniel Chaffey Hartwig says: 'Rosé all day' vibes – this wine offers refreshment, provenance, and riotous fun all in one. There's nothing quite like those tranquil balmy nights on the deck, with a glass of NOT YOUR GRANDMA’S Rosé in hand. You’re set for summer. This gold-medal winner – made from Barossa grenache and mourvèdre – delivers serious rosé cred, dressed in a fresh set of threads.
H. What is the ultimate summer food pairing for this wine?
DCH. This wine really sings when enjoyed with phở bo, sticky ribs, chilli snapper, or simply a picnic with your favourite friends.
RRP $23 | Drink to 2024 | chaffeybros.com
2022 Berton Vineyards Metal Label Vermentino
Pale lime in colour with silver hues. Herbaceous aromas of citrus and green apple meld with lemon sherbet notes. On the palate, lush flavours of honeydew melon, lime and pineapple flourish with crisp acidity providing a mineral aspect to the persistent finish.Winemaker Matthew Santos says: This wine is very food-friendly and matches perfectly with a great range of fresh seafood dishes. It's crisp and refreshing, filled with tropical fruit flavours such as lime, green apple and pineapple. It's perfect for the warmer weather!
H. What is the ultimate summer food pairing for this wine?
MS. Enjoy with light dishes like fried calamari or tempura prawns.
RRP $14 | Drink to 2024 | bertonvineyards.com.au
2022 Dogrock Degraves Road Riesling
Fruit was hand-harvested early March from our three estate blocks. Following a gentle crush and short skin contact, the fruit was basket-pressed with the juice allowed to settle for 24 hours prior to racking. No enzymes or fining agents were used during winemaking. Juice was allowed to start fermentation using natural yeast from the vineyard and over seeded with a very small amount of QA23 after four days. The ferment was slow and cool and went to dryness in two weeks. The resulting wine has lifted aromatics of guava, citrus and a balanced, fresh, textural and dry finish. Matured for four months on yeast lees, the wine is an outstanding example of single vineyard wines from the Pyrenees. The wine can be enjoyed early with seafood and pasta but will also age beautifully for 20–30 years.Winemaker Allen Hart says: It's fresh and vibrant with a lovely juicy palate and enticing aromatic lift. It just makes you want to reach for another glass (but in a responsible way, of course).
H. What is the ultimate summer food pairing for this wine?
AH. Fresh seafood or any Asian dishes will land you in heaven.
RRP $30 | Drink to 2045 | dogrock.com.au
2022 McKellar Ridge Wines Sauvignon Blanc
Fresh tropical fruit aromas with pineapple, passionfruit and white peach palate. Made in a dry style with refreshing balanced natural acidity.Winemakers John and Marina Sekoranja say: This trophy winner has a subtle tropical fruit profile of pineapple, peach and passionfruit that will set the scene for your next summer soirée. The 2022 is deliciously refreshing with a crisp, tangy lingering finish.
H. What is the ultimate summer food pairing for this wine?
JS & MS. Pair with an Asian prawn and mango salad with chilli jam, lime and coriander is a perfect match, followed closely by a soft and flavoursome cheese (goat's cheese or a creamy blue will do the trick).
RRP $28 | Drink to 2025 | mckellarridgewines.com.au
2019 Santa & D'Sas …ish King Valley Fiano
On the nose, the fiano displays aromas of hazelnuts, guava and subtle marjoram spice. Wrapping around a core of chalky minerality are flavours of nectarine, guava and melon. Bringing it all together is a lemon pith, bitter almond character that complements the wickedly savoury and textured finish.Winemakers Andrew Santarossa and Matthew Di Sciascio say: For us, summer dining is all about seafood. No matter how it's prepared, whether it's Asian or Mediterranean styles, or simply grilled on a barbecue, the ...ish Fiano is the perfect white wine to enjoy with your favourite seafood.
H. What is the ultimate summer food pairing for this wine?
AS & MDS. We're very diverse diners in Australia and this wine isn't just great with Italian food, it's great with Thai, Vietnamese, Greek, Indian...or whatever takes your fancy.
