April 2015

21st Century Family portraits:
The White Family


The 21st Century family is a big one. A diverse and colourful one, full of varied personalities who all have a penchant for travel. Never ones to sit still they are all about exploring lands far and wide with many having made Australia home for many years now.

Maturing and developing their own personalities as a result, these siblings are now established throughout the country. Get to know them.

VERMENTINO

VERMENTINO

Vermentino is straight up fun. She steals the keys to a Vespa and takes you on an all-day adventure through a seaside town kind of fun. Wind-swept hair, sunny disposition, smelling like ocean breezes and sea salt minerality.

Deliciously refreshing, she’ll come into your life and you’ll breathe a sigh of relief for just being in her presence.

Delicate, lively and generous with her time and energy, you can’t help but wonder where she’s been all your tired life. Taking you by the hand to search for fresh oysters with freshly squeezed lemon, she is the embodiment of summertime drinking and the all adventurous gal. Long, sleek lines and plush, she is the perfect life quencher.

GRECO

GRECO

Greco is the smooth-talking, bright and energetic one of the bunch. Not one to age – he’s the Dorian Grey of wine varieties; the forever young, arrogant show pony. A sparkling wit, with an ‘in your face’ attitude, fruitiness and a length that means he could take you dancing well into the early hours of the morning yet still have energy to spare.

There’s an innate refinement to this variety, not one to be typecast as a ‘one hit wonder’, he may be the peacock, always preening and pushing his tropical swagger of flavours in your face but does so dressed in an impeccably tailored suit with a well-groomed appearance. That’s the rub- you want to dismiss him and his full-on fruit forward style, however he entices you with promises of minerality, texture and a subtle lean structure. Something which he delivers: Every. Single. Time.

Moscato Giallo

MOSCATO GIALLO

Fun, flirty and ever so interesting- Moscato Giallo spends her days daydreaming in floral meadows, singing (think Maria from The Sound of Music) and at night working in the local tavern. She may be the embodiment of sweetness but don’t let that fool you, she’s got real depth of character and flavour.

Orphaned at a young age, and often mistaken for a push over or just another ‘silly little filly’, she’ll knock you on your ass if the situation calls for it (I’ve heard she’s got a mean right hook). Amongst all those aromatics and delicate florals there is real backbone and spine, it’s what makes her so interesting.

Immediately approachable, luring you in with sweetness before you realise there’s more than just one dimension. It takes real character and a driving force to be something great no matter how the world decides to shape you.

MALVASIA ISTRIANA

MALVASIA ISTRIANA

A specific and discreet style, Malvasia Istriana is a no holds barred, straight talking woman. Aromatic and distinctly savoury – you can’t mistake her for anyone but exactly who she is.

There’s an element of silent authority whenever she is in the room, never the wallflower (no matter what the situation you put her in) at the numerous parties she attends; she can’t help but be the centre of attention, commanding the room. Not because of any flashiness on her part but from simply her presence and her richness of flavour.

There is an inherent ‘coolness’, sleek long lines with a hint of dismissal or slight chalkiness, yet you are drawn in by that hint of seductive florals. She could be easily misunderstood, however, if you are ever graced with her presence to sit with her and delve into her layered personality, you begin to understand the complexities with every minute that passes.

21st Century Family portraits:
The Red Family


The 21st Century family is a big one. A diverse and characterful one full of varied personalities yet all have a penchant for travel. Never ones to sit still they are all about exploring lands far and wide with many having made Australia home for many years now.

Maturing and developing their own personalities as a result, these siblings are now established throughout the country. Get to know them.

AGLIANICO

AGLIANICO

Suave and distinguished; a cool cat that reminds you of Frank Sinatra if he was your grandfather. Aglianico is firm structured but fair- he’s everyone’s favourite who always brings you treats of red licorice. He exhibits an air of class and maturity of character but from the twinkle in his eye- you know he can turn into a youthful scallywag in a split second with some savoury tongue in cheek humour and flavour.

Exudes warmth and loveliness post his sometimes gruff initial impression, there is softness and charm and hidden depths- more than meets the eye. Dark and a touch spicy- you know he’s seen some things in his past life as an Intelligence Spy. Multi-layered and multi-dimensional, he can cut any opponent down verbally with a few conversational licks of his acid tongue or stare them down with his foreboding sense of presence. Then in the next heartbeat, he’s offering you a cup of rosehip tea and telling you lengthy and intriguing anecdotes.

NERO d'AVOLA

NERO d’AVOLA

Nero d’Avola is the original nice guy. Your would-be boyfriend or the helpful neighbour who’s always mowing your lawn or who will come give your car a jump start when the battery dies on the side of the road. He’s a workhorse, never tiring or lacking in flavour or character, instilled with grace and manners. What you see is what you get- likeable, vibrant, cheerful and delicious.

Medium bodied, he is not overly large but certainly no wimp, strong and powerful with a soft touch. Suiting all situations from his dark fruits-of-the-forest and mulberry fruits intertwined with aromatic hints of blood orange and sweet spices. He is the wingman, confidante, companion, helpful son, drinking buddy and romantic boyfriend all embodied in the one form, the quintessential all-rounder.

Schioppettino

SCHIOPPETTINO

Wise beyond her years, Schioppettino is the type of variety where her mind is always ticking, working something out. Never one to sit still, she analyses and is constantly evolving and developing.

Because of her enquiring mind and her inability to stay in one place for too long there is always an underlying tension in this variety. Green peppercorn is her calling card, with dark balsamic and citrus peel characters. Thick-skinned, she has a tendency to be abrupt, but given time to explain and develop her hypothesis she softens and can be almost warm, plush and approachable. A complex-profile, that’s just bursting with intrigue and dimensions of flavour.

Sagrantino

SAGRANTINO

Hailed as one of the most tannic varieties in the world, Sagrantino is the night-club bouncer of the wine world. Dark, brooding and powerful from when you first set eyes on him. He is a no-holds barred, one-two punch and you’re out kind of character but with a heart of gold.

Dark cherry and plum characters show the sweeter side to this Ox of a man. With one hand he’s grabbing a shady character by the scruff of the neck and kicking them to the curb with the other he’s opened the door for you to enter the premises with a wide smile on his face; you know he gets no greater enjoyment than showing his power and strength. Fruit flavours of great intrigue and depth within a very structured package.