Gundog Estate 2026 The Chase Semillon

There are a lot of wine lovers who adore the complexity of aged semillon. For me the magic of fresh, newly bottled semillon has an even greater allure. This is a new release from Matt Burton at Gundog Estate in the Hunter Valley, Australia's semillon heartland. It is one of three 2026 semillons - Wild Semillon and Off-Dry Semillon are the others. Made from mature vines, it is is a very brisk, feisty young white with fresh natural acidity and lively citrus/Granny Smith notes. This would pair with anything from sardines on toast to a summer picnic. Pure, unoaked, carbon neutral and Vegan friendly. $35. https://gundogestate.com.au/    

Turkey Flat 2026 Rosé

 

For several years now this wine has been a benchmark for dry rosés that are perfect for the Australian lifestyle. It is dry and refreshing, fresh and vibrant, and pairs with a wide range of food styles. Made by the Schulz family, long-tine Barossa producers, this made from grenache grapes and was released alongside an equally impressive 2026 Pinot Gris, which is actually more grigio in style. Aromatic, crisp and zingy, this has summer berry, pink grapefruit and Turkish Delight notes. Best served well chilled and its youth. $30. https://turkeyflat.com.au/

Pig In The House 2026 Pinot Grigio

The 2026 releases under the Pig In the house label from the O’Dea family's organic Windowrie Wines operation in the Central Ranges of NSW are right on target for fun, affordable summer drinking. The picpoul is excellent and I also thoroughly enjoyed the organic rosé. With PGs very much in vogue, this is probably going to be the most popular - a wine full of youthful verve that is ideal for serving chilled across a range of food styles. This is pale, but bright and enthusiastic. Flavoursome with zesty citrus notes and nice bight acidity. Well made and terrific value. Distributed by Single Vineyard Sellers. $28. https://www.windowrie.com.au/collections/pig-in-the-house

Kyneton Ridge 2025 Vermentino

Vermentino is a white grape variety that thrives in warmer climes and is found across Italy, primarily in Sardinia, Liguria, Corsica, Piedmont and Tuscany. It boomed in Australia briefly but appears to have ceded popularity to fellow Italian variety fiano. That's a pity because when well done, as is the case here in Victoria's Macedon Ranges, it has a lot to offer as a food-friendly wine for enjoying chilled. The palate offers fresh, lively melange of tropical and stone fruit flavours with a saline element. This would be excellent paired with pan-fried whitebait. $35. https://kynetonridge.com.au/  

Longview 2021 The Piece Shiraz

Longview, at Macclesfield in the Adelaide Hills, is a delightful spot to visit for a wine tasting: lovely views, excellent food and wines that offer terrific value. This is a special release - hard to find in retail - that is probably worth the journey on its own. Back in 2011, the Saturno family launched The Piece Project, which annually invited four street artists to to create murals live, in front of a crowd. Each winner is awarded not only a cash prize but also the label of premium shiraz label The Piece Shiraz. Illustrated by Tim Phibbs, this is a superb cool-climate shiraz, shining at five years of age. It is dark, for sure, and also intense and savoury, while remaining well balanced. We enjoyed it with beef casserole and herbed dumplings, but it could easily be cellared for a decade or more and saved for a special occasion. $120. https://www.longviewvineyard.com.au/

Ten Minutes by Tractor 2025 McCutcheon Pinot Noir

I was all set to review the very impressive 2025 Wallis pinot noir, but then this stablemate from the same Mornington Peninsula producer just edged it. Just. Winemaker Imogen Dillon is in fine form with her recent releases. A product of what vigneron Martin Spedding describes as a "magnificent" vintage, this is a cool-climate Main Ridge pinot from the top order; beautifully balanced, classically flavoured and immediately appealing. Quality fruit has been aided by 11  months in new and old French oak. Think dark fruits and silky tannins. I could easily drink copious amounts of this one. Pair with classic French dishes, or take a bottle along to your neighbourhood bistro on BYO night. $98. https://www.tenminutesbytractor.com.au/    

Moss Wood 2026 Amy's Cuvée Blanc

 

This is one of the simpler wines in the impressive Moss Wood range, but with spring upon us it is a very good choice for enjoying al fresco. This new vintage release is a blend of semillon and sauvignon blanc, two grape varieties that thrive in Margaret River. There is plenty of tropical and citrus flavours on offer here, along with some light oak influence and plenty of crisp acid on the palate. This fresh, youthful wine can confidently be paired with seafood or poultry dishes. Delightful drinking $46. https://www.mosswood.com.au/   