RRP $25 | Drink to 2032 | santandsas.com.au
2022 Flock Rosé
Salmon in appearance, the bouquet bursts with ripe fruits of strawberry, raspberry and blueberries. With strawberry gum leaf, pomegranate and a sweet-toned pink marshmallow on the nose. The palate is fresh and lively with citrus notes of ruby grapefruit, pawpaw with red and blue bubblegum characters. Creamy tones are also woven around these notes which intertwine with bready and yeast characters creating a deep complexity. The finish is clean, refreshing and long with notes of grapefruit and Davidson plum.Winemaker Stuart Dudine says: After meeting at a wine tasting and discovering our shared love for rosé, Brenden Robnik and I set out to create our own collaborative project, Flock Rosé, celebrating Provincial style rosé grown in the heart of the Yarra Valley. This rosé is red-fruit driven, dry and lively with a wonderful natural acid profile. The wine is lavish and extremely refreshing, which makes it almost impossible to stop at one glass.
H. What is the ultimate summer food pairing for this wine?
SD. Our rosé can be enjoyed with good company, but if you're after a chilled summer food match, try this rosé with fish tacos and a red cabbage slaw. For a vegan match, try blistered tomatoes and basil on a bed of grilled polenta, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
RRP $28 | Drink to 2024 | wineanimal.com.au
2022 Tumblong Hills Estate Chenin Blanc
Lifted aromas of honeysuckle, pear and quince. The palate is lively and textural with pear juice and ginger flavours and a crisp acid finish.Winemaker Simon Robertson says: The wine is fresh and has a beautiful structure. The palate is lively and has a distinctive texture from the time spent on lees. This chenin has taken home a trophy at the NSW Wine Awards, as well as awards at the QLD Wine Awards, Royal Melbourne Wine Awards, the Australian Chenin Blanc Competition, and the Canberra Wine Show. It will pair perfectly with any Christmas feast.
H. What is the ultimate summer food pairing for this wine?
SR. Pair this chenin with lighter meats like veal and pork. It also drinks well with seafood dishes, soft cheeses and salads.
RRP $27 | Drink to 2028 | tumblonghills.com
2022 Wirra Wirra Mrs Wigley Rosé
A fresh, lifted bouquet with delightful notes of rose water and summer berry pudding. Bright and energetic with a juicy acidity – reminiscent of fresh yellow plums. The palate is awash with berry fruit character and maintains a dry, chalky tension with moreish bitter orange complexities. Drink fresh and young.Senior winemaker Emma Wood says: The 2022 Mrs Wigley Rosé is the colour of a perfect beach summer sunset, with textural sea spray salinity and a silky, savoury finish.
H. What is the ultimate summer food pairing for this wine?
EW. We drink the 2022 Mrs Wigley chilled, with fresh jetty-caught squid, lightly seasoned and chargrilled.
RRP $22 | Drink now | wirrawirra.com
NV Santa & D'Sas Prosecco
Distinctive and fragrant nose of apple blossom, fresh apple and melon aromas along with the faintest hint of elderflowers. Crisp, clean and delicate with fine bubbles on the palate. Intense flavours of apples and pear lead to a finish with lingering fruit and floral notes.Winemakers Andrew Santarossa and Matthew Di Sciascio say: In Australia our summer is dominated by the festive season where we catch up with family and friends over dinner, a picnic in the park, on the beach or perhaps a barbecue in the backyard. Our prosecco is a dry style (just g/L RS) which is the perfect wine for these occasions.
H. What is the ultimate summer food pairing for this wine?
AS & MDS. Serve at 6–8 degrees, alongside panzerotti and salumi or fried canapés. Our favourite pairing is a glass of prosecco with freshly shucked oysters.
RRP $24 | Drink now | santandsas.com.au
2022 Pikes Traditionale Riesling
Brilliant pale straw with green hues. Lifted aromas of perfume, citrus blossom and fresh lime dominate with a talcy/mineral note. All the hallmarks of an excellent vintage. A crisp acid driven wine, exuding all the flavours of lime. Leaf, juice, blossom and even cordial on the palate. The highly concentrated fruit driven mid-palate is wound around a core of fine acid that balances and extends the finish perfectly.Senior winemaker Andrew Kenny says: The Traditionale is fresh, bright and juicy. Balanced citrus fruits with crunchy texture provide for a refreshing wine with some serious length. This wine is about capturing Clare Valley – a subregional blend with an emphasis on drinkability.
H. What is the ultimate summer food pairing for this wine?
AK. Try the 2022 with barbecued fried scallops and a mango, red chilli and green lime salsa.
RRP $27 | Drink to 2032 | pikeswines.com.au
