2025 Kalleske Florentine Chenin Blanc, Barossa Valley

Chenin Blanc is a rare sight in the Barossa today, and the Kalleske family's mature single vineyard block at Greenock is among the few still producing. The vines were planted in 1988 on shallow sandy soils over clay, and have been certified organic and biodynamic since 1998, well before either practice became fashionable in the region. The wine is named after Caroline 'Florentine' Kalleske, the first daughter of Johann Georg Kalleske who brought the family to South Australia from Prussia in 1838.

Troy Kalleske keeps the winemaking deliberately simple. Grapes are night harvested to preserve freshness, gently pressed, cool fermented in tank with ambient yeasts and bottled early. No oak and no additions beyond small amounts of sulphur. The intention is pure varietal expression from a well-farmed site.

Pale straw, the nose is vivid and fragrant — green apple, lime citrus, quince, jasmine and lychee. The palate is light-bodied and bright with fresh white stone fruit, passionfruit and lemon curd, finishing clean and long with fine natural acidity. Honest, refreshing and very easy to enjoy.

We're thinking of Vietnamese fresh spring rolls, steamed fish with ginger and shallots of grilled prawns as good companions for a young Florentine at the dinner table. Bottles from good vintages can offer pleasant surprises with some bottle age too, with more complex honeyed and savoury notes shifting the flavour profile to something that would support sophisticated seafood and vegetable dishes of East Asian origin.