Looking to recreate the magic of McLaren Vale at home? Look no further.
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Sip on: Kangarilla Road Fiano
Serve with: Garlic prawn linguine
Few do McLaren Vale fiano as well as Kangarilla Road. Theirs is a modern Australian take on the famous Italian grape, with oodles of stone fruit flavours like white peach and nectarine. A creamy texture, citrus zest and a dry, crisp finish tie this wine together, making it a great drop to pair with garlic prawn linguine, or linguine con gamberi. It's the perfect way to pay homage to both McLaren Vale's Italian heritage and its proximity to the coastline – hello, fresh seafood!
Sip on: S.C. Pannell Dead End Tempranillo
Serve with: Sauteed chorizo tapas
Spanish styles of wine, like tempranillo, are perfectly suited to McLaren Vale. And tempranillo, it just so happens, is perfectly suited to chorizo – so it would be rude not to serve them up together. This is a chance to channel your inner Spaniard, courtesy of the winemaking talents of Stephen Pannell, who has spent plenty of time in Spain himself. His tempranillo is packed with juicy dark fruits and made to be shared, just like traditional Spanish tapas. Simply sauté some spicy chorizo, pop a few toothpicks on the table, pass a plate around and let the flavours dance and mingle in your mouth. It's a simple – but unbeatable – combination.
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Sip on: Serafino Bellissimo Sangiovese
Serve with: Ragu alla Bolognese Gnocchi
Serafino Maglieri and his father, Giovanni, planted their first McLaren Vale vineyard in 1968. Now the vineyards cover over 350 acres, while Serafino, or Steve, has become an influential member of the McLaren Vale community. And when it comes to Italian wine, few grapes cause as much excitement as spicy, savoury sangiovese, which is responsible for the country's famous Chianti wines. Whether you're in Italy or McLaren Vale, you'll find the locals enjoying a glass of sangiovese with tomatoey dishes, like ragu alla bolognese served with fresh tagliatelle. It's a timeless classic, with the wine's savoury nature going well with the sauce's hearty tomato flavours, and don't be scared to go hard on the Parmesan!
Sip on: Chapel Hill Bush Vine Grenache
Pair with: Rosemary-garlic grilled lamb chops and potato salad
McLaren Vale is home to the oldest grenache vines in the world and known for producing fruit-forward examples with a touch of spice, clove and cinnamon. The winemakers here know their grenache as well as anyone and Chapel Hill, whose old bush vines consistently provide low yields and big, bright flavours, are particularly skilled at getting the best out of the vineyards. Juicy, dark fruits reign supreme, making this wine a great accompaniment to grilled lamb chops as it will handle the charred outside of the chop without overpowering the tender meat inside. And the potato salad? Well, you can't have a meal of Aussie grenache and grilled lamb without a creamy potato salad on the side.
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Sip on: Mr Riggs 'The Gaffer' Shiraz
Pair with: Smoked beef brisket roll
McLaren Vale shiraz tends to be lighter, and have more of that fresh fruit character, than a Barossa or Hunter Valley shiraz – think red fruits, rather than dark. The Gaffer is a great example of this regional style, bringing a medium body and soft, red berries to the table. On that same table, we're all for serving up a beef brisket as the burnt, smokey flavours balance out the rich, fruity shiraz without the tender meat being overpowered. And given brisket is bound to be the centre of attention at any dinner party, you'll need a wine from a producer as iconic as Mr Riggs to play the co-star.
