McLaren Vale’s Shingleback Wines is toasting to victory after their 2023 NX Gen Grenache snagged the Best Dry Red Varietal award at the Royal Perth Wine Awards. Featured in the Perth Royal Food Awards, a prestigious fixture since 1843, once again, an esteemed panel of local, interstate, and international judges came together to celebrate the best of the wine world.
This exceptional wine captures the essence of its region with an aromatic blend of strawberry, raspberry, jujube, olive spice, lavender, and cinnamon. On the palate, it’s a delightful experience, featuring rich layers of strawberry, dark cherry, pomegranate, and a hint of chocolate. Its medium weight and mouthwatering, savoury finish make it a perfect companion for sunny days ahead.
At the awards ceremony, which showcased a wide array of top-tier wines from around the country, Shingleback Wines made a splash with their NX Gen range, designed with the “next generation of wine drinkers” in mind.
Their vibrant, smooth, and fruit-driven wines offer a modern twist on classic varietals, crafted for immediate enjoyment. McLaren Vale is the home of Australian Grenache, a Spanish grape variety well suited to the Mediterranean climate of the region.
With over twenty-five years of experience in McLaren Vale, Shingleback Wines has established a reputation for capturing the genuine character of the land. Nestled along the crystal blue coastline and blessed with cooling ocean breezes, their vineyards enjoy extended ripening times that contribute to the quality of their wines.
The NX Gen Grenache, a celebration of this varietal, is crafted from two unique McLaren Vale vineyards with the majority, 67%, coming from hand-picked fruit from Grenache bush vines dating back to 1947, and the remaining 33% is sourced from single-wire trellised vines on the sandy slopes of Stump Hill, planted over thirty years ago.
The result? An aromatic, moreish and savoury wine which will keep you coming back for more.
Harvested during a cool summer with ample rainfall, the grapes for the NX Gen Grenache were picked at peak ripeness, resulting in a bright red colour and vibrant flavours. The wine undergoes a meticulous process, including open fermentation and maturation in well-seasoned French oak for seven months, ensuring its perfumed elegance.
The NX Gen Grenache pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes, from spicy curries and stews to roasted meats. For an extra touch, try serving it slightly chilled by placing it in the fridge briefly before opening. Shingleback also suggests enjoying it with an eggplant, tomato, and pine nut roast or a banh mi roll.
In addition to the Best Dry Red Varietal trophy, Shingleback Wines collected a slew of accolades: silver medals for their NX Gen McLaren Vale Fiano, Davey Estate McLaren Vale Shiraz, and D Block Shingleback Reserve McLaren Vale Shiraz, along with bronze medals for their NX Gen McLaren Vale Shiraz and Single Vineyard McLaren Vale Grenache.
The competition has been credited with putting WA on the map as a producer of quality wines and is considered critical to the success of establishing a national, even international, reputation for the local wine industry.
What: Shingleback Wines’ NX Gen Grenache
Where: Shingleback Wine Cellar Door, 3 Stump Hill Rd, McLaren Vale SA 5171.
When: Shingleback Wines is open Thursday – Monday, 9am-5pm.
For more information, click here.
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