Aphelion began with Grenache.

Our focus is Grenache.

Our future is Grenache.

Our original "Grenache project" has evolved. 

Presenting three exceptional McLaren Vale Single Vineyard wines.

Each highlights the diversity and beauty of Grenache, as well as some of the 19 different geological soil types in McLaren Vale.

Guided by the deft and gentle hands of Rob Mack they sing of their purity.

_______________________________________________________

The Brini Single Vineyard Grenache 2023 is sourced from the upper tank block owned by the Brini family in the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale.

This block has been a staple of Aphelion from our first vintage and forms the backbone of the Confluence Grenache.

The roundest and most intense wine in the range, dark plum fruits dominate with earth and forest floor characters to create a wine of depth and richness. Sandy based loam soils provide fruit that gives intensity and a brooding edge.

_______________________________________________________

Unfiltered  |  Unfined  |  Vegan

_______________________________________________________

Accolades:

95 points Erin Larkin for Robert Parker Wine Advocate

95 points Huon Hooke The Real Review

93 points Gary Walsh for The Wine Front

92 points Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion

_______________________________________________________

Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Brini Single Vineyard Grenache 2023. Psst...Like the sound of our exclusive pre-sale access, Members pricing ($81) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...

Our love affair with Grenache now extends to it's white wine form.

Presenting the Callow - meaning "unfledged".

Grenache Blanc is an exciting new variety to Australia which is in millions of glasses in the US.

Rob's take on Grenache Blanc has intense and vibrant aromatics mingling with citrus and spice.

A textural edge provides a food friendly aspect.

Cinnamon and nutmeg spice complement the nashi pear and stone fruit flavours. 

Variety: Grenache Blanc.

Summary: Fruit from a single vineyard near Kangarilla in McLaren Vale is hand-picked and whole bunch pressed to create a wine of purity, freshness, and elegance. Vibrant acidity provides potential for the wine to cellar well over the medium term.

Tasting Note: Intense and vibrant fruit character aromatics mingle with citrus and spice. A textural edge provides a food friendly aspect, and cinnamon and nutmeg spice complement the nashi pear and stone fruit flavours.

Goes With Food: Bouillabaisse matches the body and spicy notes of this wine.

Goes With Cheese: Comté will not overwhelm the wine and the spice characters of the wine add complexity to the match.

Goes With Music: Muse - Stockholm Syndrome.

Goes With Life: Textural and aromatic, this wine opens up to a great first
glass of the evening or matched to a feature dish of the evening.

Serve At: 10-12 degrees Celsius.

When to Drink: Ready to drink now but will cellar well over the next 5 - 8 years.

Vineyard: Sourced from the organic & biodynamic Yangarra vineyard near Kangarilla in McLaren Vale.

Winemaking: The fruit was hand-picked and whole bunch pressed to
ferment in stainless steel to retain freshness and varietal character. A slow
and cool ferment occurred and once complete 20% of the wine was
transferred to second use French oak to mature with the balance remaining
in tank. The batches were combined just prior to bottling in August 2021.

|  Vegan  |

Production: 591 six-packs produced under screwcap.

ABV%: 12.9%

Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy Callow Grenache Blanc 2024.

Psst...Like the sound of exclusive wines? Fancy set and forget wine shipments to your door? How about discount Members pricing (just $37.80 a bottle!) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...

The Aphelion Confluence 2023 Grenache is a key flagstone wine for us.

It's been with us from the very beginning.

We are Grenache specialists and our Confluence is a perfect example of complex, delicious wine that works as beautifully with food as it does being savoured on its' own.

Meet the Confluence

Variety: Grenache from Blewitt Springs sub region of McLaren Vale.

Summary: This complex, aromatic, food friendly, but fantastically drinkable wine evolves in your glass. Good structure and length. Carries our signature savoury finish.

Tasting Note: Vibrant red with purple hues in the glass. Raspberry, cinnamon spice, and red liquorice aromatics jump from the glass and an herbal edge gives great interest. On the palate Satsuma plum, wild strawberry and fine sandalwood dominate with fine tannins giving the wine exemplary length. The palate shows great intensity and concentration without being heavy or cloying. A wine that shows great poise and balance.

Goes With Food: Pan seared duck matches the spice and body of the wine well.

Goes With Cheese: The mushroom characters of a quality Camembert or washed rind cheese will complement the wine’s flavours and won’t dominate its delicate structure.

