This article appeared originally in Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine
by Kasia Sobiesiak [August 2024]
Australian winters can surprise with sporadic sunny summer days as much as they can depress with weeks-long rain events. It’s fairly easy to pair cool whites with hot afternoons but what if we need a wine to bring us into a comfort zone during the whimsical winter season?
It’s safe to say there’s a Chardonnay for any set of taste buds and meteorological events. If you spend north of $50 you’ll get warming winter spice and creaminess in texture. Elegant or bold, not all Chardonnays need to be ‘full-on’ and expensive to give you a big hug.
Still not into Chardonnay? Try a Portuguese alternative—Arinto. This heat-loving white offers medium-weight, nuttiness and comforting sweet perfume while retaining very high acidity. And yes, it’s grown in the Hunter!
Rosé, especially the one with depth of colour and flavour, is an outstanding all-types-of-weather (and food) pairing. I always find a perfect slot during any time of the day, any day in a month and any month of the year to have a glass of rosé.
The northern Italian variety, Barbera, steals hearts with its refreshing acidity, a certain type of unforced lightness, a spicy punch and a tart savoury edge to the fruit. Not far from Pinot Noir and lighter than many Shirazes, it deals well with indecisive weather patterns or moods.
The ultimate winter cuddler would be the great Cabernet Sauvignon. Often full-bodied and full-flavoured, with wood spice and chocolatey tannins, it has everything on offer to get you out of the blues.
Winmark Rusty’s Run Chardonnay 2023 | $35
From Broke Fordwich subregion of the Hunter. This wine definitely benefits from a little warming time in the glass. It has an elegant perfume of sweet almonds and green melon, apples and pears, a hint of papaya and pastry notes. Not heavy at all, it remains effortlessly light and lean with crisp acidity and ‘mineral’ undertones. You’ll find comfort in ripe fruit and gentle creaminess. If you’re looking for more spice, toast and body, go for Winmark’s premium selection, like the Icon 7 2.
Whispering Brook Arinto 2023 | $40
A wine made by Susan Frazier and Adam Bell who discovered their passion for Portuguese varieties after spending some time in Portugal back in 2007. They drew climatic parallels between Alentejo and Hunter Valley, successively and successfully planting varieties that deal well with high humidity and heat. The proof is in the pudding, as this Arinto from Broke Fordwich has a beautiful floral perfume full of white blossoms, melon skin, white peach and mandarin peel. It has a slippery texture and finishes with a strong yellow grapefruit twist. Just lovely.
De Iuliis Rosé 2023 | $28
It’s a slightly deeper-tinted rosé made from Shiraz and Merlot grapes by Mike De Iuliis and Emily Glover. The colour here is eye-dazzling coral pink. The aromas and flavours follow suit. It shows pink peach and guava on the nose, strawberry and cream on the palate with a twist of ruby grapefruit bitterness. Very satisfying drink, fruity but dry, with a creamy texture and a dusting of cinnamon spice to bring the so much needed warmth on a cool-ish winter afternoon.
Margan Ceres Hill Barbera 2023 | $40
This Barbera has a ripe bouquet and enticing leathery nuance, dark chocolate, violets and cherry blossom, plum skin and hints of liquorice. The juice is chalky and finishes with gentle white pepper dusting. Tannins are a little grainy but this works well with the wine’s warming nature and medium body. Super tasty Barbera that will make Pinot Noir and Grenache drinkers happy, as well as those under the weather.
Sweetwater Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 | $70
Made by winemaker Bryan Currie, this Cabernet has so much to give. Red and black fruit with a scent of camphor, a mix of dried herbs, cedar wood, pine resin, fresh leather and a hint of lavender. The tannins are fine and smooth. It’s a medium-bodied wine, savoury in profile with a long line of black coffee, premium dark chocolate and salt-iron underlying minerality in the aftertaste. It gives a fuzzy feeling, no doubt.
My Wine Adviser 