We are celebrating the last month of Spring with some perfectly paired wines for the season ahead. Crispy whites, crunchy reds, and of course some tasty rose is the go. 

At the same time we are mixing things up a bit by pitting the selection of Aussie drops against their counterparts around the world. This is not the first time, it's always well received and it is definitely fun putting this together. The Aussie wine scene has come a long way from the days of supercharged fruit bombs and simple plonk. Today we produce world-class wines from a plethora of varietals that look to emulate their counterparts in classic old-world producing countries while we put our own home-grown spin on them.

The result is a kaleidoscope of flavours, aromas and styles embracing our warm and outgoing nature, penchant for cheekiness and a not-too-serious outlook on life. 

So, take a look at this cracking little pack choc full of local and international goodness. Whether you want to contrast and compare or just sit back and enjoy, this one has it all.

High, cool-climate vermentino that explores the grape's floral and savoury side. Honeysuckle, citrus blossom, radish, lemon and grapefruit bring a mix of bright, citrusy energy and gentle savouriness to the glass. Super crunchy acidity will see it make plenty of friends in the warmer months. JENI PORT, The Wine Front

The nose is quite yeasty, courtesy of its extreme youth, presumably. The palate though is right on track, with grapefruit and citrus notes woven through with spice, stones, quartz and more of the like. It has both texture and cut, the latter aided by brine-like notes. I’d want the nose on this to settle down before hooking in, but the intensity and character of the palate is excellent. CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front 

Cantina Santadi, from Sardinia’s southwestern coastal region known as Sulcis, was founded in 1960 as a cooperative of local growers. Under the guidance of Antonello Pilloni, Santadi has become one of Sardinia’s, and Italy’s, finest wineries, with more than 200 growers farming 600 hectares.

The Sulcis peninsula is, geographically, Sardinia’s most ancient area, rich in archaeological sites, and offers an astonishing palette of variations and contrasts, with coastal sand dunes, gentle hills and inlets, narrow strips of flatland and inland mountains, rugged cliffs overhanging the seas interspersed with silky-smooth white beaches, pine trees, junipers and vineyards. In these sandy soils, pre-phylloxera vines continue to survive and thrive.

Made with 10% Nuragus, another local variety, this spends a few months maturation on lees, in stainless steel, to give the wine an extra dimension of flavour and texture. Citrus notes and hints of tropical fruit, the palate is minerally and refreshing.

Dan Chaffey Hartwig comes from a line of winemaking brilliance. His family founded Seaview Wines in McLaren Vale and Mildara Wines. They have a cellar door in Tanunda which they share with eight others and also a local wine bar. There's nothing staunch or hands-off about them, they're proud of their turf and welcoming.   

Working with both Eden Valley and Barossan fruit, the Chaffey Bros hone in on single-site old vines, many which would have been ripped out had they not been willing to take the fruit. Herewe're sidestepping the usual suspects out of Barossa with this cracking blend and funky field blend of co-fermented riesling, gewürztraminer and kerner from the Fechner vineyard. 

A very fresh dry white with yellow apple, lemon, fresh garden herb and snowpea aromas. Crisp and structured with a nice interplay of lively acidity and creaminess. Long, delicately spicy and herbal finish that’s very clean. A cuvee of 32% gewurztraminer, 25% pinot gris, 15% riesling, 15% pinot blanc, 10% sylvaner and 3% muscat. Drink or hold. STUART PIGOTT, JamesSuckling.com

This is one of the most reliable wines in the wine world. This is to Alsace what Guigal Cote du Rhone is to the Rhone. Always delivering with juicy fruits, pretty aromatics and plenty of verve and always punching well above its weight. This wine never dissapoints and the 2021 is no exception. Drink it by the bucket load.

SPECIAL BUY A blend of estate cabernet sauvignon/merlot/riesling/shiraz. An iridescent salmon pink. Leaps out of the glass with its aromas of ripe red apples, blood oranges and mountain herbs. Flavoursome, gently textured and refreshing and a good accompaniment to a barbecued lamb cutlet and salads this summer. PHILIP RICH, Halliday Wine Companion 

The wines of Bannockburn are on fire right now. The last few years have seen a ton of great new releases and when this slide across the tasting desk the other week were not-so surprisingly impressed. An interesting blend and one that you might think will never work but in the clever hands of head winemaker Matt Holmes this sings. highly recommended.

42% Nielluccio, 33% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 5% Sciaccarellu. Importer: FelixR

This is a very good release. Cherry, fresh strawberry, almost a liquorice root perfume, flowering herbs. It runs tighter on the palate, with some pink grapefruit in with pale red fruits, a saline character, fine dusty peppery texture, with a finish that offers crunch and perfume, and good length. Lots of energy here, and so good to drink. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

A perennial favourite of ours from Corsica that seems to deliver with a tang of salty ocean spray shot across the bow of crunchy red fruits, apples and citrus salad. Not a year we have had yet where we haven't all taken a bottle or two home over summer.

