NOW EXPERIENCING:4 new, unusual bottles pushing the boundaries of wine
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4 new, unusual bottles pushing the boundaries of wine

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 22 Jun 2023

By
Amelia Ball

Hemp wine? Shiraz blended with sake? If you like your wine a little different, these might be up your alley.

There will always be the hardcore wine purists, but these days, they’re missing out when it comes to this age-old drink. From new-world winemakers experimenting with funk and fizz, to the rise of lighter-in-alcohol variations of classic favourites, there’s plenty of playfulness in wine. But unlike beer, spirits and premix, we’re yet to see a true rise in producers blurring the category lines and really pushing the boundaries of what makes a wine, well, wine. So, perhaps the four makers below mark the start of something new, as they take matters into their own hands, blending some unlikely ingredients to create deliciously unusual wines. 

If you thought wine could only be made with grapes, this selection of new releases is proving otherwise. These wines have been boosted with the likes of hemp seed, sake, fortified wines and more. Read on, adventurers.

Four new bottles pushing the boundaries of wine:
  1. Sun Monkey Shiraz Grenache 
  2. Hempranillo Hemp Infused Tempranillo Shiraz 
  3. Grant Burge Midnight Ink Cabernet 
  4. Cowpunk Amphora Shiraz
Sun Monkey Shiraz Grenache

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1. A Japanese and Chinese twist on an age-old combo

Shiraz and grenache have been blended together for centuries, with France’s southern Rhône long championing this winning combination (often including mourvèdre, too). While Aussie makers have been turning out these food-friendly blends for a long time, we’re not sure what the Rhône’s producers might say about the Sun Monkey Shiraz Grenache, but we’re excited. Sake flavours have been incorporated into this wine, bringing complexity and depth to what’s traditionally a bright, fruit-forward style. The striking label art of the Monkey King – an age-old Chinese symbol of freedom – by Shanghai street artist JAX is just another reason to nab yourself a bottle.

2. Wine gets the hemp treatment

Scoring bonus points for its punny name, the Hempranillo Hemp Infused Tempranillo Shiraz is a blend that’s been made with hemp seeds, which were added during fermentation to extract their reported beneficial compounds (they’re considered a serious superfood). The result is a wine with complex aromas of fresh red fruits, coriander seed, anise and black tea. As for the flavour, it’s all about plum and strawberry, as well as sage, rosemary, eucalypt and earthy notes. Ideal for a quick stint in the fridge, the Hempranillo is great served chilled or simply as it comes.
Hempranillo Tempranillo Blend

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Grant Burge Midnight Ink Cabernet

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3. Adding richness with a difference

The team behind the Barossa Valley’s Grant Burge has a wealth of experience making red wine as well as fortifieds, so it makes sense that they’ve now brought the two styles together in this latest release. The Midnight Ink Cabernet is everything we know and love about the full-bodied Grant Burge Ink Cabernet, but with the addition of fortified wine, which gives the final drop some of its gloriously rich hallmark flavours as well as a velvety mouthfeel. This is an opulent cabernet sauvignon that breaks the mould: a must-try for anyone who loves big, bold reds.

4. Ancient technique meets new-world wine

If you’re yet to discover Cowpunk wines (and their awesome reusable bottles – infused olive oil never looked so good), now is the time. The latest addition to this small-batch, single-site, natural range is the Cowpunk Amphora Shiraz, which has been aged in clay amphora instead of oak barrels. This has helped preserve the wine’s fresh fruit characters and bright aromatics, while giving it a long mineral-like finish. This technique may not be new, but it’s far from common in your local bottle shop. Clay amphorae have been used for centuries as a maturation technique, and that perfectly suits this organic, vegan-friendly shiraz, which is free of preservatives and other additions.
Cowpunk Amphora Shiraz 750mL

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Shop related products
Sun MonkeyShiraz Grenache Infused with Sake Flavour
Shiraz Grenache Infused with Sake Flavour
$5 each
 
HempranilloHemp Infused Tempranillo Shiraz
Hemp Infused Tempranillo Shiraz
$15.29 each
 
Grant BurgeMidnight Ink Cabernet Sauvignon
Midnight Ink Cabernet Sauvignon
Member Offer
$19 per bottle Non-Member: $23.99 each
 
CowpunkAmphora Shiraz
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Amphora Shiraz
Member Offer
$25 per bottle Non-Member: $27.99 each
 
Authour image
Amelia BallAmelia Ball is a journalist, editor and former Editorial Director of Halliday Wine Companion, who specialises in drinks, food and travel.
Tags
Hit ListGrenacheWineCabernet SauvignonRed WineShirazTempranillo
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