The rise and rise of lower alcohol reds that are begging to be banged in the esky is one of the best modern developments in Australian wine.
From familiar varieties such as Pinot Noir and early-picked Grenache, to the explosive recent popularity of varieties like Pinot Meunier and Gamay, or creative blends that place style at a premium over traditional varietal characteristics - the world of light Aussie reds is one of the most exciting vinous wormholes you can fall down at the moment. Here's the pack to get you started!
This is the wine that kicked it all off for Ricky Evans, and after 13 vintages, it just keeps getting better. A true snapshot of the Tamar Valley, TMV Pinot blends fruit from Ricky’s own vineyards with a couple of trusted growers, delivering a cracking Pinot that’s both effortless and detailed.
Think bright red berries—raspberry, wild strawberry, a bit of cranberry—wrapped up in fine, chalky tannins with a flicker of spice. There’s just enough whole bunch (10%) to add a little lift, and a stint in old barriques (only 10% new) keeps everything fresh, juicy, and dangerously easy to drink.
Pure Tassie Pinot pleasure—made to be opened, enjoyed, and probably finished faster than you planned. Stocks are always tight, so don’t sit on your hands.
The 2023 Adelaide Hills Gamay is Damon Koerner’s love letter to the Gamay grape, showing off his deft touch and easy confidence with a variety that’s all about pure, juicy smashability.
Harvested by hand from the Deanery Vineyard in Balhannah, Damon goes for precision, destemming the fruit but keeping those whole berries intact to capture all the bright, crunchy character Gamay fans crave.
Naturally fermented in open-top steel and aged in a stunning 2000L Slavonian oak foudre, this wine spent 10 months soaking up texture and structure without losing an ounce of its energy.
It’s bursting with electric red berry notes, delicate florals, and an earthy, mineral backbone thanks to the sandy loam soils and Damon’s commitment to light-touch winemaking.
With no filtration or fining, it’s all about transparency and purity, sitting at a breezy 12.5% alcohol—perfect for sipping chilled on a warm day, letting those cherry-red flavours take the spotlight.
94 points
"Vibrant aromas of wild blackberries, raspberries, graphite and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity. Seriously well constructed, with a great balance of freshness and structure. An excellent example of Australian gamay. Drink or hold."
- James Suckling
The Dr. Edge Tyrannosaurus dREDge is a dinosaur in name but definitely not in nature.
Named in honour of being called a "dinosaur" by an employee (we assume a former employee now), winemaker Peter Dredge sourced the Pinot Meunier grapes from Pipers Brook in Tassie's north, and the Derwent Valley in the south, with a little splash of Pinot Noir thrown in for a touch more grunt. A mix of 50% whole berry on skins and the rest under carbonic maceration, it then spent two months on lees in tank.
Tart cherries and fresh pomegranate mix with a herb-infused and forest floor savouriness to create an ultra-bright and cherry wine. A light little pixie of a wine that's just a pleasure to drink.
Inspired by the classic ‘Burgundies’ of 1950s–70s Australia, Nick Spencer’s Light Dry Red is a fresh, modern take on those elegant, medium-bodied Shiraz-Pinot blends that once defined the Hunter Valley. This is bright, aromatic, and built for effortless drinking, but with enough depth to keep things interesting.
A 50/50 blend of Shiraz and Pinot Noir, each variety was picked and fermented separately - 100% destemmed and fermented on skins for 14 days, before spending 12 months in old puncheons and amphoras. The 2023 vintage is silky, pure, and bursting with red fruit freshness.
Aromatically, it’s blueberries, red cherries, and spice, with subtle notes of cassis and earth adding dimension. The palate is supple and juicy, with fine, powdery tannins and a clean, mouthwatering finish.
Complex yet carefree, serious yet smashable - this is modern Aussie red wine at its best.
94 Points
"This is exquisite. It’s a delicacy. It’s fine and floral and spicy and berried, its flavours built on acidity, its nuances intricate. This is the polar opposite of the smack-you-in-the-face red wine style. It’s just itself, light to medium in weight, of the garden, summer berries glancing over at autumn, some apple to the acidity, its charm somewhere between studied and neglected. It won’t be everyone’s cuppa I guess, you have to slow down and take a listen to it, but for me personally this wine brings joy into the room."
- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)
Gareth Belton is one of the Adelaide Hills' best winemakers. From the soil to the glass, every effort is taken by him and his wife Rainbo to preserve the natural vitality of his organically grown fruit.
Here there's no additives, no fining. This is as un-doctored wine gets and it's a great thing to drink.
The Vin de Sofa is a pun on the French wine term Vin de Soif -"Soif means thirsty, sofa means chill". A wine of refreshment to drink anytime (sofa not necessary).
It's made from mainly Sangiovese, with supporting roles played by Pinot Noir, Gamay, Syrah, Merlot, Grenache & Mataro. Take Gareth's advice and pop this in the fridge for half an hour before drinking, it really comes to life with a chill. This fun, creative wine is best enjoyed with friends.
Unico Zelo’s Jungle Jungle is an irresistible red that celebrates Dolcetto’s lighter, juicy side while layering in unexpected depth and structure. This Clare Valley and Langhorne Creek blend showcases Brendan and Laura Carter’s knack for crafting approachable, vibrant wines perfectly suited to modern Australian tastes.
The fruit comes primarily from the Polish Hill River sub-region, with the addition of some stellar Langhorne Creek Dolcetto. These sites, rooted in shale and blue slate soils, bring a mix of bright, juicy blueberries and black cherry alongside earthy spice and herbal undertones. The winemaking is minimal intervention, letting the natural character of the fruit shine through while soft tannins provide the wine with a subtle framework.
On the palate, it’s a perfect balance of comfort and complexity. The plush fruit and aromatic lift make this a delightful match for casual dining, particularly dishes you can enjoy with your hands—think woodfired pizza or smoky BBQ. Pop it in the fridge for 20 minutes for extra freshness, and you’re in for a treat.
Jungle Jungle is quintessential Unico Zelo: thoughtful, fun, and deeply drinkable. A crowd-pleasing red with character to spare.