SAQ Greco 2023, Hither & Yon, South Eastern Australia
Dare to try Australian Greco!
Campania and Australia have vinous commonalities that can sometimes be surprising. After a Fiano (see edition 20), it is a McLaren Vale Greco's turn to make an appearance on saq.com this Thursday. We would have loved to complete the triumvirate of Campania’s white grape varieties, but there is no Australian Falanghina in sight at the monopoly yet.
On a ¾ hectare site planted own-rooted in 2019 in McLaren Vale, the Leask brothers are having fun offering us a second vintage of this grape variety typical of Southern Italy, which, due to its propensity to ripen late, is perfectly suited to Australia's hot climate. Hand-harvested, whole-cluster pressed, fermented in stainless steel, aged on lees for 30 days, and finally six months in old Chardonnay barrels.
On the nose, notes of nuts and a marked floral side, apples, pears, and ginger will surprise you, all the more so because the follow-through in the glass will be fresh, textured, and spicy, making your mouth water and leaving you craving a second pour! Don’t be surprised if you run into it by the glass in one of our restaurants soon…
- To pair with it: you’ll forgive the Italian cliché with a spaghetti carbonara…
- For a bit of trivia: once again, Greco almost disappeared from the viticultural landscape in the mid-20th century, and we likely owe its survival to Antonino Mastroberardino, who revived the varieties in Campania.
- To explore other whites from Southern Italy: keep an eye out for the Southern Italy workshop next fall!
- If Greco takes you on a journey, there is only one other example (from Calabria, however) available at the moment: the 2021 Siccagno from Baccellieri at $24 at the SAQ (14575331)
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