Pretty in pink. Meet Australia's first dedicated rosé wine brand

 

Rosé wines are rarely the focus when a new wine brand is launched. 

But instead of being an afterthought, rosés are front and centre of the new Paddington Lane range of wines, which features three different styles of rosé. 

Paddington Lane is the latest brainwave of the team at Fourth Wave Wines, which is behind several popular labels, including Little Giant and Elephant in the Room. 

The new rosés stand out from the crowd with eye-catching bottles that I have no doubt will do post-drink duty as candleholders. 

The three new releases are all from the 2023 vintage so share a freshness while offering different flavour profiles.

No.1 is described as "Dry Rosé - crisp and refreshing" and is a blend of grenache and cinsault grapes from the Fleurieu Peninsula. 

No.2 is "Savoury Rosé - savoury and textured" and is a combo of Riverland sangiovese and nebbiolo. 

No.3 is "Soft Rosé - soft and slightly sweet" and is a blend of merlot and cabernet Franc from the Limestone Coast. 

In simple terms, No.1 is pale and very dry, perky and full of verve. Think Provence. No.2 is lively and little more complex, and No.3's slight sweetness makes it perfect for beginners but it also has some nice palate grip and brisk acidity. 

Paddington Lane is being touted as Australia's first specialist rosé brand. And with the wines retailing for around $20-25 a bottle, they certainly offer good value.

Get some friends around, taste them blind and see if you can guess which is which.  

      

What Sophie says: Anyone for a Yellow Tail cocktail for summer?

Fancy a pre-mixed cocktail on a summer evening? 

Australian wine brand [yellow tail] has just released a line-up of ready-to-drink cocktails that are described as "deliciously light and fizzy" and weigh in at just 11.5% alcohol. 

The new range features a Wild Peach Bellini and Blood Orange Mimosa, both ready to pour straight from the bottle and billed as being "perfect for summer soirees, festive celebrations and holiday brunching in style".

[yellow tail] Australian ambassador Sophie Monk has been wheeled  out do the honours, saying: "I’m a huge fan of sparkling wine and I love a no-fuss cocktail so new [yellow tail] sparkling cocktails are the perfect match for my taste buds and lifestyle. 

“[yellow tail] sparkling Wild Peach Bellini is the drink I’d be sipping on at brunch with pancakes or my personal Sunday favourite, French toast. 

For super-hot summer days, I can’t go past a [yellow tail] sparkling Blood Orange Mimosa, poolside with some watermelon or any fruit really and nuts to munch on."

For non-Australians, former singer and media personality Monk only recently took on her brand ambassador role, and they are certainly working her hard. 

The new releases are very much on trend with sparkling wine, ready-to-drink and spirits categories in growth globally and in Australia, primarily driven by millennials and younger drinkers seeking flavour and convenience.

“The ready-to-drink segment is booming in Australia - it’s the fastest-growing category in the alcoholic beverage industry globally," says [yellow tail] global marketing manager Anna Czarnocka. 

"Coupled with the rising cost of living, we are seeing more consumers increasingly focusing on products that offer accessibility, convenience and value." 

The drinks are made by the sixth generation of the Casella family at the family-owned winery in Yenda. 

The new [yellow tail] sparkling cocktails are available at Dan Murphy’s and BWS nationally at an RRP of $18. 

I actually enjoyed both of them. Good thirst quenchers on a summer afternoon. The lifted blood orange flavours of the mimosa just edged it for me but I’d drink both well chilled over summer. 

See www.yellowtailwine.com.au.

A bitter new take on sparkling wine

Chandon, established in 1986, was one of the pioneers of high-quality sparkling wine production in Australia. 

Based in the Yarra Valley but sourcing fruit from several cool-climate wine regions across the country, Chandon is probably best known for its serious approach. 

Dedicated to creating méthode traditionnelle cool-climate sparkling wines, using the three traditional Champenoise grapes of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, Chandon also has a sense of fun. 

Ready to serve, ready to share, Chandon's new Garden Spritz is a blend of sparkling wine and a unique bitters recipe. 

Crafted by chief winemaker Dan Buckle using navel and blood oranges and macerated with dried orange peels, herbs and spices, it offers a new take on summer drinking. 

The good news is that Chandon Garden is 100% natural with no artificial flavors and no artificial colorants. It also has half the sugar of many rival spritzes. 

Primary fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks with a few select parcels fermented in oak vessels for greater complexity. Spices and herbs used include cardamom, ginger and cinnamon. 

A combination of the base wine is blended with reserve wines from previous years while the second fermentation occurs in the bottle. Garden Spritz liqueur is added to Chandon Rosé sparkling wine after disgorging, the final step before popping the cork. 

Chandon Garden Spritz retails for $32 a bottle.