Whatever occasion you have coming up, we have the best homegrown releases to go with it.
Australia is famous for many things, but there aren’t nearly enough postcards or snow globes featuring our incredible wine regions – all 65 of them. Forget that landmark Sydney bridge and bucket-list reef up in Queensland – our diverse wine-growing regions are all worthy icons, each one making world-class wines for every taste and occasion. That means we have the perfect homegrown picks to complete every moment, whether that’s a major milestone or a night on the couch. Whatever the plan, there’s an Aussie wine that just gets it.
There’s so much happening across our local wine scene right now, and the wines have never been better. Lesser-known regions are making a whole lot of noise, the quality of our wines made from drought-tolerant varieties now rival our more traditional styles, and the choices for us wine fans are endless. So, to help navigate the ever-increasing options – and wine aisles – we’ve matched five real-life moments with a top Aussie style.
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1. Movie night in with friends
The house smells like popcorn, the snacks are out, and you’ve all (finally) agreed on the film. All that’s left is to pour the wine and hit play. Countless styles could fit here (pét nat works a treat with flavoured popcorn, btw), but you can’t go wrong with a lighter-style red – ideally one with personality. Here, we’re reaching for a Yarra Valley pinot noir. One of Victoria’s most celebrated styles, these wines are all class. Full of red and dark fruit flavours, a core of spice and subtle earthy notes, these pinots are just as great with food as they are on their own, making them perfect for sipping on the couch.
Try: Punt Road Pinot Noir or Yering Station Yarra Pinot Noir
2. Dinner at your fave BYO dumpling spot
Could that movie-night pinot also be right at home on a table over-loaded with dumplings? Hell yeah. But we’re going down the white wine route here instead. With so many big flavours in these traditional Chinese dishes – plus the non-negotiable chilli oil – we can’t go past a Hunter Valley semillon. One of Australia’s most underrated styles, this classic wine is crisp, fresh and citrusy in its youth – think lemon and lime – and gets richer and rounder with age. Semillon has the right texture and minerality to stand up to these dishes, whatever the order, but be sure to throw in a few extra prawn dumplings to really let this wine shine.
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3. An overdue catch-up with mates
Few wines say ‘settle in’ like a bottle of bubbles. So, when it’s been a while between catch-ups, and you all have more than a few work/date/life recaps to get through, we reckon it’s time to pop a cork. Australia’s sparkling producers are now seriously savvy, with the Adelaide Hills just one of our star regions making top fizz. But here, we’re leaning to Tassie, with sparkling wine high among their benchmark styles. These wines are crisp, pure and vibrant, with bright fruit flavours and layers of complexity. As for serving suggestions? They’re best sipped between gasps at the stories being shared, and ideally paired with big slabs of your favourite cheeses.
4. The backyard barbie
Backyard hangs may still be a way off for a lot of us (without wearing four layers), but those glorious evenings are on the horizon, we promise. Until then, we’re all about grilling everyone’s BYO meat and veg outside and serving it up indoors. With each guest bringing different food, it can be hard to know what bottle fits best. Chilled reds can do the job very nicely, but McLaren Vale grenache also completes the meal beautifully. This most excellent regional/varietal combo has fast become one of our national wine treasures. Expect a plush, red-fruited and lightly spiced red that makes serious magic with a range of dishes, especially anything with charry, meaty or spiced flavours.
Try: Serrafino Sorrento Grenache or d’Arenberg The Custodian Grenache
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5. The family dinner
Finding a wine to suit a group of mates is hard enough, but family doesn’t tend to hold back when telling you what they really think. If you want to be sure of a winning wine for that next family dinner, take a trip to WA’s Margaret River. This incredible region does so many wines well (chardonnay and semillon sauvignon blanc included), but cab sauv is one of its true highlights. These wines are typically perfumed and elegant, with blue and black fruit flavours as well as bay leaf and cedar notes. Fresh and with great acidity on release, Margaret River cabs are made for food, particularly if that Sunday dinner is a lamb roast.
