Meet the couple changing the perceptions of Queensland wines

 

Queensland wine is still struggling for widespread acceptance.

While there have always been some talented artisans working in the Granite Belt region, consistency of quality has long been a problem.

Meet Ray and Jenny Costanzo, who are among a new wave lifting the profile of the Granite Belt and Queensland as a whole.

Ray is a third generation winemaker, having completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (winemaking) at Charles Sturt University and honing his skills doing vintages in various parts of Australia and the USA, before returning home to Stanthorpe to follow in his father and grandfathers footsteps as winemaker at Golden Grove Estate.

But the Costanzos also have their own little side project: Storm King Wines with wines that are handcrafted and made in tiny quantities.

Across two vintages, they are producing some of the most exciting wine styles Queensland has to offer with the new releases from the 2022 vintage full of vivacity and nuance.

Founded two years ago, Storm King is named for the area where the couple lives and reflect "a passion for wines that are just a little left of centre result and worth savouring".

The savoury, textural 2022 Vermentino ($40) raw-boned 2022 Shiraz Malbec ($45) and 2022 Tempranillo ($45) - an absolute standout - are made with extended contact with skins, natural ferments, hand plunging, basket pressing and minimal filtrations. 

The tempranillo (above) will change whatever preconceptions you may have about Queensland wine, but be quick: only 660 bottles were produced. 

Sustainability, too, is paramount with recycled grape waste and compostable inks used for the labels, and the use of a more environmentally friendly cork producer. 

See https://www.stormkingwineco.com.au/     

Queensland wines that break the mould

 

Meet a new range of Queensland wines that deserve to be taken seriously. Aficionados should check out the new Storm King range before it sells out.

This trio of Granite Belt wines are small batch (less than a 1000 bottles of each), hand-crafted and use both old wold and new world winemaking techniques.

Storm King is the personal label of talented winemaker Ray Constanzo and his wife Jen, and the wines come beautifully packaged with eye-catching labels, wax capsules and Diam corks. All are individually numbered.

Costanzo is known as the winemaker for Ballandean-based family business Golden Grove, which dates back over 30 years and produces some outstanding wines in its own right.

Storm King was founded last year and is named after the area of the Granite Belt where Ray and Jen live.

The wines have extended contact with skins and undergo natural ferments, hand plunging, basket pressing and minimal filtration. But fear not. They taste terrific.

The initial range - all from 2021 - comprises one white; a dry, textural vermentino with nuances of pear drops, a very solid shiraz malbec blend using fruit from 50-year-old vines, and the star of the show, a mataro graciano blend that sings. 

I shared some of this wine with friends who are serious players in hospitality and they were blown away.

This is a hand-picked field blend of 80% mataro and 20% graciano that was wild fermented and left on skins for 112 days. It was basket pressed and then matured in French oak for three months.

Try a bottle. It just might change your mind about Queensland wines forever.

The wines are $55 each, or $135 for a three-pack. Move quickly. www.stormkingwineco.com.au/shop