Arneis from Australia
Talk about a surprise. Well, not exactly. Australia has been taking me by surprise this year for all the obvious reasons - it's warmer than New Zealand and it's bigger so it has more going on in some spheres, including when it comes to trialling lesser known wine styles made from European grapes that are not mainstream. Enter this wine of the week. It is the most vibrant Australian white wine I've tasted this year and has the fresh acidity that I've come to expect from New Zealand wines rather than wines made from grapes grown in warmer places. This wine is an Arneis, which has evolved to withstand heat (it originally hails from Piemonte in north west Italy) but clearly enjoys growing in the Mediterranean climate of the Ferguson Valley, south of Perth.
On a trip to Australia late last month, I was pleasantly surprised to find such vibrancy of flavour from a relatively warm place in Western Australia. Bravo.
PS To the best of my knowledge, Aylesbury Wines are not imported to New Zealand at this stage but I will update this, if I discover information to the contrary.
In the meantime, learn more about Aylesbury Wines online.
Wine of the week
2025 Aylesbury Estate Arneis RRP $35 (Australian)
Aylesbury Estate Arneis is grown in Western Australia’s Ferguson Valley, two hour drive south of Perth and 15 to 20 minutes inland from Bunbury so it's pretty easy to find this wine in Italian eateries in Perth, which is exactly where I discovered it. The aromas rise softly, leading into warmed waves of stone fruit, carrying a sense of generous vibrancy. White peach and delicate hints of apricot combine with a saline citrus finish, bringing poise and clarity to the fresh acidity which brings a long finish to each sip. There is an effortless flow to this wine, highlighting thoughtful winemaking and delicious bright summer sipping.
18.5/20
