It'sa goldenageforAussiedrinks,says
MikeBennie, ashesharestoppicks from
producers defining a new era.@mikebennie101 @mikebennie101THE FUTUREIS NOWNONSALTEDRASPBERRY
&CHAMOMILE,$30
"Developedtoexpand
non-alcoholicoptions"is
themantraofNON,a
breakaway,higherlevel
optionin theburgeoning
abstinencemarket.It's
lightlyfizzy,dry,brilliantly
refreshing,raspberry-fruity
andslightlyherbal.An
incrediblysophisticated
'alternative' drink.LOWEWINEDRAGONFLY
WHITE2018,$22Vigneron
DavidLoweis a masterof
biodynamicfarming,here
applyingthepractices
topinotgris,sauvignon
blancandrieslingthatare
harvestedandfermented
together.Themixbecomes
a bright,crunchy,textural
whiteofvivaciousness
andeaseofdrinking,
but with interest.HUSKDISTILLERSPURE
CANE,$69Producedin
oneofAustralia'sonly
paddock-to-bottle
distilleries,thisclear
rum-stylespiritis a
revelationforclearspirits- gentlysweet,lightly
spicyandbrilliantasthe
starinpunch,daiquiris
and mojitos.
SAILOR'SGRAVE
BREWINGDOWN
SHEGOSE,$5.50
Abeerforbeachesandthe
bakingheatofAustralian
summer,thisamazingly
thirst-crushingtangyand
sessionablebeeris brewed
usingsaltandseaweed
foragedfromthebrewery
farm'ssurrounds.It's
incredibly good.SAMVINCIULLO
SAUVIGNONBLANC
2018,$43SamVinciullo
single-handedlyfarmshis
MargaretRivervineyardand
organicallyproduceshis
winesandwithoutany
additives,makingan
outstanding,idiosyncratic
range.Thisis alllemon
verbenaandgreenherbs.
A tartandzestywhite
with a wild streak.IF I HADa timemachine,I’dgobackto
1985 andownuptobustingallthefeather
pillowsin myparents'roominsteadof
pointingthefingeratmybrothers.I'd
alsouseit whenmakinga statementlike
‘Australiandrinkinghasneverbeenin a
betterplace’.It’shardtoquantifysuchan
assertionwithoutlookingback,butwhat
is clearis thatwehaveneverseenmore
diversityandsuchqualityin thedrinking
landscape.It’sanexcitingepochwe’rein.
Artisanbrewers,distillers,winemakers
andfermentersarein a goldenage,
thankstoourinsistenceonhigh-quality,
sustainableproduceandtheincreasein
intelligencein theprocessesoffermenting,
brewinganddistilling.Betterpractice
andbetterprovenance equal higher
qualitydrinks.
Avant-gardeproducersarefocusingon
organicfarming,carefulwinemaking,an
increasinginsistenceonavoidingadditives
anda supportforalternativestyles.Pet
nats(naturallysparklingwines),orange
wines(whitewinesmadelikeredwines),
texturalwhitesandbright,freshredsmade
forchillinghaveemergedaspart of our
new,excitingrepertoire.
Thereareneatparallelstothisin beer
brewingandspiritdistilling,too,with
a greaterfocusonrawmaterialqualityand
diversifyingtheexistingstylesin market
withincreasingcreativity.It meanswe’re
seeingclassicsreinventedthroughan
Australianlens,anexcitingproposition
notonlyforournationalculturalidentity
butforconsumers to explore alternatives
totheusuals.
Perhapsthemostexcitingcategoryis
theonethatsupportsnoalcoholatall.
Periodsofhealth-focusedabstinence,dry
monthssupportingcharitiesanddrinking
lessin generalhasmeantthatanemerging
classofkombuchas,cordialsandnon-
alcoholicspiritsandbeershavebecome
partofa high-qualityalternativeoffering.
Whata thrillit is tohaveanever-growing
listoflocaldrinkstoconsider,grown and
made with excellence in mind.delicious.com.au/drinks
ToperusemoreofMike’s
favourite drinks.VANDIEMANBREWING
OSCARFARMHOUSE
ALE,$12Thename
VanDiemanBrewing
beliesthatthebase
ingredientsfora range
ofitsbeersareactually
grownonthesamefarm.
Anamazingfeat.Thisbeer
is savourybutsmashable,
showingpleasingsour-
bitternessandlight
malty characters.MIKE BENNIE IS ALSO CO-OWNER OF A SYDNEY-BASED WINE AND LIQUOR RETAIL BUSINESS
delicious.com.au 51DRINKS.