Chardonnay Grenache Vermentino Australia Fleurieu McLaren Vale

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one which has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is the Chardonnay. This green skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape, and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.

The purple skinned grapes of the Grenache varietal have quickly become one of the most widely planted red wine grapes in the world, flourishing in several countries which have the correct conditions in which they can grow to ripeness. They thrive anywhere with a dry, hot climate, such as that found in central Spain and other such arid areas, and produce delightfully light bodied wines full of spicy flavors and notes of dark berries. Their robustness and relative vigor has led them being a favorite grape varietal for wineries all over the world, and whilst it isn't uncommon to see bottles made from this varietal alone, they are also regularly used as a blending grape due to their high sugar content and ability to produce wines containing a relatively high level of alcohol.

The Vermintino grape varietal has been grown in northern Italy for centuries, but is perhaps most closely associated with the island of Corsica, where it is the most widely planted grape varietal and is one of the key flagship grapes on the island. Thought to have originated in Spain, the Vermentino grape quickly spread to other countries, and is now found in many parts of Mediterranean Europe and the New World. The grape itself is prized by wineries due to the crispness of its acids, and the wide bouquet of refreshing flavors it carries. Most commonly, Vermentino is known for holding flavors of green apple and lime, and for having a relatively light body with a low alcohol content. As such, it makes a perfect match for a wide range of foods, and is particularly popular when paired with shellfish.

Whilst most of Australia consists of arid deserts and dense bushland, the oceanic coasts to the south of the country have a terrain and climate ideal for vine cultivation and wine production. It took several decades of failed attempts at the end of the 18th century in order to produce vines of a decent enough quality for making wine, but since those first false starts, the Australian wine industry has continued to grow and grow. Today, wine production makes up for a considerable part of the Australian economy, with exports in recent years reaching unprecedented levels and even overtaking France for the first time ever. Whilst the greatest successes in regards to quality have been the result of the Syrah grape varietal (known locally as Shiraz), Australia utilizes several Old World grapes, and has had fantastic results from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay and more. As the Australian passion for locally produced wine continues to develop, wineries have begun experimenting with a wider range of grape varietals, meaning that nowadays it isn't uncommon to find high quality Australian wines made from Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Viognier, amongst many others.

The Fleurieu peninsula is a stunning region of south Australia, located close to Adelaide and constantly drawing attention to itself over recent years due to its international status as an 'up and coming' wine region. Indeed, there has been much excitement over the wines produced in Fleurieu during the past decade, as this relatively small and unusual peninsula has consistently been producing many of the most flavorful and accessible red wines ever to come out of Australia. Thanks to its Mediterranean style climate, the vines in Fleurieu are able to produce fully ripened fruit each year, and the climatic conditions allow vintners plenty of flexibility when it comes to their wine making methods. Whilst the region is still primarily producing Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon wines, there has been much successful innovation and experimentation with a wide range of grape varietals over recent years, and we can expect to see and hear much more from Fleurieu in the near future.