In early November 2025, I attended an Australian wine tasting event in London, organised by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). The tasting brought together a mix of producers and importers, showcasing a wide range of wines from across Australia.
It was a busy and, at times, crowded event, with over 25 wineries represented and close to 300 wines available to taste. As expected, there was no shortage of Shiraz, but I focused on seeking out wines that offered something a bit different. Below are the highlights of what I discovered. Prices weren’t provided at the event, so I’ve searched online to find representative retail figures where possible.
Jansz Tasmania Premium Cuvée NV 12% £18
Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this sparkling wine blends Old World tradition with New World precision. Using the traditional method, it has spent over two years ageing on lees, giving it fine autolytic character. Pale lemon in colour with a fine bead, it opens with citrus and honeysuckle aromas, touched by brioche. The taste is clean and bright, offering crisp citrus flavours and a bready depth. High in acidity, light in body, and brut in style, it finishes long and pristine.
Turkey Flat Vineyards Rosé 2024 12% £16
Produced in the Barossa Valley, where native bush turkeys once roamed, this 100% Grenache rosé is vibrant and expressive. The aroma is lifted with notes of strawberry, raspberry and delicate rosewater. On the tongue, it’s dry and refreshing with layers of red berries, peach and a hint of citrus. Medium-plus acidity supports a light-bodied structure, leading to a fresh and fruity finish.
Wakefield Jaraman Chardonnay 2021 13.5% £18
This Clare Valley Chardonnay is packed with flavour and complexity. Aromas of melon and lime mingle with hints of stone fruit. Citrus and melon flavours follow through on the taste, backed by a clean mineral line. There’s a strong oak presence, yet it balances well with bright fruit notes.
Torbreck Old Vines GSM 2022 14.5% £21
A deep ruby blend of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mourvèdre (GSM) from the western Barossa Valley. It opens with ripe red and black berry aromas, alongside pepper and wild herb notes. Generous fruit fills the mouth, supported by a spicy warmth and plush texture. Low to medium tannins provide grip to this full-bodied, dry red, which lingers with a long, warm finish.
Pizzini Pietra Rossa Sangiovese 2022 13.8% £15
Made by an Italian family in Australia’s King Valley, this Sangiovese is a lighter expression of the grape but very rich in flavour. Aromas of fresh cherry and dried herbs lead into a juicy, unoaked taste showing plum and a dark chocolate note on the finish. It’s vibrant and different, offering plenty of character in a more delicate style.
Pizzini La Volpe Nebbiolo 2023 13% £22
Also from King Valley, this wine takes its name from a persistent fox and delivers with a softer, more accessible take on Nebbiolo. Aromas are of rose petal, red berries, while the taste hints at liquorice and a fine, fruit-forward balance. It’s a gentler yet intriguing approach to this often bold Italian grape.
Claymore ‘Losing My Religion’ Montepulciano 2021 13.3%
From Leasingham in South Australia, this Montepulciano offers juicy red cherry and raspberry flavours wrapped in herbaceous spice and earthy depth. Hints of mocha, coffee, and tobacco add complexity to its savoury edge. Medium-bodied with soft but moreish tannins, it delivers a layered and satisfying drinking experience. (Not yet available in the UK)
Hugh Hamilton ‘The Oddball’ McLaren Vale Saperavi 2023 14.5%
A bold and intense Saperavi from McLaren Vale, made from a grape so deeply coloured the Georgians named it after ‘dye’. Aromas of dark berries, caramel and liquorice lead into a powerful mouthful of dark fruit and robust structure. Full-bodied and dry, it finishes long and savoury with deep, inky richness. (Not yet available in the UK – a tasting favourite)
Lou Miranda Estate FIERCE III Sagrantino 2020 14% £22
From Barossa’s Lou Miranda Estate, this Sagrantino grape, nicknamed The Spicy Italian, delivers bold personality. The aroma bursts with blackberry, wild cherry, plum, spice and a touch of dried rose. The flavour is very expressive and layered, unfolding with chocolate, tobacco and earthy savoury tones. It’s powerful, with a lingering finish. (Another tasting favourite)
Pikes ‘The Plantation’ Grenache 2024 14.5% £18
A bright and juicy Grenache. Aromas of raspberry, strawberry and rose hint at its freshness. Medium ruby in the glass, the taste is all about red fruit purity, laced with spice and silky tannins. Medium-bodied and supple, it finishes with a perfumed and lightly spiced lift.
Pikes ‘Luccio’ Novello 2024 13% £14
A playful Novello-style (similar to French Beaujolais Nouveau) red made with 64% Nero d’Avola and 35% Montepulciano. It’s light in colour and offers redcurrant, cherry and pomegranate flavours. A subtle liquorice edge adds interest to its vibrant fruit core. A bright, youthful wine with surprising length and charm.
Wakefield ‘The Visionary’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 14.5% £75
A limited release from Clare Valley, this premium Cabernet opens with blackcurrant, cedar and a strong leather and black fruit scent. Deep ruby in colour, it’s full-bodied and dry with cassis and black fruit richness. The structure is refined with subtle tannins and a composed, long finish that lingers with cedar and depth.
I was genuinely impressed by the number of wines on show that felt refreshingly atypical of what one might usually expect from Australia. More importantly, many of them were excellent. There was a noticeable influence of Italian grape varieties, reflecting the strong presence of Italian heritage within Australia’s winemaking community. While some of these wines, especially the lighter styles, carried more alcohol than their Italian counterparts, they often remained remarkably light and elegant.
