Words On Wine: Spring 2024

When it comes to picking a wine this Spring, it’s time to turn over a new leaf.

Most of us are looking forward to emerging from the winter chills and putting plans in place for some al fresco entertainment and other outdoor activities. So as the seasons change, our wine selections tend to follow. Fortunately, we are spoilt for choice in the Mudgee region.

Wine drinkers tend to be creatures of habit with our own preferences firmly locked in place. Without straying too far from our favourite wine styles, I’d recommend seeking out wines with some deft changes in winemaking that might just keep things interesting. Coming out of winter, enjoy whites with a comfort aspect before we hit the zesty summer wines.

We know aromatics do well in Mudgee, varieties like Riesling, Gewurtztraminer and Pinot Gris. But when fermented in barrel or using full solids juice they develop a textural mouth-feel that adds a rounded complexity to the floral, elegant aromas of these grapes. Some examples are Manners Übergew (Gewurtztraminer), Robert Stein blü hen Riesling and (yours truly) Black Wines Pinot Gris. If you want to push that theme further, whites fermented on skins will transform with a phenolic grip that gives length and touch of salinity on the palate. Look for Logan Clementine Pinot Gris or new label Teto 2024 Müller-Thurgau from Tom Dunstan.

There’s never a bad time to enjoy a glass of bubbles so this Spring consider reaching for a glass of Pet Nat or Pétillant Naturel. Fermented in bottle for the last third of fermentation, it has a fine lees and is not as spritzy as a traditional sparkling so it makes for a great chilled alternative to a cloudy beer like Coopers Pale Ale. Usually dry and always refreshing in either the white or rose version. Gilbert Family Wines are experts at this style.

And while you might expect me to say Rose, what about a light to medium bodied red? Still with some plushness for evenings or it can take 30mins in the fridge for those warmer days where a long lunch is called for. Huntington Estate Nouveau Grenache Pinot Noir Shiraz is fit for purpose with soft red/blue fruits and very fine balanced tannins.

Hopefully, you can discover some exciting wines this Spring that you can wet your plants over. Below are two more options that you may find growing on you. Happy Drinking!