Sisters-in-law Jules and Bec Ashmead of Elderton Wines have branched out with their own wine label, Small Victories Wine Co, sourcing fruit that celebrates the diversity and quality of South Australian wine regions. The postcode of the region is on each eye-catching label – a cute idea and they’re fun, modern wines to drink right now. All the wines are vegan.
Small Victories Vermentino 2021
RRP $27
From Ricca Terra farms in the Riverland of South Australia, this wine is the palest of pale lemon in the glass and has gorgeously pretty aromas of jasmine and mandarin blossom, lime zest and white peach. It is juicy and textural but balanced with a lovely line of acidity, and the lime and jasmine flavours linger on.
You could easily enjoy a few glasses before lunch but it’s super food-friendly too: perfect for some antipasto of prosciutto & chilled rockmelon in the sunshine. Delish.
Small Victories Pinot Gris 2021
RRP $27
The grapes for this pinot gris are sourced from the region of Balhannah in the Adelaide Hills, producing a pale and crystal-clear liquid. It has charming gardenia and lemon peel aromas backed up by a savoury oyster shell minerality, and on the palate there’s textural weight but it’s also power-packed with the juicy flavour of lemon sherbet, kinda like a retro Refresher lolly, but it’s all in equilibrium. And then on the finish is a lovely chalky, zesty memento, an invitation to have another sip. This pinot gris manages to find the sweet spot: it’s dry and crisp, yet has enough weight to seduce.
Butterflied garlic prawns on the bbq and a chilled bottle of this would go down quite the treat!
Small Victories Rosé 2021
RRP $27
Sourced from the family vineyard at Elderton at Greenock in the Barossa Valley, this very chic pale pink rosé is fermented out of mataro and grenache grapes: mataro, also known as mourvèdre, adds earthy berry flavours, texture and backbone, and grenache offers crowd-pleasing red fruits like strawberries and raspberries. The Small Victories rosé has this and more: those all-important red berries but also rose petals and a heady whiff of musk on the nose, followed in the mouth by a red-fruited juice explosion! Delicious strawbs, raspberries and cranberries abound, with just the right amount of richness and leesy texture for optimum summer slurpability. The finish is dry with a mineral twang.
Why bother going all the way to Provence when this is on our doorstep?! One hundred percent agreed would drink with lobster roll. Muuuum! When’s lunch?