Sourced from a range of Vale sites, this is at the ‘vin de soif’ end of the Aphelion grenache roster. Grenache in this zone can be juicy and jubey, but not this. It’s a thread that runs through the Welkin range, with fruitful pleasure in a mid-weight zone tempered by savoury structure. Macerated strawberries and tart raspberries, redcurrant, red licorice, rhubarb and orange, pink peppercorn and a seasoning of dusty spice. It’s bright and lithe, savoury and zippy – a fine all-rounder at table that can take a gentle chill. MARCUS ELLIS, Halliday Wine Companion 

Seems like my brilliant treatise on whelks fell on deaf ears. Oh well, sometimes it feels like I’m feeding strawberries to pigs here. And speaking of strawberries…

Poached strawberry, raspberry, lemon thyme and rosemary perfume, hazelnut, candied orange peel and mint. Juicy, strawberry, kind of sweet and succulent, but also has a little savoury stony stuff, nutty things and solid length too, and gee it’s a fun little wine. Nice. Kind of like a big rosato in a way. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

Whats to say about this wine? Its everything Aussie grenache should be and done in an unpretentious style that anyone can enjoy. They are grenache specialists at Aphelion and this, shockingly, is just there entry level wines so imagine how good it gets!? Well, you don't have to because we usually have a few of those on hand in store. If you hadn't guessed it, we love these wines.

Rive Droite Rive Gauche simply means right bank, left bank and the name derives from fruit for the wine being sourced from both sides of the river - the grenache coming mainly from the left (gauche) and the Syrah from the village of Daumazan (on the rive droite), near Tavel. It is also a French film starring the rotund wine-nut actor Gerard Depardieu - fun fact!

This is a lovely fresh and crunchy styled Rhone from our friends at Rive Droite. There is touch of thyme and bay over red spiced fruits, layered with a little bit of red liquorice. This is a medium bodied rendition with a pure core of raspberry, wild strawberry and splash of black berry fruit in the mix. Its lithe with a lovely fresh cut to the sweet fruits that makes this look wonderfully elegant and damn easy to like.

Always a very nice wine, and great value too.

Cherry, almond, aniseed, a smattering of dried herbs, maybe lavender. It’s medium-bodied, kind of juicy, kind of savoury, there’s some strawberry in with cherry, some grainy grip to tannin, slightly ferrous, gently bitter with amaro, and the finish is fresh and pretty long. It’s maybe a little more crunchy and herbal than some vintages, and yet, it still lays on the charm. Nice. I do like a wine that doesn’t try too hard to be anything other than a great drink. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

Italian grape specialists from the get-go Coriole has delivered another cracking drop here. If you want to know what good Aussie sang can look like then this is a great reference point. Embraces that Aussie fruit charm while backing it up with structural elements that hark back to its home in the Tuscan hills.

Fontaleoni is a family estate run by brother and sister team, Matteo and Simona Troiani, with a little help from consultant Paolo Caciorgna. They've succeeded in producing a range that is emblematic of the best of what the region has to offer and packaged it up with some of the besta value coming out of the region.

Unbelievable value again this year. A bit of white pepper and sour cherry fruit that opens into a slight darker fruit profile in the glass. Same goes on the palate with a little more dark plumb and morello cherry here than in other years. Plushly fruited but all held together with nice savoury tannins and a splash of leathery spice. 

Luscious fruit comes layered with sheets of both dry spice and far-reaching tannin. If this was double the asking price, it would still be worth buying. It's shot with plum, rust, clove and mint characters, a kaleidoscope of spice notes sprinkled over the finish. It's a beautiful wine. CAMPBELL MATTINSON, Halliday Wine Companion 

Character and flavour.... There sure isn’t anything to complain about here. Berries, leathers, fistfuls of spice, rust, and woodsy spices. It’s juicy and intense enough but what it really is is dry, savoury and lenthy. Value alert. CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front 

The kings of malbec in Australia. Undoubtably one of the greatest selections of malbec grown in the country while offering incredible value across the board.

The 2022 Malbec Trumpeter comes from the Uco Valley and was aged for seven months, one-third in French oak, one-third in American oak and the remainder in vats. A vibrant purple hue. The nose features notes of plum accompanied by delicate hints of violet. The palate is dry and juicy with a subtle grip and lingering oaky flavors. Overall, this is a well-crafted, affordable red. JOAQUIN HIDALGOm Vinous

Rich and obviously fruity nose with some baked cherries, cassis and some stewed herbs. Direct and juicy on the palate with round tannins and a flavorful, fruit-driven finish. Drink now. ZEKUN SHUAI, JamesSuckling.com 

A real flagship producer out of Argentina that seems to hit the nail on the head every year with their releases. Always plenty of interest and lashings of fruit but with loads of freshness to buffer the punchy fruit profiles. As good as it gets at this price-point.