Brockenchack 2026 On Point Pinot Grigio

 

It's been a while since I've seen wines from Eden Valley producer Brockenchack but this one stood out for both quality and value, particularly with the arrival of spring and a change towards lighter dishes that would match with this vibrant, zingy dry white with widespread appeal. It is full of the joys of youth. Freshness and purity are the aims here: mission achieved. There is an appealing combo of citrus and tropical flavours on the brisk palate, and this would be excellent with pan-fried whitebait, or salt and pepper squid. Fresh, zingy and ready to enjoy chilled. $23. https://brockenchackwines.shop/

Zema Estate 2019 Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

 

The Zema family has been making high-quality red wines from Coonawarra for well over 40 years - and they are kind enough to do the cellaring for you before releasing their reliably excellent Family Selection wines. This is seven years old and absolutely outstanding. It is a complete package, with length, depth, structure and sophistication. It's ready to enjoy now, but will also cellar for several more years. It is classic Coonawarra in style - and a perfect match for rich red meat dishes. We finished a bottle of this in quick smart time - and that is a very rare occurrence nowadays. Great buying for $45. https://zema.com.au/

Grosset 2026 Springvale Riesling

 

Jeffrey Grosset's Polish Hill Riesling is widely regarded as Australia's benchmark for the style and the new 2026 release ($85) is outstanding. If you are on a restricted budget, however, the 2026 Springvale, made from Watervale fruit, is very close to being its equal this Clare Valley vintage. It also offers biodynamic excellence, classic pithy citrus notes, impressive minerality and immediate appeal. It's aromatic, intense, structured and bloody delicious when paired with seafood dishes, or Asian flavours. Just lovely. It's unfined, Vegan- and vegetarian-friendly and is released this week. Be quick. $58. https://www.grosset.com.au/

Running With Bulls 2025 Not Quite Red Grenache

 

Lighter, fresher, fruiter reds are very much in vogue right now; and this "drink now" release from Hill-Smith Family Estates is an excellent example of the trend. Vibrant and refreshing, it is eminently suitable for serving chilled alongside modern flavours. The winemaking team recommend serving this with bao buns, sticky pork, or halloumi fries with chilli honey; perfect examples of the dishes young Australians are enjoying. The fruit is fresh and vibrant grenache from the Barosss, so think lively berry flavours and a hint of spice. And minimal oak. By all means chill this, but not too much. For those who care about such things, it is certified sustainable and Vegan friendly. I'm more impressed by the slurpability. $21. https://www.smithswinestore.com.au/running-with-bulls/  

Cooks Lot 2025 Handpicked Chardonnay

What an excellent value wine this is from chef-turned-winemaker Duncan Cook, whose new release chardonnay and pinot noir from cool Orange in central western NSW both shine. Handpicking and sorting to select the best fruit have paid off in a big way in a white that offers a lot of drinking pleasure for a very modest price. The quality fruit is the star of the show here despite the use of more new and newish French oak barriques. This is a wine with impressive structure thanks to barrel fermentation with partial solids and lees aging, but it also offers immediate food-friendly drinkability. Add roast pork and crackling and you have a cracking weekend feast. Cooks Lot is a name worth looking at. $35. https://www.cookslot.com.au/

Clonkilla 2026 Riesling

 

The Canberra wine region produces some of Australia's best rieslings - and this new release from the the the Kirk family and the Clonakilla team at Murrumbateman is a case in point. Despite coming from a difficult year - think frost, hail and a heatwave - this is an excellent wine. It leaps out of the glass with vibrant youthful enthusiasm. Aromatics, tropical lime juice notes, green apple flavours and brisk acid combine on a plate that demands to be paired with fresh oysters, pan-fried fish or a Thai chicken curry, Serve chilled. Drink now. Order another bottle. $40. https://clonakilla.com.au  

Les Dauphins 2024 Cotes du Rhone Reserve

 

There's a bargain sliver of the French summer in this juicy/spicy Cotes du Rhone made from grapes grown on the southern French hillsides. Think a warm day on a Provencal terrace with some local rillettes, a baguette, and maybe a salad Nicoise. That's the vibe from this savoury grenache/shiraz blend imported by Single Vineyard Sellers. It's very easy to drink with dark fruit flavours to the fore, some Asian spice market notes and a smooth, supple finish. An excellent option for when you want to try something a little bit different. $20.  

