Our pick of the latest releases that taste as good as they look.
Our pick of the latest releases that taste as good as they look.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. Don’t judge a wine by its label? We all know the feeling – that sense of overwhelm that can creep in when choosing a wine in-store. All those aisles loaded with bottles can quickly have that effect, no matter how laser-focused we are on arrival. After picking up various bottles and reading the notes on the back, it can often seem easier to look for a pretty label instead. We all do it. In fact, there’s an entire psychology behind their design to make us do just that. But can enticing label artwork tell you anything about the liquid inside?
These days, with wine quality climbing ever higher and branding frequently getting refreshed, a good-looking label can often reflect a good wine – but it’s no guarantee. There’s also that age-old disclaimer that it will always hinge on your personal preference, depending on the flavours and characters you love most in wine. So, how can you pick a winner without sampling every bottle in the shop? That’s where we come in.
Below, we’ve rounded up some top wines across different varieties, styles and regions that have particularly appealing labels. Even better, their designs come with special stories, too. But, most importantly, the following seven wines will taste just as excellent as they’ll look on your table.
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1. Small Island Naturally Sparkling, Tasmania
When launching Small Island about 10 years ago, James Broinowski got creative. Crowdfunding financed his first parcel of fruit (which he turned into a gold-medal-winning pinot noir), and he used his aunt’s drawing of a Tasmanian tiger for his labels. To save on expenses, James painted his bottles and ink-stamped that drawing on, and while this process is no longer done by hand, the striking design remains.
As for the wine, this Naturally Sparkling is a pet nat that blends chardonnay and pinot noir rosé. Having spent a little time on oak, it also has some added texture. In short, it’s got all that spritzy freshness that makes pet nats so approachable, but there’s a little more going on, too. Distinctively Tassie, inside and out.
2. Mordrelle Blanc de Blancs, Adelaide Hills
Family ties are strong at Mordrelle Wines. Argentinian-born winemaker Martin Moran has followed in the footsteps of his late grandfather, who had a winery in Mendoza, and each Mordrelle wine features a different artwork by his late father, a prolific painter. Today, Martin works with his wife Michelle and her parents at this Hahndorf winery, where they take a minimum-intervention approach to their wines.
This sparkling chardonnay is produced in the traditional method, and aged on lees for five years, which helps create those complex yeasty notes – roasted pine nuts, toasty citrus and brioche included. It was the first wine they made (for their wedding) and fast became a Mordrelle staple.
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Click image to shop
3. Longview Macclesfield Gruner Veltliner, Adelaide Hills
Longview Vineyard wears many hats – luxe accommodation destination, day spa, wedding venue and restaurant – but, above all, it produces premium, single-vineyard wines. Dotted around the grounds are pink marble sculptures representing each vineyard’s landscape, and every label carries a photo of these works, reflecting the wine’s site. At first glance, it simply looks like a pretty pattern, but it tells a bigger story about what’s inside the bottle.
If you haven’t tried much of Austria’s native grüner veltliner (groona velt-leena), this Adelaide Hills version is a dry, fresh and slightly spicy take, with hints of pear, white pepper and a savoury celery note. It’s a brilliant sub for riesling and completes all sorts of meals, from schnitzel and roast chicken to salads and more.
4. Fetherston Iris Chardonnay, Yarra Valley
Named after chef-turned-winemaker Chris Lawrence’s horticulturist grandfather, and his late botanist mother’s maiden name, Fetherston pays homage to a family with a love for plants and now, viticulture. This can be seen in the wine names – Lily Sparkling (also the name of Chris and wife Camille’s daughter), the Peony Rosé and Camellia Cabernet Malbec, for example, and each label bears a colourful drawing of the related flower.
A fantastic introduction to Yarra Valley chardonnay, the Iris is typical of the region, with stone fruit and cashew flavours, a little oak, and a long, full and generous finish that’s lifted by vibrant, cleansing acidity. It’s a pretty wine, just like the picture.
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5. Cor Ribbe Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula
When winemaker Cornelis Ribbe was designing a label for his Cor Ribbe wines, he enlisted the help of his two nieces, then aged six and five. “We came up with the colour palette to represent the wines, and my nieces painted these shapes in watercolour,” he says. That was in 2020, and the design has remained much the same, but the composition of shapes vary across labels. The result is simple and clean, but effective.
The Cor Ribbe Pinot Noir is a great example of Cornelis’s small-batch, lo-fi approach to winemaking. It has all the much-loved traits of the Mornington Peninsula, with sappy red fruit, balanced savoury notes, and a medium body. Serve it with your favourite salmon dinner, and you’ve got a perfect combo.
6. Hither & Yon Grenache Mataro, McLaren Vale
The Hither & Yon team commissions a different artist to create the label for each of their wines. All designs put the focus on the ampersand in their name, keeping things consistent, and they brief the artist on why they made the wine and what it tastes like, and then they let them run with it. The result is a unique interpretation of what’s in the bottle, as seen with the swirly, purple-bluey and earthy design on the Grenache Mataro.
This wine is lively, with berry, orange zest and dark chocolate flavours, while earthy and briny notes add complexity. It has power and length, but it’s approachable, too, working a treat with a huge range of dishes, including braises and grilled meats.
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Click image to shop
7. Ravensworth Shiraz Viognier, ACT
From one of the ACT’s best-loved producers, the labels across the Ravensworth range were inspired by the unique array of ingredients that can be found in winemaker Bryan Martin’s kitchen. Artist Steven Noble also took some cues from the chaotic and decadent scenes depicted in early 17th-century paintings. The design is intricate and nuanced, very much like the wines inside the bottle.
Shiraz viognier is a calling card of the Canberra District, and Ravensworth’s expression is lifted and fragrant – something a dash of viognier is known to do in this mix. Expect flowers, spice and red fruits here, and while this wine is a great option for stashing away for a while, it’s also ready to enjoy right now.
