One of the things that has been happening in the wine world that I find fun & interesting is that the New World wine makers are experimenting with some different Old World grapes.

Of course much of the more familiar grape varieties (e.g., Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, etc…) are also Old World grapes but this has expanded to include the likes of Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Arneis, Albarino, Primitivo and the list goes on and on.

I have also heard some outspoken criticism of these efforts, with the basic gist being that we should leave these grape varieties to the Old World wine makers that do them best, but if you followed that argument to its logical conclusion then New World wine makers would or should have no grapes (and thus wine) at all, as pretty much 99% of New World grapes come from Old World countries.

Granted, not all varieties translate well (i.e., differing soil & climate conditions, wine making styles & techniques & knowledge, etc…) but I think there are enough wine winners out there to let out a resounding hoorah for these wine makers to keep on trying.

Take Sangiovese as a good (or the critics might say a bad) example. Sangiovese is the dominant grape variety in Italy (there are 63,000 hectares planted versus 440 in Australia) and is the core grape used in making the well-known wine Chianti. Sangiovese has been cultivated since Roman times and its name literally translates to ‘the blood of Jove’ (the Roman God Jupiter).

Listed below are a few of my favourites that I have recently tried:

Coriole Sangiovese McLaren Vale 2007 $20 to $23

Coriole was one of the first wineries to try this grape and this clearly is one of the Australian versions that really gets it right. Bursting with ripe cherry fruit with a wonderful, viscous mouth feel and great structure.

If you’re an Elwood local then amble on down to the King of Tonga (164A Tennyson Street 9531 8503) who feature this wine as one of its reds at a great price, by the glass or bottle.

Pizzini Sangiovese Kings Valley 2006 $20 to $25

The Pizzini family has been making Italian wine in Australia for more than 25 years having immigrated here in 1955. They make and offer one of the most extensive (from Arneis to Verduzzo) & affordable selections of Italian varietals in Australia today.

This is again a very fruit driven wine with a bit of sour cherry on the nose and a nice fleshiness on the palate – a fun to drink now wine. The King of Tonga offers the Pizzini Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris to us English speaking folks) by the glass & bottle if you would like to sample a Pizzini wine in the neighborhood.

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