17 September 2021

Kardinia's wines are a hidden gem for the adventurous Canberra wine drinker

| Matt Farrah
Bottles of Kardinia 2014 Cabernet Merlot.

Kardinia 2014 Cabernet Merlot: French in style, displaying red currents and cassis with fine tannins and dry finish. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

Little known winery Kardinia is a hidden gem in the Canberra wine scene, producing wines that are well away from the usual flavour profiles of the Canberra region.

Winemaker Vikki Fischer is a genius when it comes to working the raw materials into a wonderful expression of what the region can deliver.

She cut her winemaking teeth at Clonakilla and Kamberra and has made wines under her own label, Kardinia.

Vikki’s not only a great winemaker, but she’s also director of Parliamentary Business and Ministerial Support at the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment.

Kardinia’s wines highlight the nuances of each vintage and Vikki brings great technique to the table, drawing out the best flavours from the crop. The wines are approachable and fruit-driven, a common theme throughout the range.

We’ll match each wine with a Canberra restaurant so you can order your lockdown feast in full online.

Kardinia Sparkling Merlot

Sparkling reds have been on Australian Christmas tables for around 50 years. This perfect summer sparkling wine goes very well with the Christmas dinner, roast pork in winter or having a few friends over for a cheeky BBQ when you want to have a cold drink on a hot summer’s day.

The Kardinia merlot is rich and silken with a lovely, lively sweetness that would be well-balanced with a nice rump steak with red wine jus.

Try Meating Room for a nice roast pork or even a burger that will go well with the Sparkling Merlot. Drink chilled and enjoy the ripe black forest fruits and the slightly dry finish.

Kardinia Wine bottles.

Kardinia Wines’ Merlos is a full-flavoured drop that would go down a treat with pizza. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

Kardinia Merlot

Once again, these grapes are sourced from their vineyards in Murrumbateman. If you love your merlots with deep flavours of violet and plums, you’ll love this full-flavoured drop.

The wine is bold but finishes dry and clean, making it a great food match with a lamb rack. Or pair it with a good wagyu burger if you love your burgers richer and need a red that will cut through a good piece of meat.

3RD Space in Hackett produces some amazing pizzas that will go perfectly with the Kardinia Merlot. Most Canberrans would have tried Alex The Pizza Guy‘s pizzas, and now he and his son are pumping out amazing pizza from their new business, 3RD Space.

Kardinia Cabernet Merlot

The Cab Merlot is a very familiar blend in Australia and this one is a beautiful blend of both varieties. It’s more French in style, displaying red currents and cassis with fine tannins and a dry finish.

The French influence is clear in the texture and finish too. This beautiful wine will go brilliantly with any red meat or an eggplant vegetarian dish with a slightly sweet sauce.

Honeysuckle in Denman Prospect has the perfect food to complement the Kardinia Cabernet merlot as this wine is versatile and will go with any of their delicious dishes.

Bottle of Kardinia 2013 Shiraz.

Kardinia 2013 Shiraz: perfect with duck. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

Kardinia Shiraz

If you love the Canberra-style Syrah you will love this wine. It has age, so it’s drinking beautifully. That lovely lighter cool climate body is coupled with pepper spice and a bit of tobacco finish.

Wonderfully balanced, this shiraz is ready for the night’s duck pancakes from White Chaco restaurant in Braddon. Now is a perfect time to get online and help out a great restaurant in Canberra. Order the wine online to compliment the delicate flavours of the duck and dusty pancake texture.

Kardinia 2020 Durif in a glass.

Kardinia 2020 Durif is perfect if you love big, bold, in-your-face big red. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

Kardinia Durif

If you love big, bold, in-your-face big reds, then the Kardinia Duriff is one not to mess around with. Displaying morello cherries and dark chocolate with a rich fruit base, this wine won’t disappoint.

If you’re thinking elegant wine, you’ll be very mistaken, though. This wine is big and in your face, like many of the renowned durifs from Rutherglen and Griffith.

It’s a wine to have with a good steak cooked to perfection. We really want to support our great restaurants in Canberra, and Black Fire in the city does meat like no other, so look them up and order one of their awesome beef grills and order online.

Matt Farrah is the principal of Farrah’s Liquor Collective, where Canberra delivery is free during the lockdown. You can find out more about Kardinia here.

Original Article published by Matt Farrah on The RiotACT.

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