2023 Chalmers Pecorino

The Chalmers family were the first to import Pecorino vines into Australia in 2015, and this 2023 release is the perfect way to test drive this emerging Italian variety.

Grown on the rich red Cambrian soils of Heathcote, this is a wine of confidence and texture. While Pecorino is naturally a generous, savoury grape, the Chalmers team has found a way to balance that weight with a lovely sense of fresh restraint. It recently picked up a Gold Medal at the 2024 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show, confirming that they are definitely on the right track.

Winemaking is kept simple to let the fruit speak. Hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed, it undergoes a wild ferment before resting on fine lees for five months in stainless steel. This builds a wine with a satisfying mouthfeel, offering layers of apricot kernel, tart cumquat, fresh fig and soft bitter herbs. It finishes with a smoky, savoury twist that makes it a great partner for food.