Our Seasonal Wine Guide

What Wine and When?

Did you know that someone who has an intense and disciplined devotion to wine, enjoys researching and trying new wine, and considers themselves to be a wine savant and connoisseur is referred to as an ‘oenophile’. While most regular wine drinkers would undoubtedly share traits of an oenophile, without the time to become a full-blown, impassioned wine hobbyist, many of us still find it daunting and a little stressful to choose the perfect wine for the occasion at hand. This is especially true when you’re in a rush (late to a mate’s BBQ!) and standing in a store surrounded by literally hundreds of different bottles in an endless array of styles.

Red or white? Local or international? Paired with seafood or steak?

Choosing wine should be a fun and enjoyable experience, and you really don’t need to be an oenophile to match the perfect bottle with the occasion.

The below guide gives you some quick tips on how you can select the perfect wine that is sure to enhance the atmosphere and amp-up the sense of celebration at your next social gathering.

Start with the seasons

If you are finding wine selection overwhelming, a good place to start your decision-making process is to look at the weather.

Wine can magically bring out the flavour profile of your food and seasonal wine drinking presents an opportunity to share and experience a wider range of varietals and food pairings based on the time of year.

Creating special moments that are a quintessential combination of food, wine and the seasons, will heighten the senses and elevate the mood of the moment. A full-bodied red wine, for example, is delicious with slow-cooked comfort dishes; while refreshing lighter wines, like Sauvignon Blanc, are synonymous with summer sunshine and seafood.

Nepenthe’s collection of wines, sourced from premium vineyards in our unique and diverse cool-climate home in the picturesque Adelaide Hills, includes the perfect varietal for you to enjoy – rain, hail or shine!

Winter Wines

Winter can inspire some wonderful choices of wine. You may be outside in front of an open fire catching up with your extended family after enjoying a traditional roast dinner with all the trimmings; you could be in a rustic ski lodge devouring a tray of rich, cheesy lasagne with friends; or you might just be sitting comfy in your trackies binge-watching watching the latest season of The Crown while enjoying a piping hot bowl of hearty lentil stew.

For all these occasions, full-bodied and bold red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz served at room temperature, pair perfectly with rich and heavy, rib-sticking winter dishes. A delicious, oaked and aged Chardonnay is also a fantastic match for winter warmers, especially creamy pasta dishes or baked chicken.

Try:

2021 Nepenthe Pinnacle Chardonnay Awarded 97 points in the 2021 Winestate Adelaide Hills Challenge, our Chardonnay blends lemon blossom and nectarine with subtle oak complexity.
2020 Nepenthe Pinnacle Shiraz for its deep and ripe flavours of blackcurrants and blueberry.

Adelaide Hill Nepenthe Vineyards misty morning

Autumn Wines

As the weather begins to chill, it’s a great time to rummage through your cellar and enjoy a lighter-bodied red wine like Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is great to share with friends while grazing on a charcuterie board packed with cold meats, crusty bread and French pate. It’s also a delicious accompaniment to coq au vin (use it in the sauce, too!), mushroom risotto or duck pancakes.

Try:

2021 Nepenthe Pinnacle Pinot Noir for a complex aroma of raspberry and cherries complemented by hints of sweet spice for an elegant, velvety finish.
Nepenthe Altitude Tempranillo for a medium-bodied red that has vibrant fruit characters blended with underlying savoury earthiness.

Spring Wines

Rosé is the classic choice to have on hand for sunny, springtime gatherings outdoors. It pairs perfectly with spring vegetables, grilled fish or chicken, or take it along on a picnic with some antipasto and light tangy creamy cheeses like a Brie, Feta or Gruyere. And when the evening still has a little chill in the air, our crisp and peppery Grüner Veltliner is a match made in heaven for traditional Austrian Wiener Schnitzel, as well as spicy Asian dishes.

Try:

2022 Nepenthe Altitude Rosé for its bone-dry finish and delicate aromas of red cherries and strawberries.
2020 Nepenthe Pinnacle Grüner Veltliner. Awarded 94 points in the 2021 Winestate Adelaide Hills Challenge, this contemporary wine, inspired by its Austrian roots, has aromas of white nectarine, spice and hints of honey and has notes of dried pineapple which gives way to a long zesty finish.

Summer Wines

When the weather heats up, there is nothing like sharing a bottle of light-bodied, crisp and vivacious chilled white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pino Gris at a backyard BBQ, picnic, or while al fresco dining at your favourite restaurant. These two varietals are the perfect accompaniment for beautiful fresh Australian seafood, and summer salads with tart vinaigrettes and lots of herbs. And nothing says summer fun and frivolity like popping a festive bottle of sparkling wine to get the party started.

Try:

2021 Nepenthe Altitude Sauvignon Blanc. This vibrant wine received 91 points in the 2021 Winestate Magazine Awards and has citrus fruit flavours with subtle herbal notes. It is an excellent all-rounder that works well as a ‘go to wine’ if you’re not sure what to bring to a dinner party.
2022 Nepenthe Altitude Pinot Gris for its notes of nashi pear, green apple and jasmine that has a zesty citrus finish.
Nepenthe Prestige Cuvée has a fresh, fruit-driven palate with a delightful sparkling finish. It is an excellent choice to bring to an impromptu afternoon gathering or an evening celebration with friends.