South Australian Cold Nights, Warming Reds

by Karli Currie

Autumn is now well and truly upon us, Easter has been and gone and winter is coming… (Game of Thrones pun intended). With vintage done and dusted for the Barossa the enduring heat that we had over the early months of this year now feel eons away. Whilst the days are still trying to be sunny yet fresh the cold evenings have now bestowed the Barossa streets.

With the colder nights comes the desire for delicious red wine to warm us up and I couldn’t think of any better than a few from the Elderton range.

My three favourites

My three Elderton favourites for this weather (at the moment especially) are…

2017 Western Ridge Grenache Carignan

A pretty wine that has a depth of luscious fruit. It is light enough to help you believe that the warm sun may still come up tomorrow but rich enough to stand up next to a hearty meal also.

2016 Elderton Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon

With Shiraz being the typical ‘go to’ as a Barossa variety I truly think Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon is entirely underrated, particularly ours. With predominantly second and third fill French oak (hogsheads and puncheons) used it produces a beautiful balance between fruit, oak and tannin throughout this wine. Delicious from beginning to end I cannot recommend it highly enough (even to those who do not ‘drink’ Cabernet, they are always remarkably impressed).

2016 Neil Ashmead Grand Tourer Shiraz

This rich and lush, delicious Barossa Shiraz is smooth yet punchy. Similarly, to the Cabernet Sauvignon mentioned above this wine is well balanced. A more delicate style than what you may expect from a typical Barossa Shiraz it is full bodied without having a smack in the mouth of oak to mask the enjoyable fruit flavours.

So, light your fires (or turn up the temperature on your air conditioners), settle in with your favourite red (or white) and enjoy the cooler months ahead (and hopefully the rain – fingers crossed here in SA anyway).

Cheers!