Goes With Music: Nick Cave – Jubilee Street

Goes With Life: Out for a fancy dinner or aperitivo on the back deck.

Serve At: 18 degrees Celsius.

When to Drink: Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2035.

Unfiltered

Unfined

Vegan

<100ppm Sulphur

ABV%: 14.2%

Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Confluence 2023 Grenache.

Psst...Like the sound of exclusive wines? Fancy having set-and-forget wine shipments to your door? How about discount Members pricing (just $37.80 a bottle!) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...

Emergent Mourvèdre 2021 has a special place in Rob’s heart. 

Once relegated to second or third billing as a blending partner, Mourvèdre is finally emerging as a delectable wine itself. And rightly so. 

Well suited to the Mediterranean climate of McLaren Vale, it is a stunning medium bodied wine with a morish savoury edge of olive leaf and mushroom, sometimes leather.

Aromatic dark fruit means the Aphelion Emergent Mourvèdre is easy to sip and savour by itself while being bold enough to enhance your meal.

Variety:

Mourvèdre from from a single vineyard in White’s Valley, McLaren Vale.

Summary:

A beautiful mix of savoury characters and dark black fruits. Complexity builds in the glass.

Tasting Note:

The aromatics of this wine jump out the glass with sage, cherry spice and fresh almonds. Powdery tannins provide a canvas for the flavours that wash across the medium bodied palate, and bright acidity keeps the wine fresh and vibrant. Our 2021 Mourvèdre has a very long finish and persistent drive with an elegant fruit profile.

Goes With Food:

Very food friendly due to its savoury characters – try with duck rillettes and fresh crusty bread. (We love Little Acre Foods Duck Rillettes!)

Goes With Cheese:

An aged Pecorino would match the body of the wine and complement it’s acidity and spiciness.

Goes With Music:

Vance Joy – Lay It On Me

Goes With Life:

When the inspiration strikes to try something a little left of centre.

Serve At:

16-18 degrees Celsius.

When to Drink:

Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2030.

Vineyard:

Sourced from the Lacey family vineyard in the White’s Valley sub-district of McLaren Vale. The vineyard block is tiny, around three acres and the fruit is hand-picked.

Winemaking:

The hand-picked fruit was fermented with 25% whole bunches with the remaining destemmed. After pressing the wine was matured in seasoned French oak puncheons before blending and bottling in February 2021. 

Vegan | Unfiltered | Unfined

Production: 85 dozen produced under screwcap.

Accolades:

94 points Ned Goodwin – 2022 Halliday Wine Companion

Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Emergent Mourvèdre 2021. 

Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($37.80) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...

Affinity 2021 Grenache Mourvèdre is a key flagstone wine for us. We are known for our Grenache and Mourvèdre, and our Affinity is a perfect example of complex, delicious wine that is much greater than the sum of it's premium parts.

Meet the Affinity

Variety: A 60/40 blend of McLaren Vale Grenache and Mourvèdre.

Summary: A blend of single vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache and single vineyard Willunga South Mourvèdre results in a wine with oodles of complexity. Good roundness of fruit flavour on the mid palate leads to a savoury finish with powdery tannin.

Tasting Note: A beautiful and crisp savoury edge runs through this wine from aroma to palate. The whole bunch ferment characters appear in the form of spicy herbal complexity whilst the youthful Grenache component keeps the feel fresh and vibrant. Savoury, spicy, complex.

Goes With Food: Matches well to lighter red meat dishes such as venison or rare lamb, but is equally well suited to a vegetarian lasagne. Versatility is a key component of this wine.

Goes With Cheese: An aged cloth bound cheddar or mid strength parmesan matches the subtle tannin profile of The Affinity.

Goes With Music: PJ Harvey – Down By The Water.

Goes With Life: Laughter and languid lounging with loved ones.

Serve At: 18 degrees Celsius.

When to Drink: Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2031.

Vineyard: The Grenache fruit comes from the Brini family’s single vineyard in Blewitt Springs. The Mourvèdre is from the Lacey family’s single vineyard in Willunga South and was picked on 26th March 2021.

Winemaking: Both parcels of wine that make up this blend were fermented and aged separately before blending. A portion of stems was used in the Grenache ferment. Some pre-ferment cold soak was used with the Mourvèdre portion. The wine was then matured for ten months in neutral French puncheons and hogsheads prior to bottling in January 2022.

