Mark Lloyd of Coriole planted Sangiovese in his McLaren Vale vineyards in the mid 1980s and in 1999 he famously won the inaugural Australian Sangiovese Awards – a precursor to the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show, where this delicious 2016 Sangiovese won Gold! It has beautiful bright spiced cherry and plum fruit, with a savoury touch of herbs and spice. It's a terrific food wine - try it with your best Italian pasta dish.

"Coriole has earned its reputation as one of the blue-blood producers of McLaren Vale” (James Halliday). "What Coriole does better than any other McLaren Vale maker is to fashion wines of such balance and finesse ... equipped with the structure, balance and layers of fruit to unfold slowly” (Jeremy Oliver). We're not arguing with these fine critics! Clark Hill, named after the land on which the Coriole estate was built, is an impressively rich blend of lush Cabernet planted in 1988, and spicy Shiraz planted in 1969 when Coriole was set up. Savour subtle lavendar aromas and a melee of plum, cassis and redcurrant flavours lifted by elegant, exotic spice.

The family behind the rise and rise of Coriole typify Australian winemakers’ quest to explore all the world of wine has to offer, trialling, adapting and perfect new varieties. The Lloyds could have easily settled for producing some of the best old-vine Shiraz and Grenache in The Vale but spread their wings to Sangiovese in the 1980s and are now also having great success with the Italian white Fiano and are getting serious about the Languedoc’s Picpoul. Coriole were also early to adopt Chenin Blanc, a crisp summer wine from France’s Loire Valley. The 2021 vintage won Gold at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show, with its classic nose of green apples, lemon citrus and grapefruit and lively textural palate nicely capturing the grape’s refreshing essence.

Deep, vibrant and intense, 94pt and Great Value Shiraz from the prized biodynamic Heathcote vineyards of highly regarded Sergio Carlei. "The winemaker chose to release the 2019 before the 2018. A smart decision, given the upfront appeal of the '19. The '18 offers a darker intensity but boasts a similar beautiful balance. Deep perfume and flavours rich in Heathcote blackberries, cassis, pastille, bramble, wild bushland aromatics and inviting spice. Moves like a distance runner, fine tannins, firm and sleek.94pts. Great Value.” (Jeni Port, The Halliday Wine Companion). Sergio Carlei graduated as a Doctor of Chiropractic in 1988. Whilst practising, he simultaneously studied for a professional degree in oenology, graduating with his wine making degree in 1996. "Today, Sergio's achievements include being the first and only winemaker for 4 of the top 10 best new wineries in the 2007 Wine Companion by Australia's leading and most notable wine critic, James Halliday. In the companions that follow, all the wineries Sergio has consulted and produced wines for have all been accredited with the highest rating achievable (5 RED Stars), placing them all in the top 6% of Australian wineries." The Carlei estate – Sergio's family home – is in Upper Beaconsfield, Victoria.

Pinotage defines the unique character of South African reds with its smoky berry character, while Shiraz adds a little more spicy oomph. In Grill House, Trophy winning Gerhard Swart has created a gorgeous, punchy rich red – but then he is known locally as ‘King of Pinotage’. As the name suggests, it's looking for a grill or barbecue (or 'braai' as the South Africans would say).