Wirra Wirra 2025 The Absconder Grenache

McLaren Vale grenache is noted for its juicy fruit generosity and immediate appeal, but this new release from Wirra Wirra also offers depth and complexity along with that joyous spirit. Think dark berry flavours, concentration and suppleness on the palate from a warm and successful vintage. Open fermenters, a portion of whole-bunch material, basket pressing and time in older oak puncheons have added to the artwork. Much of the fruit comes from bush vines planted in 1960. The wine is named after Wirra Wirra’s founder Robert Wigley, a notorious bon vivant who was involved in the ‘acquisition’ of the famous Adelaide pie cart in days gone by. The bad news: this will not be released until September 3. I'd pre-order if I were you. $80. https://wirrawirra.com/

Ross Hill 2025 Pinnacle Series Chardonnay

This is one of a range of impressive new releases from respected Orange wine producer Ross Hill under its Pinnacle Series label, made by winemaker Chris Jessop. It is a very classy cool-climate chardonnay that delivers excellent bang for your buck. Jessop reports the 2025 vintage was extremely favourable, allowing fruit to achieve excellent balance and concentration with minimal intervention. Family-owned Ross Hill is located just outside Orange and has been certified Carbon Neutral for a decade. The quality fruit from 20+ year-old vines grown at altitude is the hero here with oak in the background. Available nationally via Domaine Wine Shippers. This would pair well with dishes ranging from roast chicken with savoury stuffing to a scallop pie. $40. rosshillwines.com.au

Lyons Will Estate 2025 Gamay

 

Gamay is a delightful grape variety that is sadly under-used in Australia. Best known for Beaujolais and some Loire Valley reds, it offers lighter style drinking and can be enjoyed lightly chilled. Thank goodness for producers like Lyons Will Estate in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria, where Renata Morello makes two different expressions of gamay. This is a vibrant drink now style, with 40% whole bunch, wild ferment, semi carbonic maceration and three weeks on skins adding some palate oomph. Unfined, unfiltered and Vegan-friendly, this an excellent Australian iteration full of youthful vinous joy: crisp with nicely balanced acid across the palate. Pair with anything from a mushroom tart to French onion soup. $50. lyonswillestate.com.au    

Windowrie Sakura Ruby Sparkling

Let's be honest; an awful lot of alcohol-free wines are over-priced lolly water. In many cases I'd rather have a glass of cordial. This is an exception, however, a cool drink that I'd happily have two or three glasses of. From family-owned organic producer Windowrie in the Central Ranges of NSW, it is lightly sparkling with no added sugar and has plenty of vibrancy on the palate, where crisp cherry and plum flavours are to the fore. Lively and fun, with or without food, this is also promoted as a good base for mocktails. Distributed by Single Vineyard Sellers. $20. https://www.windowrie.com.au/ 

Xanadu 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Regular readers will be aware we have a policy of not covering wine show awards. But when a sub-$50 wine from a consistently excellent producer is awarded the Prime Minister’s Trophy for Champion Wine of Show at the 2026 National Wine Show of Australia and also named Red Wine of Show then I was very keen to see it. Winemaker Glenn Goodall and his Margaret River winemaking team have hit this one out of the park. To my palate it is seriously under priced. It is a classic cabernet with all the elements in place. Cassis/dark choc flavours, well integrated oak and superb balance and length. Ready to enjoy right now with a winter casserole. 97 points from me. $45. www.xanaduwines.com

Soumah 2022 Mezzaluna

 

If you are a lover of simple fresh and fruity red wines then this is not one for you. If, however, you favour food-friendly, sophisticated reds then this might be right up your dinner party alley. This is the reserve nebbiolo offering from Yarra Valley Italian specialist Soumah, made from grapes grown in a Hexham vineyard that produces intense fruit and taut tannins. The wine spent 100 days on skins after fermentation, adding texture, before three years maturing in oak puncheons. It is seriously sturdy, savoury, structured and  cellar worthy; earthy and spicy with hints of dried herbs. pair with winter casseroles. The name Mezzaluna means half-moon in Italian, indicating this is only made in the best vintages. Let it breathe before pouring. $92. https://soumah.com.au/