Australia: home to the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney Opera House, and some of the most delicious wines in our cellar. It’s National Hug an Australian Day! Wrap your arms around one of the country’s top wine varietals, and see what all the yabber is about:
Shiraz - Oz’s most well-known grape
Let’s set things straight: Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. When Syrah originally arrived in Australia from France, local winemakers took to calling it Shiraz. Attribute this to the delightful Australian accent, and their capacity for making any common word more fun to say. (Shrimp on the barbie, anyone?) *If you haven’t tried our Pana Shiraz 2015, you’re in for a treat. With red and black berries, black pepper and vanilla spice, this wine is perfect with grilled meats - maybe even a kangaroo burger!...We’ll let you be the judge on that one.
Chardonnay - The second most produced
It's been said that Australian Chardonnay can compete effortlessly with the greatest wines of Burgundy. We agree. Flavors are often luscious and round, and aromas of peach‚ melon, tropical fruits and green apple are common. *Our newly released White Willow Chardonnay 2016 is the prime example of an Australian Chardonnay. You’ll find ripe tropical notes of pineapple and coconut, with soft vanilla in the finish. Influenced by the country’s national sport, cricket, this wine scores off the charts.
Cabernet Sauvignon - Clare Valley & Coonawarra’s finest
The mild climates of South Australia and New South Wales bring warmer days than Bordeaux, and cooler ones than Napa. Aussie Cabs tend to fall between those two extremes. You’ll find that they are perfectly ripe, and may note soft hints of sage and eucalyptus. *Keep an eye out in the near future for our White Willow Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon blend! This wine combines the best of both grapes to deliver heaps of jammy fruit flavors and complexity.
Verdelho - Australia: bottled.
You may know this white grape as the leading lady in Madeira - a fortified Portuguese wine - but Australian winemakers are taking over this crisp varietal. If you could capture the essence of a country in a glass, this wine would be it! Unpretentious, fun, and laid-back in nature, Verdelho is as refreshing as it gets.
Our Pana Verdelho 2016 hails from South Eastern Australia. It offers fresh hints of orchard, stone, citrus and tropical fruits, and pairs perfectly with an arvo at the beach. Grab your sunnies and sip on a glass, you’ll see what we mean. Cheers, mates!
