Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesA blend of Sémillon, Chardonnay and Fiano, this is the color of greentinged cloudy lemon juice. The nose is wild, slightly honeyed and a little musty, like the press at crush time, with skins, pulp, leaves and stems all mashed together. There’s a shriek of crunchy lemony acidity and some skinsy texture to to the palate. One for the natural-loving crowd, but not so wild as to scare away more conventional drinkers.
A native New Zealander, Charlotte Hardy started her wine career at Craggy Range working under Doug Wisor while she studied for her Bachelor of Wine Science. From there she went on to work at Chateau Giscours in Bordeaux and then on to California to work for David Abreu in Napa Valley. She moved to Australia to work for The Lane Vineyard, but left shortly after to create her own mobile analysis laboratory, as Adelaide Hills was desperately in need of it at the time. Her work in and around Adelaide Hills gave her an intimate look at the growers and vineyards there. In 2015, with the blessings of these growers, she launched Charlotte Dalton Wines.
In 2019, Charlotte and family moved to the Fleurieu Peninsula to open their own cellar door and winery in Port Elliot. In 2021, Charlotte was awarded the prestigious Young Gun of Wine Award.
South Australia is the historic heart of Australian wine, a great wine capital of the world, and home to some of the most famous regions. It produces more than 80% of Australia’s premium wine from some of the oldest vines in the world. There is an abundance of varieties and wide spectrum of styles to explore. From the rogue to refined, discover Australian wines that are far from ordinary.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.