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.

Combining Semillon and friends, this wine is named for a delightfully wicked feline friend named Lulu, a regular at Darlinghurst’s Darlo Bar. Made fabulously fresh, this is a playfully easy-going skinsy wine designed for knocking back with mates — wherever you decide your ‘bar’ is today. Yours or mine?

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.

Mazi might be calling this their Rosé’s ‘second act’, but we think this feels more like the origin story. From the Mataro and Grenache that fuel their much-loved dry Rosé, Mazi have taken the gutsiest juice of each to craft a light and pretty dry red. Fine and aromatic, cranberry and red cherry, asian spice and violets set the tone for a real beauty.

Edenflo’s, Andrew Wardlaw is whipping up some cracking lo-fi wines up Eden Valley way. Here, it’s a blend of skin contact Semillion, Chardonnay and viognier that makes for a stunningly complex, textural and easy-as-you-like sessionable orange wine. Detailed aromas and flavours of citrus, apple, lemongrass and keffir lime dance with hints of exotic souk-like spice and blossomy top-notes. The sweet tug of tannin seduces and there is a lovely flow and cadence to its form. Captivating stuff.

Pamona Sauv B comes from an anonymous hand we’re happy to keep secret. Herbal lift of lemon myrtle and Meyer lemon zest, then a burst of tropicals—passionfruit and grapefruit pith. Juicy yet precise, it snaps shut on a clean, dry finish. Mystery solved: it’s dangerously drinkable.

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.

Several of Italy's vinous all-stars appear in this fantastical line-up, a co-fermented collab between Nero d'Avola, Montepulciano and Aglianico (with a little Grenache in the mix as well). Dark-fruited and deep, expect black cherry jam, marzipan, white pepper and plums. With a sprinkling of delicate tannin, this is a tongue-tickling, lip-licking stand-out from the 2022 vintage, smashing and accessible.

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. 

How does this Vermentino stand out from others found in Australia? For us, it’s the texture, which was crafted by spending six weeks on fine lees, with twice weekly stirring. Everything else you’d expect is there too – citrus, stone fruit, a pleasant lick of brine – and a lively acidity.

This is true Cab-Sav-lover's Cabernet Sauvignon, fragrant with blackcurrant, mint, dark chocolate and eucalypt. Cooler in profile, this is a wine that showcases the Adelaide Hills' great climate for deeper, darker reds, drinking excellently young and displaying endless potential with time plus cellaring. Pour with pasta, slow cooked meats and decadent desserts.

Pamona Shiraz wears its mystery lightly: blackberry compote and candied florals on the nose, then a rush of ripe blue-and-black fruits in a fresh, medium-full frame. Savoury herbs chime in; plummy tannins finish the chorus. Crowd-pleasing yet grown-up—weeknight steak to Saturday slow-cook, it nails the brief.

The perfect red with a bit of chill, this hit our shelves just in time for the holidays. Weird huh? From quality organic Zerella vineyards in Tatachilla, and a little from Peters Creek, hand picked, carbonic maceration, saw a natural ferment. A tote bag wine of currants, red cherries, herbs and red peppers. Don’t think, drink.