This six-pack of whites is built for winter drinking—when you want wines with a bit more weight and texture, but still crave freshness, vibrancy, and plenty of character. We’ve leaned into whites that offer richness and some layered complexity without sacrificing drinkability of course. These are wines made for hearty winter meals, long lunches, and weeknight dinners that need something a little special in the glass.

At the heart of the pack are two standout Rhône-style wines: a beautifully poised Roussanne from Michael Hall, one of our long-time favourites, and a Marsanne–Viognier blend from Domaine Coursodon in Saint-Joseph that balances generosity with energy. From the Jura, there’s a deliciously salty and savoury Chardonnay–Savagnin blend from Domaine des Carlines —unexpected, textural and frankly just bloody delicious. We’ve also included the lovely white blend from Friuli’s Zuani, with its signature polish, fruit drive, and aromatic lift.

For the finale, we have two opposites that both shine. From Alsace, Zind-Humbrecht’s Roche Calcaire is everything you’d expect from one of the world’s greatest white wine producers—mineral, deep, and incredibly refined. And for something a little cheekier, there’s Paralian’s Fiano out of McLaren Vale, showing just how good this southern Italian variety can be in Aussie soils. Altogether, it’s a pack full of intrigue, texture, and cold-weather charm.

A viognier dominant wine supported by Marsanne from a high altitude vineyard at the to of Mauves on the border of the appellation. This medium-bodied white Rhone is a delight, because it is brimming with fresh stone fruit aromas. …the balance of ripeness and spring-like freshness is spot on. A cuvee of roussanne and viognier grown on granite soils at high altitude. Vinified only in stainless steel. Drink now. STUART PIGGOT

Apple pie/pastry and lychee aromas, a slight honey lift and some spiciness all suggesting a solids ferment. The wine is rich and full, rounded and ample, with an undercurrent of firm and slightly bitter tannins, and a long finish. The entire wine works superbly as a whole, its components working together. Lots of flavour and drive. Outstanding. (97) HUONE HOOKE, The Real Review

Greenock-sourced roussanne fermented and matured in tank and French oak puncheons (28% new) for nine months. A distinctly serious roussanne showing characters of bright nectarine, citrus and custard apple fruits with hints of soft spice, almond paste, white flowers, clotted cream and crushed stone. A slight tweak of texture and light wild herbs come in on the palate, and the wine sails off in a persistent fashion showing shades of spice, herbs, citrus and stone fruits, finishing dry and savoury. DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion 

Domaine des Carlines is a rising star in the Jura, founded in 2015 by Patrick and Sophie Ligeron in the historic village of Ménétru-le-Vignoble, within the Château-Chalon appellation. With a deep respect for the region’s traditions and terroir, the estate works organically across a patchwork of vineyards planted on classic grey marl soils. Their wines are precise, expressive, and crafted with minimal intervention — a fresh yet respectful take on Jura’s winemaking heritage.

Coming off a terrible low low-yielding 2021 harvest, resulting in the loss of 80% of their crop!! The upside to this is all their top sites go into this one "lower tier" wine. A wine that really reflects the unique and exceptional Jura terroir, driven by rocks and minerals, and is loaded with flavour and interest. Fennel seeds and just ripe apricots on wet stone. Great drinking.

‘La Vouivre’ is their signature white blend, combining 70% Chardonnay with 30% Savagnin — the region’s two great white grapes — from four separate lieux-dits. Fermented and aged in used Burgundy barrels for over a year, it strikes a beautiful balance between Chardonnay’s supple fruit and Savagnin’s nervy acidity and earthy spice. The nose shows lifted citrus, white flowers, and a subtle oxidative note — think toasted hazelnuts and ginger. On the palate, it's textured yet taut, with a mineral backbone and a long, savoury finish. A brilliant example of Jura’s unique style, it’s both approachable and complex — and a perfect pairing with cheese, roast poultry, or richer seafood dishes.

Nestled in the heart of Collio in Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Zuani is a family-run estate founded by Patrizia Felluga in 2001, continuing a long and respected winemaking legacy in the region. The winery is now run by Patrizia and her children, Antonio and Caterina Zanon, with a philosophy centred on expressing the elegance and purity of Collio’s unique terroir. Zuani focuses exclusively on white wines, working sustainably and crafting blends that highlight both tradition and finesse.

The Zuani Bianco is the estate’s signature wine — a seamless blend of Friulano, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio, sourced from estate vineyards planted on the mineral-rich "ponca" soils typical of the region. Fermented and aged in stainless steel to preserve freshness, it’s an aromatic, layered white that showcases the best of Collio’s native and international varieties. Expect notes of white peach, citrus blossom, and almond, with a finely textured palate, lively acidity, and a touch of salinity on the finish. Elegant yet vibrant, Zuani Bianco is both a classic expression of Collio and an effortlessly food-friendly wine.

Think ripe pomelo and melon with a touch of yellow grapefruit, then let yourself drift into this very fresh and chalky expression of the pinot gris grape. Only medium-bodied, but with a compact structure. Intensely salty finish that has a lot of drive. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. STUART PIGOTT, jamessuckling.com

From 32-year-old, 43 hectoliters per hectare-yielding vines on the Muschelkalk limestone soils of the cooler Clos Windsbuhl lieu-dit between Riquewihr and Hunawihr, the 2022 Pinot Gris Roche Calcaire is precise, coolish and fresh yet fully ripe and perfectly aromatic on the elegant and detailed nose. Elegant and fresh on the palate, with fine and stimulating acidity, this is a bone dry and slightly tannic but juicy Pinot Gris with a tight and almost a little astringent and bitter limestone finish. Keep the wine for another three years and you will enjoy its finesse and serious gastronomic character. It was bottled with a moderate 12.8% alcohol and less than one gram per liter of residual sugar. And yes, this 2022 is fully ripe and hasn't been picked too early. Tasted in November 2024. STEPHAN REINHARDT, The Wine Advocate

Paralian is a long-awaited project finally realised by husband and wife team - Charlie Seppelt & Skye Salter. Site and vintage expression is their fundamental belief, working with their growers to ensure quality and ideal ripeness is met with balance and varietal expression in mind.

After a collective 46 vintages all over the world it was finally time to make a little wine for themselves - Paralian Wines was born. Choosing specific sites for each variety lead us to the northern reaches of McLaren Vale where old inland seas once were, now leaving beach like pockets where our chosen red varieties, and both classic and emerging whites.

Single Vineyard Fiano, fruit sourced from ‘Lacey Vineyard’, Branson Road, McLaren Vale grown by the Lacey family, irrigated vines, on grey brown sandy loam over limestone and ironstone, 26-46m above sea level. Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Certified Vineyard

Highly aromatic, this wine opens with vibrant notes of Meyer lemon and lime juice, followed by fresh, crisp pear and a hint of Granny Smith apple. Subtle undertones of fennel and white pepper add complexity to the nose. This years Fiano has a lovely textural line with a little lees work and the inclusion of a single oak barrel upping the complexity this year. Flavours of ripe pear and chamomile unfold gracefully, supported by refreshing acidity and a saline, finely structured finish. A brilliant pairing with salt and pepper squid.