Don't let pronunciation put you off, Zweigelt is a 10/10 grape variety and Hahndorf Hill is very much its home away from home. This much awarded red has been recognised with awards as far afield as Vienna and Germany, but it drinks perfectly in the here and the now. Gorgeous garnet in colour, with a youthful, purple edge and a perfumed nose. Raspberries, cherries and gentle spice are complemented by a robust tannin structure. Vegan friendly to boot. Yum.

All berries, no stems. Splitting the pack, half is left on skins for a week, half is pressed immediately. Both elements added back to the blend for a textural, mostly white, ever-so-slightly orange wine with notes of tropical fruit and a beautiful acid drive. Super refreshing finish, like a dive into the ocean at Long Beach.

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.

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.

Here’s a cruisey little red-fruited ripper, ready for your next get together. A cohesive collision of Malbec, Montepulciano, Sangiovese and a subtle splash of Merlot. This relaxed blend is aged in older oak and stainless steel lacing it with cherries, raspberries, and moreish acidity. So versatile, so glou-gable. 

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.

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.

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.

Fragrant fruit from three aromatic white grapes and three celebrated SA regions. Six months on lees cranks the volume on layers of citrus peel, jasmine and blossom, with lip-smacking citrus freshness, herbs and a sprinkle of salt shaping a gorgeous quencher to please mature and rookie palates alike.

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.

Handpicked, single vineyard Clare Valley Riesling from the AB&D crew – this is their newest iteration that was first inspired by a ‘very special’ riesling from the ‘70s that changed Australia’s attitude towards wine forever. This year, it's dry in style. The prestige of Clare Valley shining through, a fresh and lively wine driven by lemon and white blossom.

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 Prosecco from the crew at Alpha Box & Dice positively glows in almost every way. Taking inspiration from the The Sun Card from the Tarot deck, in the glass it is gently bubbly, with a swirling bouquet of apple, blossom and pear. A dry style AKA how a Prosecco is supposed to be. It’s perfect on its own, or in a Spritz. 

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.

Pucker up– this lighter, fresher Cab Sauv is macerated on skins just two days, creating a fresh expression of the variety that drinks gorgeously at room temp, or brings surprising refreshment factor when chilled ten minutes. Sour cherries and slight bitterness are rounded by nuttier, savoury notes for a lip-smacking swift sipper.

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.

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.

There’s sunshine in these bottles. It has all the zesty acidity and juicy pear freshness that a Chenin Blanc promises. Crisp Granny Smith apples and an air of summer grass and sea spray. A lot of texture, a little ray of sunshine. Endlessly refreshing for a fleetingly delectable time.

This is not a club sandwich, but it’s got layers. Juicy peach, floral hibiscus, 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 a sprig of rosemary." "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.

What's light and red and yum all over? This. The Mezzanine Light Red sees the A-team at Edenflo pulling together a few of SA's big-shot wine regions, a minimal intervention mingling of the state's all-stars in one beautiful bottle. Young and bright, incorrigibly fresh. Plush with pomegranates, cranberry zip and soft, smokey complexity. You'll be tempted to guzzle, but there's lees-influenced nuance well worth savouring. Presumably so-named as it's on another level.