Best Victorian red, white, sparkling and rose to try this spring under $25
A $7 bottle of red is among the best-value wines to try in the sun this spring— see whether your favourite made the list.
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While 2020 threw as much as it could at Victorian winemakers, this year gave them a fresh start, with some excellent wines making it to bottle.
The Herald Sun can reveal 25 of the best-value drops worth raising a glass to this spring — all costing no more than $25.
Mother-daughter team Wendy and Natasha Killeen, vignerons of Rutherglen’s Stanton and Killen, were ecstatic to make the list with their 2021 rose.
This list should inspire all wine lovers, regardless of their budget, to step outside their comfort zone and drink different grape varieties from lesser-known regions and small-scale producers.
Impressive sparklings, whites and roses are coming out of the Pyrenees in the state’s west, excellent alternative whites like marsanne and arneis from Nagambie and Yarra Valley and some great alternate reds such as durif from Rutherglen in the north east and Italian grape barbera from the King Valley.
1. 2021 STANTON AND KILLEEN ROSE
Rutherglen, $24
The gushingly-beautiful watermelon glow will catch your eye and a vibrant strawberry, raspberry and guava-led palate will win over your tastebuds. Stanton and Killeen’s rose is made from Portuguese grape varieties Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barroca, meaning it looks and drinks differently to the trendy Provence-style roses. It’s still light, bright and very slurpable. A real gem.
stantonandkilleen.com.au
2. 2020 OAKRIDGE OVER THE SHOULDER CHARDONNAY
Yarra Valley, $21.99
Poised and youthful. There’s pretty floral, soft white peaches, blossoms and captivating spice on the nose. Lean into fleshy white peaches and firm green apples. There’s oak, but you wouldn’t know it. Bright and young over buttery and bold, a chardonnay executed with that famous Oakridge elegance.
Dan Murphy’s
Pyrenees, $22.49
Forget what you know about sauvignon blanc. This warmer climate, Pyrenees expression still has the trademark New Zealand passionfruit pulp nose, enveloped with juicy pear, white peach and green apple parcels with a tight lemony finish. Well balanced, elegant, very easy to drink.
4. 2021 BRUMFIELD WINERY FIANO
Yarra Valley, $25
Punchy pear, yellow nectarine and peaches burst onto the scene, before softening into a pretty, crisp finish. Light bodied with tight acidity — think big tropical fruit vibes. Makes for dangerously-good drinking on a hot day. What a find.
5. 2021 FLYING WINEMAKER PINOT GRIGIO
King Valley, $20
Phwoar. An intoxicating nose as soon as you crack the bottle. If the pear and jasmine don’t get you, then this wine’s fine palate will with its luscious, drip-down-your-arm pear juiciness. Citrus drives this home.
Dan Murphy’s
6. NV DE BORTOLI PETIT MOSCATO FRIZZANTE
Rutherglen, $21.95
Born in Victoria’s muscat country, this De Bortoli fizz was made for spring. Aromatic strawberries, peaches and Turkish delight follow through into a medium-sweet palate of crisp green apple and rose syrup held up by soft, bouncy bubbles. It’s low-booze, making it a real daytime sipper.
7. 2019 CANNOBIE DURIF ANDREW BULLER WINES
Rutherglen, $25
Rutherglen’s unsung (and hugely underrated) red durif grape variety is a cross between Syrah and lesser-known peloursin grapes. If syrah and nebbiolo had a baby, this would be it. Inky purple in colour, violet and vanilla on the nose, this vibrant full-bodied wine packed with ripe blackberry, persistent peppery and spicy tannins and long finish.
8. 2019 ONE ROAD SHIRAZ
Eastern Victoria, $7.49
Enter bold blackberries, a little spice followed by a black peppery, persistent finish. Don’t be fooled by the soft, pretty perfumed nose. This one is big on fruit, brilliantly balanced, savoury tannins and a long finish. It doesn’t break down the door like its Barossa Valley siblings, but makes for good drinking for its price.
ALDI
9. 2019 DAL ZOTTO BARBERA
King Valley, $22.99
Light, bright and quite all right. Juicy blood plums are the star of the show in this King Valley number. A nice line of acidity carries across the palate, ending in soft tannins and subtle nutmeg spice. A real crowd-pleaser.
Dan Murphy’s
10. 2019 WARRABILLA RESERVE MALBEC
It begins with a light veil of spice and vanilla, followed by layers of luscious dark fruits. Gushes of ripe blackberries, blueberries and plum follow through on the palate. Soft tannins, medium acidity and a lingering cassis-like finish. Super slurpable.
Nicks Wine Merchants
11. 2021 6FT6 PINOT NOIR
Geelong, $25
Scott and Belinda Austin’s 6ft6 label gives us everything we’re looking for in a pinot noir at a great price. There’s a little more fat on the bones with this expression of the typically light-bodied style. Brimming with high acidity, soft tannins — it’s all red plums and cherries upfront, savoury forest floor at the back. A long finish.
Dan Murphy's
12. 2019 THE POND CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Victoria, $6.99
Syrupy black fruit, cassis and licorice lead the way in this bold, fruit-driven drop. Playful acid and simmering savoury tannins add drive into this medium-weighted wine. Drinks remarkably well for its price.
