Kreglinger 2019 Vintage Brut

Looking for a serious, food-friendly sparkling wine? This is a classic blend of pinot noir and chardonnay from the same people that make the Pipers Brook table wines. It offers complexity and richness on the palate while retaining cool-climate freshness and vibrancy. Made from grapes grown in a single vineyard in Pipers River - in the far north of tTasmania - this is an excellent dinner party choice with berry/apple orchard aromas leading to a delightfully balanced palate that is simultaneously yeasty, toasty, citrusy and savoury with an impressive mousse. Cold fermentation in barrel, malo and battonage have added to a kaleidoscope of flavours and textures. This was aged for five years+ in bottle before release. $65. https://www.kreglingerwineestates.com/

Pooley 2024 Syrah

The wine industry moves at a fast pace. A decade or two ago it would have been absurd to expect quality shirazes from Tasmania. Climate change and deft winemaking now see several leading Tasmanian producers making impressive cool-climate shirazes; and this is one of the best. It's downright delicious. Anna Pooley and her team have crafted a structured and flavoursome wine from the Coal River Valley with dark fruit and savoury/spice notes dancing a seductive tongue tango. Fresh, well balanced and food friendly, we paired this with marinated lamb chops. $60. https://www.pooleywines.com.au/

Freycinet Vineyard 2021 Louis Syrah

Climate change has seen several of Tasmania's top vineyards become increasingly capable of producing succulent cool-climate shirazes. This one, from the Freycinet Vineyard on the east coast, represents excellent value for lovers of aromatic, spicy reds. The Louis range of wines is designed for everyday enjoyment or for short-term cellaring, and this hand-picked number is right on target. At five years of age, it offers immediate drinking pleasure and is a stylish, medium-bodied red with classic spice and pepper on the nose leading to soft red and dark fruit flavours on a supple palate that also offers some deli hints. Very food friendly - pair with lamb dishes, or a winter pasta and ragu. $35. https://freycinetvineyard.com.au/

Quiet Mutiny 2025 Charlotte's Elusion Rosé

 

Here is a rosé with a difference; primarily made from the pinot meunier grape that is traditionally used in sparkling wines. This offers a food-friendly alternative dry table wine that is perfect for enjoying chilled over summer. Quiet Mutiny is the personal label of Greer Carland, whose family owns Laurel Bank vineyard overlooking the Derwent River. This was a standout at the recent Budburst Tassie Wine Expo. The fruit for this wine was sourced from the warmer East Coast of Tasmania and this lively number has both vibrancy and personality. Perfect for enjoying with a Middle Eastern mezze plate, or some pan-fried salmon (preferably not farmed salmon). $37. https://quietmutiny.wine/  

Aunt Alice 2025 Ocean Chardonnay

 

Alice Davidson is a talented winemaker who has worked with outstanding talents including Peter Dredge and is now building a formidable reputation for her own label, which sources fruit some several vineyards around the state. She is currently building a micro winery at Geeveston in the Huon Valley. This is a very impressive new release tasted at the Budburst Tassie Wine Expo that is at once varietal, fresh, vibrant and accessible. It is elegant and food friendly; suitable for short-term cellaring. You could pair this with anything from American pork ribs to traditional roast chicken. $55. https://www.auntalice.com.au/  

Holm Oak 2023 Shiraz

Shiraz from Tasmania? Yes. And a very good one, too. It certainly found favour with the members of one of my tasting groups last week. You won't confuse this with any of its blockbuster cousins from McLaren Vale or the Barossa: it is a very different beast with red fruit flavours to the fore, along with attractive pepper/spice elements that shine in well composed cooler-climate shirazes. This is from a family winery in the Tamar Valley and reminds me of an old armchair, soft, plush and comfortable. It is medium-bodied, ready to enjoy in its youth paired with anything from beef sausages to a Sunday roast. $50. https://holmoakvineyards.com.au/

Stargazer 2025 Tupelo

This is one of the stars of the recent Stargazer new vintage release, although they are all stellar from Sam Connew's boutique Coal River Valley operation. While Connew concentrates largely on chardonnay, riesling and pinot noir, this is an outlier in that it is an Alsace-accented wild-fermented blend of pinot gris, pinot blanc, gewurztraminer and riesling. This was tasted after a trade event so I didn't match it with food, but I suspect it would pair magically with a nasi goreng or Thai Veggie curry - anything with a touch of spice. It's a lovely young wine with honeyed fruit with balancing acidity, and an impressive lightness of being. $40. www.stargazerwine.com.au.

Leo Buring 2024 Leopold Tasmania Riesling

Leo Buring is a wine brand usually associated with fine and potentially long-lived rieslings from the Clare and Eden valleys in South Australia. But winemaker Marie Clay also has access to some top-notch riesling fruit grown at White Hills in northern Tasmania. A very good growing season saw the fruit allowed to reach maximum flavour intensity before being full-bunch pressed. The juice was matured for six months on lees in stainless steel; and a small portion in a ceramic tulip. The end result is a generously favoured riesling with impressive texture. Floral, spicy, long. soft and clean with just a smidgen of residual sugar. Very food friendly. $40.