Feudo Arancio 2023 Nero d'Avola

 

Feudo Arancio, which means Orange Grove in Italian, is wine label imported by Single Vineyard Sellers that is known for offering excellent drinking from Sicily at very reasonable prices. This is a lovely take on the indigenous Nero d'Avola grape with a tidy balance between dark fruit and more earthy/savoury notes. There is plenty of weight and flavour here for a budget buy, but also some quiet Sicilian swagger. You could pair this with pasta and ragu, or roast lamb cutlets, or take it to your local Italian BYO. Value and versatility. $22.  https://www.feudoarancio.it/en-gb

Soumah 2025 Nebbiolo Bianco

 

Artisan Yarra Valley producer Soumah is a reliably excellent producer of Italian-accented wines, with this summer refresher a prime example. The name is a bit of a misnomer - there is no grape with the official name of Nebbiolo Bianco; it is a nickname for the arneis grape, which is credited on the back label. Arneis is often grown alongside prized red grapes in Piedmont to attract the birds, hence the name. Crisp and lively and designed for enjoying chilled, this would be perfect for pairing with grilled sardines, or a plate of fritto misto. Intense citrus and stone fruit flavours and bright acid are key elements here. $35. https://soumah.com.au/  

Hay Shed Hill 2023 Block 2 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

An outstanding example of Margaret River cabernet that has settled nicely with some time in bottle. Hay Shed Hill is a reliably good producer and Block 2 was planted over 50 years ago, producing fruit with intensity and elegance. This is a wine that will certainly find favour with lovers of Left Bank Bordeaux. Deeply coloured, this has classic dark fruit flavours with dusty hints. The oak is well integrated and the tannins finish with rewarding softness. You could cellar this, but it it is already enticing. We paired it with rare roast lamb - a most amiable combo. $63. https://hayshedhill.com.au/ 

Mr Riggs 2025 Generation Series Mrs Riggs Pinot Gris

 

I tend to associate experienced McLaren Vale winemaker Ben Riggs with red wines, but this excellent pinot gris made from Adelaide Hills fruit proves he is also a dab hand with whites. This is actually more grigio than gris in style, with some fresh florals leading on to bright, white stone fruit flavours and some brisk, food-friendly acid. Riggs has not been a fan of the variety in the past but was impressed by the quality of the fruit from a Woodside vineyard. I'm not a massive pg fan either, but this offers terrific summer drinking and excellent value. $24. https://mrriggs.com.au/

Keyneton Ridge 2024 Reserve Pinot Noir

Kyneton Ridge is a label worth keeping an eye on, The Kyneton Ridge vineyard and winery is situated in the Macedon Ranges, around an north-west of Melbourne and home to several excellent producers. This is a very varietal pinot noir from family winemaker Patrick Wood with a nice balance between youthful juicy fruit flavours and more savoury characters. It is very much a small-batch production, with just 200 cases made from fruit grown on the estate vineyard. The 12 months its has spent in quality French oak adds some impressive texture to the vibrant fruit and earthy/undergrowth notes. This would be good with Chinese roast duck. $50. https://kynetonridge.com.au/

Tapanappa 2025 Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay

Made by veteran wine industry guru Brian Croser from fruit grown in a 40+-years-old vineyard in the Adelaide Hills, this is a chardonnay that neatly straddles power and precision. From a warm, dry year, the grapes were picked earlier than ever before but the fruit miraculously retained high acid levels. The end result is a riper, richer iteration of this wine with intense stone-fruit flavours to the fore, but smart winemaking has resulted in brightness and texture with finishing acid that offers immediate drinking pleasure. Pair this with a roast pork and crackling. Superb! $60. www.tapanappa.com.au       

Coriole 2022 Lloyd Reserve Shiraz

What a striking wine this is, full of intensity, complexity and potential. Using fruit from some of the oldest vines in McLaren Vale - over 100 years old - this is named in honour of Hugh Lloyd, who founded Coriole in 1967. It is a wine that would grace any dinner party, or a special occasion paired with rich, red meat dishes. There is a lot happening on the palate, but it all coalesces beautifully; dark fruit, impressive oak, spice notes, depth, length and lovely tannin structure. You can enjoy this now, but my gut suggests cellaring will pay dividends. It is big and assertive right now; a heavyweight that will develop into a slick middleweight. $120. coriole.com