Unfiltered | Unfined | Vegan

ABV%: 14.2%

Production: 380 half-dozen produced under screwcap.

Accolades:

95 points Ned Goodwin for James Halliday Wine Companion

93 points Gary Walsh for The Wine Front

Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Affinity 2021 Grenache Mourvèdre. 

Psst...Like the sound of exclusive wines? Fancy having set-and-forget wine shipments to your door? How about discount Members pricing (just $37.80 a bottle!) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...

Grenache is our specialty. This pack curated by Rob "Mr Grenache" Mack is the best way for you to discover the breadth of flavour possible from Grenache grown in McLaren Vale.

Each six pack includes:

1 x bottle Welkin Grenache 2024 RRP $28
1 x bottle Callow Grenache Blanc 2024 RRP $42 
1 x bottle Confluence Grenache 2023  RRP $42 each
2 x bottle Affinity Grenache Mourvedre 2021 RRP $42
1 x bottle Rapture 2022 RRP $150

RRP $346. Special pack price: $310. Save $36 and 10%!

(N.B: 12 bottle cases contain double these amounts).

Each of our Grenache wines has its’ own distinct personality.

Why not gather some friends and open all five different bottles at once?

About The Wines

Welkin Grenache 2024 is a juicy and vibrant wine with outrageous aromatics. Designed to be enjoyed immediately, with goat chevre, tapas or as an aperitif on its' own.

Callow Grenache Blanc 2024 Our love affair with Grenache now extends to it's white wine form. Intense citrus and spice aromatics. A textural edge provides a food friendly aspect. Cinnamon and nutmeg spice complement the nashi pear and stone fruit flavours. 

Confluence 2023 Grenache is the coming together of premium Grenache from a number of vineyards in the sandy soil dress-circle of Blewitt Springs. It showcases the best of McLaren Vale's elegant, savoury Grenache style.

Affinity 2021 Grenache Mourvèdre Here premium barrels of Brini Grenache and Lacey Mourvèdre are brought together to make a truly rounded and balanced wine with juicy acid, powdery tannin and the best of juicy red berries from Grenache and earthy mid and back palate from Mataro.

Rapture 2022 Grenache is our pinnacle of Grenache. The finest barrels from our portfolio of Grenache parcels. Elegant. Poised. Balanced. Built to age or to savour now. 

Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Grenache Pack.

Psst...Like the sound of exclusive wines? Fancy having set-and-forget wine shipments to your door? How about discount Members pricing (10% off!) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...

Rare in Australia, bold and aromatic, Sagrantino stole our hearts when we discovered it in Umbria, the green heart of Italy. And here in McLaren Vale, the fruit is varietally tannic with Italianate acidity, but there are also beautiful blue and purple aromatics.

2019 is our last vintage of Sagrantino from the Lopresti vineyard. It has since been grafted over to another variety.

Variety: Sagrantino from the Lopresti single vineyard in the White’s Valley sub-region of McLaren Vale.

Summary: This wine displays a wonderful balance of intense purple and blue fruit, ripe tannin, juicy natural acidity and delivers great length on the palate.

Tasting Note: Outrageously spice driven with clove, cinnamon and five spice all coming to the fore on the nose. A savoury Italianiate palate supports a tight structure and a dry palate to provide a very food friendly wine. Tannins are prominent but in balance.

Goes With Food: A rich mushroom ragout with buttered pasta would balance the assertive tannins of this wine.

Goes With Cheese: An aged clothbound English Cheddar would complement the intensity and complexity of this wine.

Goes With Music: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Almost Cut My Hair.

Goes With Life: Matches equally well as a fine dining partner or whilst watching a Bledisloe Test.

Serve At: 18 degrees Celsius. In its youth we recommend decanting to allow the wine to breathe and its subtleties to shine.

When to Drink: Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2030.

Vineyard: One tonne of fruit was picked from Lopresti family's White’s Valley vineyard (this vineyard is low yielding, and only has three rows of Sagrantino planted to it). The vines are approaching 20 years of age.

Winemaking: The fruit was fermented to dryness and then locked down on skins for three months in a variable capacity stainless steel tank. Free run and light pressings were kept separate and then aged for 18 months in older French oak to round out the wine and soften the tannins. Blended and bottled in December 2020. 

Unfiltered

Unfined

Vegan

<100ppm Sulphur

Production: 60 dozen produced under screwcap.

Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy Ardent Sagrantino 2019. 

Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($37.80) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...

Regular bottled sunshine deliveries to your door – what could be more convenient than that? We sweeten the deal by making the club totally flexible, offering exclusive benefits, and free gifts as well.

• Your Choice: Choose your frequency of deliveries and the Number of bottles per delivery.  You can change your choices whenever you like and even take a subscription “holiday” and skip a delivery. Even tell us if there are any particular wines you would like in your pack when you get your renewal notices, otherwise our winemaker Rob’s expert selection will be hand selected for you. 
• Charged On the 1st: Your first pack will be charged for on the first of the month after you sign up. Your first pack will then be hand picked, hand packed and dispatched shortly thereafter. Your renewals will then be processed on the first of the month according to the schedule you chose (monthly, quarterly or six monthly). 
• Reminders: You’ll get a handy email reminder a week before your pack is due to be sent – a good time to update your contact or payment details, or to let us know if you would like certain wines in your pack.
• Value Forever: Your pack will always be worth more than what you pay. For starters, you get 5%, 10% or 15% off the core range rrp. Then you have a special free shipping & 10% discount coupon for additional purchases.  Then we add value by putting money-can’t-buy exclusives, bonus gifts and our higher value wines in your pack.
• Convenience: You deserve to enjoy receiving delicious wines to your door, sharing them with friends over dinner, at your favourite BYO restaurant, or on cosy nights in.

For Terms & Conditions (there aren’t many, don’t worry!) please view our “Club” page. 

Aphelion began with Grenache.

Our focus is Grenache.

Our future is Grenache.

Our original "Grenache project" has evolved. 

Presenting three exceptional McLaren Vale Single Vineyard wines.

Each highlights the diversity and beauty of Grenache, as well as some of the 19 different geological soil types in McLaren Vale.

Guided by the deft and gentle hands of Rob Mack they sing of their purity.

_______________________________________________________

The Brini Single Vineyard Grenache 2023 is sourced from the upper tank block owned by the Brini family in the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale.

This block has been a staple of Aphelion from our first vintage and forms the backbone of the Confluence Grenache.

The roundest and most intense wine in the range, dark plum fruits dominate with earth and forest floor characters to create a wine of depth and richness. Sandy based loam soils provide fruit that gives intensity and a brooding edge.

_______________________________________________________

Unfiltered  |  Unfined  |  Vegan

_______________________________________________________

Accolades:

95 points Erin Larkin for Robert Parker Wine Advocate

95 points Huon Hooke The Real Review

93 points Gary Walsh for The Wine Front

92 points Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion

_______________________________________________________

Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Brini Single Vineyard Grenache 2023. Psst...Like the sound of our exclusive pre-sale access, Members pricing ($81) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...

Our love affair with Grenache now extends to it's white wine form.

Presenting the Callow - meaning "unfledged".

Grenache Blanc is an exciting new variety to Australia which is in millions of glasses in the US.

Rob's take on Grenache Blanc has intense and vibrant aromatics mingling with citrus and spice.

A textural edge provides a food friendly aspect.

Cinnamon and nutmeg spice complement the nashi pear and stone fruit flavours. 

Variety: Grenache Blanc.

Summary: Fruit from a single vineyard near Kangarilla in McLaren Vale is hand-picked and whole bunch pressed to create a wine of purity, freshness, and elegance. Vibrant acidity provides potential for the wine to cellar well over the medium term.

Tasting Note: Intense and vibrant fruit character aromatics mingle with citrus and spice. A textural edge provides a food friendly aspect, and cinnamon and nutmeg spice complement the nashi pear and stone fruit flavours.

Goes With Food: Bouillabaisse matches the body and spicy notes of this wine.

Goes With Cheese: Comté will not overwhelm the wine and the spice characters of the wine add complexity to the match.

Goes With Music: Muse - Stockholm Syndrome.

Goes With Life: Textural and aromatic, this wine opens up to a great first
glass of the evening or matched to a feature dish of the evening.

Serve At: 10-12 degrees Celsius.

When to Drink: Ready to drink now but will cellar well over the next 5 - 8 years.

Vineyard: Sourced from the organic & biodynamic Yangarra vineyard near Kangarilla in McLaren Vale.

