You Bring the Wine
Image: There’s a lot more to wine than sauvignon blanc and shiraz – and drinkers in Sydney and the inner west are lucky enough to be exposed not only to a wide range of imported wines, but also Australian wines made from lesser-known Italian and Spanish grape varieties.
By Winsor Dobbin www.winsordobbin.com.au
There’s a lot more to wine than sauvignon blanc and shiraz – and drinkers in Sydney and the inner west are lucky enough to be exposed not only to a wide range of imported wines, but also Australian wines made from lesser-known Italian and Spanish grape varieties. Some of the Italian varieties available locally include white wines made from pinot grigio, arneis, fiano, trebbiano and vermentino, and reds made from barbera, dolcettto, nebbiolo and sangiovese. All are good accompaniments to Mediterranean food – pasta, pizzas, grills and antipasti – perfect for taking to a Leichhardt or Annandale BYO restaurant.
Look for stylish reds from Pizzini, Dal Zotto and Chrismont’s La Zona label from Victoria’s King Valley, while the Hilltops region outside Young produces the superb Freeman 2004 Rondinella Corvina Secco ($30) an intense red that features grape varieties traditionally used in wines from the Veneto in Italy. Brown Brothers of Milawa, Domain Day in the Eden Valley and Coriole in McLaren Vale are other reliably good wineries producing Italian varietals Down Under.
For something even more out of the ordinary, try wines made from tempranillo – a Spanish grape that produces extremely food-friendly wines. Check out the new Jacob’s Creek 2008 Tempranillo, widely available for around $12. It’s a juicy, fruity but also quite savoury red wine that offers immense enjoyment. It’s great value. More expensive, but very classy, is the Glandore Estate 2007 Tempranillo ($40) from the Hunter Valley – a great partner for tapas. You’ll find it at Wine Odyssey in The Rocks.
French wines, meanwhile, offer great value, with Vintage Cellars and Dan Murphy’s both importing directly to cut costs. From Dan Murphy’s stores try the terrific-value Arrogant Frog 2008 Cabernet Merlot ($11) or the amazing Paul Mas 2008 Chardonnay ($8.99) from the Languedoc. I challenge anyone to name a better buy. It has plenty of peachy/tropical fruit flavour, but also some surprising elegance and nice acid on the finish. I’d happily drink a bottle of this – and I can’t say that about many $8.99 wines. At Vintage Cellars, check out the funky Cave de Lugny 2007 Macon Villages ($14.99), an interesting white from the south of Burgundy.
For a wide range of Italian and French wines at all price points, pop into boutique wine stores like Annandale Cellars or the Ultimo Wine Centre where the knowledgeable staff are always able to offer suggestions. Amato’s in Leichhardt also has an impressive Italian selection.
