These are just a few of the emerging white and red varieties that are new to Australia’s bundle of wine offerings, inspired largely by those grown throughout the Mediterranean climates of Europe. And the Riverland, which straddles the majestic and vast Murray River in South Australia, could be the next home to an Australian take on these vivacious varieties. 

Haven’t heard of them before? That is exactly what the Riverland Alternative Wine Grower Group is setting out to change. A bus of wine industry boffins embarked upon a journey to the Riverland wine region to discover more about these intriguing varieties.  An initiative of the Riverland Alternative Wine Growers Group, the trip was all about familiarising the “movers and shakers” of the wine community with these varieties, the people that grow them, and the places where they are tendered.

The ultimate objective? To ensure that wine crafted from these varieties becomes more available on your local wine shop shelf, or restaurant list – and to develop a group of wine ambassadors who are proud to promote the Riverland as a quality producer of these varieties.

But it is not all serious wine talk and high-level marketing debate. Among the master classes, vineyard tours and working dinners, the group were treated to one of the Riverland and Murray River’s most iconic past times – yabbying! 

The likes of James Halliday, patron of the Australian Wine Industry and the most influential wine critic in Australia, clambered on board a ‘tinny’ (that is, an aluminium boat), and headed out on the River to try his luck at catching these native fresh water crayfish.

Ashley Ratcliff, from the Riverland Alternative Wine Growers Group, was confident of a good catch, cheekily reporting to the delegation that large numbers of the crustaceans are emerging from hibernation.

The group returned to the banks of the picturesque Murray with their catch, enjoying a glass of our some of the most exciting new styles coming out of Australia - while watching the sunset.

And wouldn’t you know it, an Australian Vermentino is the perfect food match for Yabbies, especially when cooked over a campfire. Try it for your self.

Facts:

Inspiration for planting these varieties is influenced by their tolerance to warmer climates, such as their Mediterranean homelands. Many of the varieties retain good levels of natural acidity, providing freshness and lightness, without compromising flavour.

To find out more about the Riverland region, click here.