Australia & New Zealand
AUGUST 2026
What do you call a club with wines from Australia & New Zealand? Oceana? Australasia? Down Under? We decided not to get too clever, and we're just calling it what it is – wines from Australia & New Zealand with a higher-end Sauvignon Blanc (Hawke's Bay), a Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra), and for our 3-bottle club members, a Shiraz (McLaren Vale).
I have been lucky enough to travel to Australia twice (with short stop in northern New Zealand once). I love the countries and the wines. Big fan! The Cab in the 2-bottle club is one of the best Cabs of the year so far for me. Hope you enjoy them. They really speak to the specific terrains of these countries.
Photos above — top: Te Mata (Hawke's Bay, New Zealand) / middle: Penley vineyards (Coonawarra, Australia) / bottom: Mr. Riggs (McLaren Vale, Australia)
2-BOTTLE CLUB
Hawke's Bay
New Zealand
New Zealand is known primarily for well-priced, good quality Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir, primarily exported to Seattle from the region of Marlborough in the northwest corner of the South Island. Your club wine comes from Hawke's Bay on the east coast of the North Island, known for making some of New Zealand's finest wines including a fuller-bodied Chardonnay and rich Bordeaux blends. Your club wine is neither of those; it's a minerally, higher-end Sauvignon Blanc.
Te Mata Estate, established in 1896, is still family-owned and has a reputation for high-quality production. "Outstanding producer. 5 stars." –Wine Advocate. Your Sauvignon Blanc comes from estate vineyards in Bridge Pā Triangle, Dartmoor and Havelock Hills sub-region of Hawke’s Bay. It's warm in the area but near the ocean, which helps moderate the heat.
Fun fact about Hawke's Bay: Following an earthquake in 1931 that devasted the area, the towns of Napier & Hasting rebuilt their towns in the Art Deco style popular at the time. Today, the towns stand as excellent examples of this architectural style.
Te Mata 2025 Sauvignon Blanc • Hawke's Bay, New Zealand • Reg $26.99 | Mixed Case $21.59
100% Sauvignon Blanc (estate vineyards pictured). Nose = chalky, lime, jalapeño pepper. Fun. Inviting. Great for summer! Refreshing acidity. Flavors of limes, citrus, pink lady apples, followed by exotic fruits (dragon fruit = a cross between a kiwi & a pear). Finish is spicy, earthy, citrusy with a note of salinity. Such a great example from New Zealand. Flashier, vibrant, more complex — from the north coast. Most New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is from the South Island. This one is different. Pairs with all kinds of fish, tarragon chicken, pork medallions with crunchy Asian slaw, Asian cuisine across the board. Great, refreshing, summer sipper. Drink now to 2030. Can age like a Sancerre.
The pairing below is Moo Satay from May Kitchen on Vashon Island:
Coonawarra
South Australia
Coonawarra, known as South Australia's Limestone Coast, is "defined by its famous terra rossa soils — a narrow, cigar-shaped strip of vivid red earth stretching approximately 27 kilometres long and just two kilometres wide. Resting over ancient limestone, these well-drained soils are unlike anywhere else in the world. Combined with a cool maritime influence and long, even ripening seasons, they create ideal conditions for producing wines of balance, structure and elegance." –winery notes.
Coonawarra is considered one of the world's great terroir for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. We'd agree. This Cab is absolutely stellar! Fun fact: We've never had a Coonawarra wine in wine club or in the shop for that matter. Very exciting to be able to offer you this wine!
Descendants of the Penfold and the Tolley families formed Penley in 1988. Sisters Ang and Bec Tolley (pictured above) have run it since 2015. The winery is certified sustainable with a deep dedication to preserving this very special appellation. “Great wine starts with a healthy vineyard. Sustainability isn’t an add-on—it’s fundamental to everything we do.” –Kate Goodman, winemaker.
Penley 2024 Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon • Coonawarra, Australia • Reg $27.99 | Mixed Case $22.39
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Barrel aged in French oak (5% new oak, 95% used) for 12 months then 6 months in stainless steel before release.
Nose smells delicious. It’s kind of hard to pull apart because it’s so well integrated. Black tea with mocha. Touch of earthy, herbal notes (sage?) with dark plums. Very inviting nose. Complexity-acidity-elegance in check. Pretty smooth. Flavors of black & blueberries, dark plums, black tea, dark chocolate. 14% so not heavy. Great acidity = you can age until 2035. Finish is vibrant, long, and super pleasant. Drink now to 10 years.
Great with burgers, steaks, sausages off the grill. The winery suggests a slice of pizza which shows off the acidity in this wine. Perfect summer red. Enjoy!
3-BOTTLE CLUB
McLaren Vale
South Australia
Just south of Adelaide is the prestigious McLaren Vale Valley, home to famous, Australian producers such as d'Arenberg, Yangarra, Wirra Wirra, and Hardys Tintara. The McLaren Vale vineyards are right next to the ocean, benefiting from coastal breezes that help the grapes cool down and retain acidity for balance.
Mr. Riggs Wine Co. – Ben Riggs, long-time winemaker at Wirra Wirra, struck out on his own with Mr. Riggs Wine Co. in 2001. He sources grapes from contacts with local growers in McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills & Coonawarra. He's focused on premium winemaking with an unpretentious slant.
Mr. Riggs 2020 The Gaffer Shiraz • McLaren Vale, Australia • Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
McLaren Vale has a cooler climate with nearby ocean winds, and it shows in this wine. Intoxicating nose of herbs & and wonderful inviting spices with dark plums and black raspberries. Flavors start with raspberries (red & black) and plums (red & black) with a note of black olives. Fantastic acidity. Medium+ body with LOTS of flavor. Fun, spicy finish. Exotic and sexy. Screaming for meats of the grill. Drink now to 3 years.
Pairing pictured below: Lamb dinner from neighboring McLaren Vale winery d'Arenberg
A Note from Jens:
Let's end with a photo of a spider in Penley's Coonawarra vineyards doing its work. The winemaker said that they have to walk through the vineyards with a broom to make way, otherwise they're covered in sticky webs. I am delighted with the three wines from this month's club. Hope you enjoy them as well!
Your wine club pick-up tasting is always the 2nd Saturday of the month. We host this tasting so that you can taste and learn about your wines before enjoying them at home.
You can also taste the Portalis EXPLORES club wines at the tasting. August's theme is Portugal, featuring a Douro Blanco & a Tinto (red) from just north of Lisbon.
Hope you can join us!
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop
If you are here because you’re curious about our wine clubs: Here’s more general info & online sign-up. You can also peruse the last 12 months of both clubs to get a feel for the themes we pick and the wines we showcase: Portalis EXPLORES (our everyday wine club) & Portalis FLAGSHIP (our signature club).