The Hewett and Colton families sailed from England to Adelaide in 1839. Charles Hewitt moved to the Oxenberry farm site in 1840. The fruit for this appealing Shiraz is from the site where Hewet and William Colton planted McLaren Vale’s first vines, fed by a local freshwater spring. The Shiraz is beautifully crafted by McLaren Vale stalwarts, the Scarpantoni brothers, who back in 2007 won the highly prized Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show. Blackberries, plum, a chocolatey texture, with smooth tannins and a touch of savoury spice, means this suits many dishes from herby lamb to tomato pasta.

John Quarisa, aka Johnny Q, is a terrific winemaker, creating wines that, like him, can be lively and highly charged. In his Caravan wine series, he likes to think of a grape that changes in style as it travels. So that here, Sauvignon Blanc grown in his Riverina vineyards produces a wine still with loads of grassy fresh zip, but along the way, has developed more tropical fruit flavours too. That is peach, pineapple and passionfruit! He insists on night harvested grapes to ensure lots of bright fresh flavours and cool ferments them for the same reason. This wine previously won a Gold medal and we think the 2021 vintage is tasting just as good – it's a fridge-door-must! Chill down and enjoy as a glass on its own or with spicy Thai dishes.

A veritable summer pudding of fresh macerated berries and perfume spice, dominated by wild strawberry and Campari-like cherry smells. A super fresh and zingy with lip-smacking nectarine and berry fruit flavours. Medium-bodied, juicy-fruited with a touch of natural sweetness. Mouth-filling tart Strawberries and cream with soft spice rounding out a lush mouthful. Flavoursome with fresh acidity and a tiny tweak of soft tannin taming the finish.

Fermented and aged in French oak casks for 10 months. Brilliant very pale straw colour with a distinctive greenish tinge around the outskirts and a watery hue. Aromas of ripe pear and nectarine are followed by hints of dried honey, biscuity oak, citrusy nougat and spice. Mid weighted and carrying a nicely fleshed feel, pear and nectarine fruits are featured over honeysuckle, biscuity nougat and spicy crème brulee characters. Gently creamed medium to long conclusion. Drink over the next 2-3 years. Alc. 12.5%

It's made by the talented John Quarisa, who has enjoyed a “distinguished career as a winemaker spanning over 20 years” (Halliday). John likes his wines to express big personality and juicy fruit and value for money – he’s certainly achieved that here! Ripe and round blackberries conspire with flavours of plum and cinnamon spice. On the palate, rich red berries and brewed coffee make for a very appealing wine.