Barossa Valley legend Ben Glaezer grew up in wine, his father Colin was winemaker at Seppelt, and his uncle is John Glaetzer, head winemaker at Wolf Blass for over 30 years. After graduating from Adelaide University’s Roseworthy campus, and a spell at Tyrrell’s, Ben went on to win a number of honours and titles as winemaker of Glaezer wines. The Heartland story began in the late 1990’s when Ben became excited about the outstanding quality of fruit being grown in some of South Australia’s lesser-known regions, in particular Langhorne Creek, where he explored thoroughly along with some winemaking friends. Today Heartland sources all of its fruit exclusively from Langhorne Creek and makes mainly red wines. Ben makes them 100km away at his state of the art Barossa Vintners winery in Tanunda. The Illicium name comes from Illicium Verum, the Latin name for Star Anise. This is a mix of Cabernet, single vineyard Shiraz and a little joyous, juicy Dolcetto. Together they have created a dense extremely fruity red layered with spice, cased in mellow oak.

Don't miss this Great Value "seriosly good" (Wine Orbit) Sauvignon with scores of 95 and 92pts. Sam Kim Wine Orbit loves its "...concentrated palate offering pristine fruit flavours with fine texture and vibrant acidity, finishing impressively long and exuberant." “Passionfruit, winter melon and gooseberry notes at the fore, with garden rose and honeysuckle florals emulating morning walks in spring. This sees some oak influence, and it marries harmoniously with fruit. A pretty wine with a creamy, velvety mouthfeel. 92pts. Great Value” (Katrina Butler, The Halliday Wine Companion).

De Iuliis Hunter Valley Verdelho is full of rich tropical fruit characters, including pineapple, passionfruit and rockmelon. A vibrant acid backbone complement the fruit nicely to produce an undervalued food-style wine.

This wine has rich tropical fruit characters with a long, lingering finish.

This variety made famous by the Loire Valley is starting to gain a footing in Australia. Coriole Chenin Blanc is fresh and elegant on the palate, comprising pineapple and gooseberry fruits with an attractive smoky finish.

The Selkirk is an excellent Shiraz from Bremerton and has a rich spicy flavour with a hint of pepper and a long, lingering finish - classic Langhorne Creek in style in a very well made package that can be both a drink now style or cellar nicely for the medium term.

Tyrrell's Fordwich Verdelho forms part of the 'Regional Heroes' range that aims to showcase small parcels of fruit from terroir that is perfectly suited to their chosen varietal. Here the Fordwich Verdelho is show intense varietal characteristics including vibrant lime, tropical fruit and a nice hint of spice on the back palate. An extremely well balance aromatic white that has intense fruit sweetness and a crisp, dry, searing acid finish.

The rich flavoursome Shiraz produced by Bleasdale at their Langhorne Creek vineyard is ideally suited to the sparkling style. Serve well chilled with the Christmas turkey and cranberry sauce.