ALDI
13. 2018 GALLI CAMELBACK SANGIOVESE
Heathcote, $20
This Italian grape’s fruity and savoury traits make it the perfect pour with pizza. A bright, lively palate dominated by red plums, red cherries, spice and dried herbs is great alone or with food, namely charcuterie or any tomato-led sauces. A real guzzler.
First Choice Liquor, Blackhearts and Sparrows
14. 2020 MCPHERSON WINES BELLA LUNA NERO D’AVOLA
Riverina, $18
More Australian expressions of this popular Italian grape are cropping up on wine lists and bottle shops. McPherson wines’ Bella Luna is packed with blackberries, cherry and dark plums, oak, spice and vanilla on the nose and a smooth, velvety mouthfeel and fine tannins. Very gluggable. One for the Syrah lovers.
Blackhearts and Sparrows
15. 2021 INNOCENT BYSTANDER ARNEIS
Yarra Valley, $25
Who needs pinot grigio or prosecco when there’s arneis? Clean. Crisp. Bountiful with pear, melon and tropical fruits. Tight acidity and balanced. An easy drinking white to throw into the rotation if you’re after something different.
16. 2021 PIZZINI BRACHETTO
King Valley, $22
Boom! It’s all sweet strawberries and cream bubbling away in this way-too-easy to drink, lightly sparkling wine. It’s sweet, but not sickly, brimming with candied apple, fresh strawberries and a sherbety apple fizz finish. The entire bottle has the same alcohol content as one beer. Pour in a tumbler with a few ice cubes, mint or strawberries, and enjoy in the sun.
First Choice Liquor, Dan Murphy’s, Liquorland
17. 2021 PREECE PINOT GRIGIO
Nagambie, $22
Made by the folks at Mitchelton, this drop has green apple and grapefruit dancing on the palate, joined by stone fruit and pear before that trademark Mitchelton nougat finish. A great food wine. Mouth-watering acidity will have you going back for another glass, or two.
Dan Murphy’s
18. NV FLYING WINEMAKER PROSECCO
King Valley, $22
This is the second wine by globetrotting, Aussie boutique winemaker Eddie McDougall to score a place on the $25 and under list — and for good reason. His wines are always profoundly aromatic, well-made and priced. His Flying Winemaker prosecco is no exception with crisp apple, juicy pear and lemony softness. Refreshing? Tick. Quality fruit? You bet. Delicious anytime drinking? Pour me a glass.
Dan Murphy’s
19. NV BLUE PYRENEES LUNA BRUT
Pyrenees, $18.99
A deceptively sweet, lolly-like nose of ripe red apples and floral jasmine. This dry sparkling leads into juicy pear, summer fruits and honeydew melon flavours, with a buttery brioche finish. It’s fresh and fruity with a lovely softness. One to bust out for a celebration.
Dan Murphy’s
20. 2014 BILLANOOK ESTATE LATE HARVEST SAUVIGNON BLANC
Yarra Valley, $25
Luscious. Bright. Refreshing. A few words come to mind describing this hidden gem by small-scale Yarra Valley winery, Billanook Estate. The off-dry to medium sweetness is countered with nice acidity, mandarin pith, spice melding into dried apricot and toast to end. At seven years old, it’s starting to show its age in the glass. Only magical things can happen from here. A nice after dinner sipper with a sharp cheddar.
billanookestate.com.au
21. 2020 ROCHFORD CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Yarra Valley, $17
A youthful, savoury and lighter expression of a variety that usually packs an almighty punch with tannin, fruit and drive. It has a vegetal nose, fruity palate ripe with black plums and green bell peppers. Medium weight, acid and tannin. Try it with pizza or antipasti.
rochfordwines.com.au
22. CAMPBELLS OF RUTHERGLEN MUSCAT
Rutherglen, $22
Prunes, burnt caramel, sultanas and raisins come to mind. The all-encompassing, syrupy mouthfeel leaves pleasantly sweet dried fig, walnut, maple syrup notes with a long long finish. Campbells makes this wine from a blend of other vintages in a solera system, typically used to make sherry, to ensure a consistency with each release. Serve chilled or in a cocktail. Gorgeous with soft cheese.
Vintage Cellars, Dan Murphy’s
23. 2019 SAN PIETRO PINOT NOIR
Mornington Peninsula, $18.99
Dreamy red cherries and raspberries, dusted with vanilla spice. Bounds of mouth-watering acid, followed through with savoury softness to finish. Leans more medium bodied with bright fruit and woody, forest floor undertones. Very smashable and remarkably impressive for its price, considering it’s from the Mornington Peninsula, one of Australia’s most expensive winegrowing regions.
Toscanos, Melbourne Wine Store
24. 2021 BEST’S GREAT WESTERN RIESLING
Pyrenees, $24.99
Get ready for that bold riesling, limey zing, followed by refreshing green apple parcels. Moreishly mouth watering acidity makes this a brilliant food match, especially anything spicy or rich. It’s all about the fruit, with a crisp long finish. A great expression. More please.
Dan Murphy’s
25. 2021 TAHBILK MARSANNE
Nagambie, $20.30
Mar … what? Not many would have heard of this Northern Rhone native, which has been having its time in the sun at Nagambie’s Tahbilk. The wineries’ drawcard has an enticing, soft palate of white peaches, honeydew melon, jasmine, citrus and wonderful minerality. The acidity is subdued. A harmonious, fine wine that’ll only get better in the bottle over time.
Dan Murphy’s, Vintage Cellars