Winemaking: The fruit was hand-picked and whole bunch pressed to
ferment in stainless steel to retain freshness and varietal character. A slow
and cool ferment occurred and once complete 20% of the wine was
transferred to second use French oak to mature with the balance remaining
in tank. The batches were combined just prior to bottling in August 2021.

|  Vegan  |

Production: 591 six-packs produced under screwcap.

ABV%: 12.9%

Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy Callow Grenache Blanc 2024.

Psst...Like the sound of exclusive wines? Fancy set and forget wine shipments to your door? How about discount Members pricing (just $37.80 a bottle!) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...

The Aphelion Confluence 2023 Grenache is a key flagstone wine for us.

It's been with us from the very beginning.

We are Grenache specialists and our Confluence is a perfect example of complex, delicious wine that works as beautifully with food as it does being savoured on its' own.

Meet the Confluence

Variety: Grenache from Blewitt Springs sub region of McLaren Vale.

Summary: This complex, aromatic, food friendly, but fantastically drinkable wine evolves in your glass. Good structure and length. Carries our signature savoury finish.

Tasting Note: Vibrant red with purple hues in the glass. Raspberry, cinnamon spice, and red liquorice aromatics jump from the glass and an herbal edge gives great interest. On the palate Satsuma plum, wild strawberry and fine sandalwood dominate with fine tannins giving the wine exemplary length. The palate shows great intensity and concentration without being heavy or cloying. A wine that shows great poise and balance.

Goes With Food: Pan seared duck matches the spice and body of the wine well.

Goes With Cheese: The mushroom characters of a quality Camembert or washed rind cheese will complement the wine’s flavours and won’t dominate its delicate structure.

Goes With Music: Nick Cave – Jubilee Street

Goes With Life: Out for a fancy dinner or aperitivo on the back deck.

Serve At: 18 degrees Celsius.

When to Drink: Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2035.

Unfiltered

Unfined

Vegan

<100ppm Sulphur

ABV%: 14.2%

Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Confluence 2023 Grenache.

Psst...Like the sound of exclusive wines? Fancy having set-and-forget wine shipments to your door? How about discount Members pricing (just $37.80 a bottle!) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...

Emergent Mourvèdre 2021 has a special place in Rob’s heart. 

Once relegated to second or third billing as a blending partner, Mourvèdre is finally emerging as a delectable wine itself. And rightly so. 

Well suited to the Mediterranean climate of McLaren Vale, it is a stunning medium bodied wine with a morish savoury edge of olive leaf and mushroom, sometimes leather.

Aromatic dark fruit means the Aphelion Emergent Mourvèdre is easy to sip and savour by itself while being bold enough to enhance your meal.

Variety:

Mourvèdre from from a single vineyard in White’s Valley, McLaren Vale.

Summary:

A beautiful mix of savoury characters and dark black fruits. Complexity builds in the glass.

Tasting Note:

The aromatics of this wine jump out the glass with sage, cherry spice and fresh almonds. Powdery tannins provide a canvas for the flavours that wash across the medium bodied palate, and bright acidity keeps the wine fresh and vibrant. Our 2021 Mourvèdre has a very long finish and persistent drive with an elegant fruit profile.

Goes With Food:

Very food friendly due to its savoury characters – try with duck rillettes and fresh crusty bread. (We love Little Acre Foods Duck Rillettes!)

Goes With Cheese:

An aged Pecorino would match the body of the wine and complement it’s acidity and spiciness.

Goes With Music:

Vance Joy – Lay It On Me

Goes With Life:

When the inspiration strikes to try something a little left of centre.

Serve At:

16-18 degrees Celsius.

When to Drink:

Ready to drink now, but will continue evolving through to 2030.

Vineyard:

Sourced from the Lacey family vineyard in the White’s Valley sub-district of McLaren Vale. The vineyard block is tiny, around three acres and the fruit is hand-picked.

Winemaking:

The hand-picked fruit was fermented with 25% whole bunches with the remaining destemmed. After pressing the wine was matured in seasoned French oak puncheons before blending and bottling in February 2021. 

Vegan | Unfiltered | Unfined

Production: 85 dozen produced under screwcap.

Accolades:

94 points Ned Goodwin – 2022 Halliday Wine Companion

Select between a 6 bottle pack or 12 bottle case to Buy the Aphelion Emergent Mourvèdre 2021. 

Psst...Like the sound of our Members pricing ($37.80) plus perks like free shipping? Step right this way...