A sommelier has revealed the affordable Australian wine brands she can’t get enough of, and the good news is that they don’t break the bank.
Shanteh Wale started her career as a waiter, but climbed the ranks to become a wine expert, and has since been nominated three times for Sommelier of the Year.
She told Yahoo Lifestyle Aussies keep making the same mistake when it comes to vino: buying expensive imported bottles because they think it’ll go down better on the palate and with their friends at a dinner party.
But she said there are three brands, Cirillo, Yalumba, and Calabria Family Wines, that she typically “gravitates” to when she’s looking for a decent drop.
“Each is led by talented winemakers, grounded in identifiable vineyard sites, and proudly family-owned.”
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Calabria Family Wines sells varieties such as rosé, sangiovese, Marlborough sauvignon blanc, moscato, shiraz and prosecco at Dan Murphy’s for just $18.99 a bottle.
Judging from reviews on the bottle shop empire’s website, Shanteh isn’t wrong.
Calabria’s Pinot Grigio has a perfect five-star rating after dozens of appraisals.
Happy customers said you can “never go wrong” with that bottle, while another said everyone at a recent gathering “loved it”.
Similarly, the brand’s Sangiovese has a 4.8 out of 5 score at Dan Murphy’s, with people saying it’s “surprisingly amazing”.
The Calabria wine brand has a bunch of wine varieties that cost less than $20 at major retailers.
(Yahoo Lifestyle/Dan Murphy’s)
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If you wanted to save a bit of cash, Yalumba sells bottles for as little as $10, but they can reach as high as nearly $160.
According to the retailer, 94 per cent of shoppers would recommend Yalumba’s Y Series Pinot Grigio, which is less than a tenner.
Many reviewers said it’s their “go-to” bottle when entertaining or just enjoying by themselves.
Meanwhile, Cirillo sells its Vincent Grenache for $24.99, its single-vineyard shiraz for $29.99, and its 1850 Ancestor Vine Grenache for $72.99.
Shanteh, who was the head sommelier at Sydney’s award-winning Quay Restaurant for four years, said looking in your own backyard for great wine can lead to some amazing discoveries and can trump overseas juggernauts.
Shanteh said there are some great Australian wine brands that we should try to discover.
(Instagram/Good Food and Wine Show/Yahoo Lifestyle)
“I feel an immense sense of pride in what we produce — and it’s something we should all share,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“Australia produces some of the most focused, vivid, and tantalising wines on the planet.
“However, global perception remains varied, with our geographical isolation still playing a role.
Shanteh will be hosting wine tastings at the Good Food and Wine Show in Sydney this weekend.
The Show will then be in Perth in July and Brisbane in October.
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