Two grapes that shouldn't work as well as they do. Los Compañeros translates to "the companions" — Shiraz doing the heavy lifting, Tempranillo showing up with its own ideas about spice and structure. Buddy-cop energy, not a blend by committee. Blueberry and dark cherry up front, a choc-mint streak running through the middle, baking spice and a savoury tannin grip holding the back end together. Full to medium-bodied, oak kept well out of the way, drinks easily without drinking simple.

Richard and Malcolm Leask have been farming McLaren Vale for over forty years, but the Breakneck Creek Chenin is brand new — first crop from a block regenerated in 2023, on the eastern escarpment of the Vale tucked into the foothills above the Gulf. Whole-bunch pressed, long cold ferment in tank, 20% in old oak. Apple, guava, salted lime, ginger, beeswax. Crisp and fleshy, briny and chalky underneath. Chenin finding its feet in a new postcode. Exciting times.

Zinfandel seems scary until you get to know the guy. Aka Primitivo, the high acid and distinctive nose are hard to ignore, all primary fruits and jammy berry compote. On the palate there's lovely liquorice, burnt sugar and a little smoke. Moderate tannin. Big Easy Radio never disappoint when it comes to 'good time' Mediteranean wines, approachable enough to drink any day of the week, memorable enough to crack for special as well. A big yes from us.

A sessionable little Sang from the crew in the Vale. Made for sharing and low tannin slurping, it’s an easy drinker that’s seen more stainless steel than oak, letting cherries and rhubarb run wild, with a little black pepper kick. Chill it down at midday, get stuck in while the sun’s still high in the sky and savour its refreshing acidity. 

First crop from Breakneck Creek, a block on the eastern escarpment of McLaren Vale regenerated in 2023, tucked into the foothills above the Gulf. The Tinto is Shiraz made the way the name suggests — Spanish for red, and all the joy that implies. Nouveau-ish in style, slurpy and dark-fruited. Elderflower, purple fruit, cocoa, herbs and pepper keeping it honest. Fine tannin underneath, not a bruiser. Chill it slightly, don’t overthink it.

Truly transporting rosé; fit for fairyland, or at least one heck of a garden party. Mouthwateringly crisp, crunching with bright acidity. There's a spritz of red apple, white strawberry and blooming blossom on the nose, and an indulgently creamy mouthfeel to finish. Quality Grenache fruit, pressed off skins direct to stainless. A few months on lees, and there's not much else to it; just patience and a little bit of magic.

This is not a club sandwich, but it’s got layers. Bitter herbs, perfumed Bergamot, and a crisp splash of Prosecco—stacked up like your taste buds ordered the deluxe. "I like my spritzes with a slice of citrus and lemon verbena" "So do I!" Well, let's form a club then. You’ve had a club sandwich, now try a Club Spritz. No crusts, all flavour.

This hand crafted drop from Langhorne Creek fruit puts a new spin on a timeless style. Its velvety texture with a blackberry and cherry backbone complemented by soft spice elements, like cinnamon and clove, make for a very smooth and bright glass - time after time. Food wine, couch wine, beach wine, bonfire wine. You do you.

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains has spent most of its life making sweet, perfumed things — Beaumes-de-Venise, Rivesaltes, all of it sticky and luscious. The Leasks have other ideas.  Bottled crisp and bone dry, bracingly so. Grapefruit, purple flowers, lemon zest, and bitter tonic. Saline and zippy underneath, a lick of talc and sea spray on the finish. Everything the grape is known for — the florals, the aromatics, the exoticism — but stripped of the sweetness and recast as something sharp and coastal. Petit by name only.

Alpha Box & Dice newest iteration of the ever favoured Tarot Rosé has hand-picked Grenache sitting very pretty. Everything we want in a rosé, a gentle pressing on this McLaren Flat fruit has wondrous notes at play. Delicate fruit notes, fine boned acidity and a little mineral flare on the dry finish. Dare we even say a little savoury lean? Crunchy red apples, fresh strawberries, soft blossoms and salinity. Slurpability is high.

