Propping all that fruit up is some nice cashew, pulled warm bread and lemon rind. There’s a lot of drive and power here, but it’s never overwhelming.

Deep Woods Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2023

Like rolling/sliding down an icy hill on a lemon that needed another couple of days – are lemons just meant to drop? It’s not tart, there’s lime leaf and lees for breath and texture. So perfect with cos lettuce, bagna cuada and comte in the afternoon.

Babche Farmers Fizz Pet Nat 2024

The tannins are dusty, earthy spices, and high-toned acidity. This is old school, but it’s still holding onto a little, effortless, cool vibe. Great at dinner parties. Drink it while the sunsets, and in between pieces of cheese you cut that’s too big for the cracker.

Carlos Sanchez Bienlarme Lágrimas Bellas Rioja 2022

Fermented entirely in stainless steel to let the Grigio take centre stage and taste just like how you want Grigio from King Valley to taste, with that stone fruit, some sublime pear, and gentle acidity.

Santolin Pinot Grigio 2023

This feels like a wine that’s showing off a lot of charming assets. From the green apple snap and zest of lemon citrus to the light mealy note from some time on lees, along with the chalky pith that is almost palpable, and dipped in salt. If you ever wished your Muscadet had some effervescence, this is the wine for you.

Zudugarai Getariako Txakolina 2023

24’s Riesling comes with concentrated lime, lemon thyme and citrus blossom. With subtle layers of coriander and lemongrass, gun smoke and autumn fruits. Put it on the table when you’re making a curry for instant cuisine elevation.

Ottelia Riesling 2024

Parlante is speaking in Italian, but they could’ve gone with canto (singing), because that is what it can do if you line up everything – a cooler, ice, glasses, a friend or two, and a rug for the park.

Fondo Antico Grillo Parlante 2022

Take one to see what all the fuss is about, and a second to really enjoy all the delightful, lengthy lemon-lime driven dreaminess. Complete with some cool-season depth and freshness, this is the prince of BYO – especially if you’re hungry for curry and tikkas. Yum!

Grosset Springvale Riesling 2024

A very well regarded bottle in Brunello with a proper structure and traditional style. If it's a super wine from Tuscany, does that make it a Super Tuscan? Maybe not, but it'll give you red cherry-skinned smiles after all sips and a lasting tannin. It's wine like these that made the Tuscan wine store owners upset when I went in and asked for Barolo.

La Magia Il Vispo Sangiovese 2022

Clos Maurice Volage Saumur Champigny Cabernet Franc 2022

Need a sure thing that lets you know you're making all the right choices? Here it is with an unbelievable profile. Pours deep purple and has a weave of dark spices and star anise, plus some cassis and currants. Very French for Geelong, from those fruits to the acidity and unfolding effect you get as you drink. Absolutely cellarable.

Provenance Geelong SV Pinot Noir 2022

This is another multi-generational banger that'll suit every family member at the lunch/dinner table, especially if the BBQs on and your best griller has the tongues. We love it for the chewy tannins and generosity of the fruit. It also just feels exactly like a McLaren Vale Grenache blend should, whilst still being original, and creative.

Paralian Blewitt Springs Grenache Shiraz 2023

The queen on the Osicka throne. Moormbool is nearly imposing with its tannin, but still at a manageable weight thanks to fleshy, ripe berries that seem to swell on the palate before a sprinkling of dusty pepper and cooling herbs come through. These are some of the oldest vines Osicka has so expect depth and don’t be afraid to cellar this.

Paul Osicka Moormbool Reserve Shiraz 2022

Viticola Mentridana Las Uvas de la Ira Grenache 2021

Hello from the Eden Valley, your slightly cooler, more elevated region bordering the Barossa for those playing along at home. Drinks like a summer evening, complete with cooling, minty tannin (breeze) and a velvety fruit warmth that's rich and inviting. Feels like a red to sit with at the park over a couple of chapters, or some nice conversation.

Barr Eden Dreams of Gold Shiraz 2023

Piron Beaujolais-Villages 2023

Alzinger Riesling Durnstein Federspiel 2023

Any Pinot with orange amaro bitter snap and blood orange flavours is fine by us. Grown at 450 metres, there’s a lot of elegance and prettiness here and with time in the bottles, it’ll brood.

Eastern Peake Griffins Rd Pinot Noir 2022

Full of raspberry mousse and some subtle spice, it’s delicious and will absolutely inspire gossip, and maybe even some tension (between people, there’s plenty in the wine). Hand-picked and whole bunch pressed, you won’t care about knocking some ball through a gate, you’ll just want another glass.

Thalia Sparkling Rose NV

Bang on northern NZ Syrah with a genuinely rocky tannin and an almost Bordeaux-ish profile. If you’re more into deep n’ delicious fruits, don’t worry, there’s plenty of liquorice, cacao nib and some concentrated dark cherry that would be syrupy if the winemaking wasn’t so on point.