As wine drinkers become more adventurous with wine and select more premium options, they are exploring niche varietals, new regions and experimenting with new food and wine pairings. In 2020, we can expect to see more and more people throwing out the rule book and rediscovering our nation’s unsung regional varietals, such as Hunter Valley Semillon and trying niche varietals like Vermentino and Tempranillo. There is even a trend of wine infusions appearing for the most adventurous drinkers!
For all the wine explorers out there here are your most trendy and unique drops for 2020:
1.McW Alternis Tempranillo
The McW Alternis Tempranillo is one of Spain’s most elegant and food-friendly wines that flourishes in the rich Australian soil. It is a celebration of youth with vibrant aromas of red summer berries with generous dark cherry, pomegranate and blackcurrant flavours that enliven the palate.
Available at select independent stores nationally for RRP $25.00.
2. Mount Pleasant Cellar Aged Elizabeth Semillon
Having been placed in the cellars for extended bottle age, this small parcel of Semillon now enjoys the benefits gained from patience. The Cellar Aged Elizabeth Semillon serves an elegant yet intense palate of pure Semillon fruit with aromas of lime and lemongrass predominate with wonderful intensity and purity. With increasing bottle age comes lovely honey toast notes and lanolin.
Available at fine wine retailers nationally, Mt Pleasant Cellar Door and online for RRP $28.00.
3 .McW Alternis Vermentino
Alternis by McW is the next chapter in McWilliam’s six generations of viticultural exploration. Vermentino is a delightfully complex yet refreshing wine hailing from Sardinia and well suited to the Australian landscape. Aromas of honeydew melon and lemon excite the senses developing into exotic stone fruit and tangerine flavours that are complemented by bright acid for a minerally finish.
Available at select independent stores nationally for RRP $25.00.
4. Champagne Taittinger Prestige Rosé
Taittinger Prestige Rosé immediately stands out for its intense, shimmering bright pink hue. The bubbles are fine, and the mousse persistent. This champagne strikes a fine balance of a velvety texture with full body taste and can be summed up in four words: lively, fruity, fresh and elegant, as only a Rosé blend can be. Taittinger Prestige Rosé can be enjoyed both early on or at the end of an evening and pairs brilliantly to fruit desserts, including fruit tart, fruit salad and red fruit crumble.
Available at major retailers and independent stores nationally for RRP $89.99.
5. Tea & Wine Cabernet Sauvignon infused with Chai Tea
Tea & Wine Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied wine infused with organic Sri-Lankan Chai. A deep red wine with purple hues, Tea & Wine Cabernet Sauvignon has a smooth and ripe palate displaying soft tannins and roundness, perfectly balanced with the infusion of organic Sri Lankan Chai providing layers of aromatic, warm spices like ginger, cardamom, star anise and a hint of vanilla.
Tea & Wine is available now from selected Dan Murphy’s stores nationally at an RRP of $22.00.
Words by Arrnott Olssen