McLaren Vale Tempranillo can be stunningly robust and ever so shapely. Big Easy Radio have turned out a sumptuous, softly spiced rendition of a red wine that drinks dangerously easy. Black and red cherries, with a little liquorice, a little strawberry, a little leather. Full of fruit but with a smooth, velvety finish. McLaren Vale Tempranillo so seldom disappoints, and we love a version like this that feels by turns brooding, then bright.

Mencía is Iberian by birth, Galician to be precise — the grape behind Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra, built for granite soils and Atlantic air. Richard Leask planted it on Sand Road in 2021 because it suits the Vale’s warmth and barely drinks any water. Smart farming and good instincts in equal measure. Twelve days gentle extraction, eight months in neutral oak, nothing heavy-handed. The result is floral and pulpy — raspberry pastille, a little spice, pomegranate and cherry cola, pithy tannins with a fine seam of acid keeping it honest.

A smashing little Pinot Noir from Unico Zelo in the affordable Tropo lineup, the wine for everyone. If you’re looking for a pure and light iteration of the variety at this price point, it’s a no-brainer. Apple and cherries on top with smoke and earth in support. Blueberries with fresh tannins, no oak just them easy-drinking vibes. Hard to go past. 

Pinot Noir is said to tell stories of place; and what a tale this one tells. Crisp air and rolling vineyards, ancient soils, and vine vigour. Summer berries and undergrowth, lifted perfume and flickering fine tannins. Warming peppery spice, the most delicate crushed herbs and lithe gamey notes. So much to love here, almost impossible to believe these are early days. A wine that will leave you dreaming of distant hillsides.

Adelaide Hills shiraz sounds like a contradiction on paper — shiraz wants heat, the Hills don't really do heat. L'Optimiste is the argument for it anyway. Whole berry ferment keeps things fragrant rather than heavy — dark cherry, fennel and violets, a dusting of pot-pourri spice underneath. Mid-weight, textured tannins, snappy acid holding the line. Shiraz that's put a cardigan on rather than stripped off in the sun. Optimism, justified.

Lenswood sits at the pointy end of the Adelaide Hills — high, cool, and mostly responsible for convincing sceptics that Australian pinot doesn't have to be a joke. This one comes from right in the thick of it. No sprawling backstory needed here — Lenswood Hills lets the address do the talking. Site over story. Ripe cherry and pomegranate up front, a dusting of baking spice and something faintly savoury underneath — cool-climate structure doing the heavy lifting. The kind of pinot that stays interesting glass after glass instead of just being pretty. Cool climate. Warm reward.

A blonde bombshell returns. Stout of bottle and of heart, the ToZzo Vermentino packs sundrenched fruit from the Riverland's fruitbowl, Berri's Santalum Grove Vineyard, and the Henosh Vineyard of the Adelaide Plains, to bring you a wild fermented dreamboat. Round and ready, with a subtly creamy mouthfeel and a bold citrus-led palate. Crisp, fresh, utterly drinkable Vermentino.

From our friends at Barossa’s Palmetto Wine Co. comes a Pinot Noir that absolutely nails the brief. Vegan friendly and friendly on the wallet too, rejoice in a relaxed mix of fresh red cherry and black pepper, soft tannin and lifted acidity. A solid all-rounder fit to gain approval from all the friendship group’s palates.

Montepulciano is a central Italian’s idea of a big night out — deep colour, robust tannins, that ferrous, bloody edge that makes you want something substantial in front of you. The Leasks planted it on Sand Road because the warm maritime climate of the Vale fits like a glove. First 100% varietal release from the property. Blackberry tart, iodine, rosemary, dark chocolate. Grainy tannins with real grip, bright acidity keeping it from going heavy. Not a shy wine. Doesn’t pretend to be.

Forever relevant thanks to its neverending flexibility, Blush Ramato by Italian Plastic is powered by Pinot Grigio, fermented on skins for three weeks to draw out soft peach, watermelon and pear with a hint of pepper. Sandy loam over schist bedrock soils set up an elegant structure - cellar this one happily for up to ten years.