For almost four decades there is one Australian sauvignon blanc that has been the benchmark.
When cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill-Smith launched their first Adelaide Hills sauvignon blanc 37 years ago the grape variety was virtually unknown in Australia.
A few wine lovers drank imported Sancerre, or knew the variety was a key component of Bordeaux white blends, but the Kiwi savalanche had yet to be fully unleashed and the cousins were largely taking a leap into the unknown, buying some fruit from neighbour Geoff Hardy to kick start their endeavour.
The 2026 Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc has just been released - and it remains hugely popular, a staple of wine lists at seafood and Chinese restaurants across the country.
The strength of the brand is that the fruit is always from the Adelaide Hills - and that the style delivers exactly what consumers have come to expect.
Shaw + Smith offers aromatics, vibrancy, fresh fruit character and dryness on the palate. There is no intrusive oak, no excessive lees stirring. Just what it drinkers have come to expect.
I attended one of Shaw+Smith's annual yum cha lunch launches - at Kwan Ho in Hobart - and can confirm the new release is as good as ever.
"It was a unique vintage with a bit of everything thrown in weather wise, but we are very happy with the end result," said Shaw.
"We had a few sleepless nights but hand picking and table sorting helped with quality fruit and we ended up with a wine with great natural acidity and bright fruit."
After just a few weeks in bottle the wine is already fun and approachable, zingy with benchmark pink grapefruit and flinty mineral notes. It's a lovely drink and well priced at around $35 a bottle.
Nowadays, of course, Shaw + Smith is one of the leading Adelaide Hills wine producers - with an impressive cellar door tasting facility.
They focus on varieties that suit the cooler Hills climate with a range that now includes riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir and shiraz.
Their peak releases are stellar single-vineyard wines.
See https://www.shawandsmith.com/
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