2025 Quealy Pinot Grigio, Mornington Peninsula

Pale lemon in the glass with inviting aromas of white peach and Kanzi apple. The palate has textural fruit intensity, with zesty acidity and a savoury note at the finish that begs another sip 19 Oct 2025 Drink 2025–2030

95 points Melissa Moore therealreview.com

The Quealy Feri Maris Pinot Grigio from the Mornington Peninsula is a wonderful showcase of both the region’s cool, maritime climate and Kathleen Quealy’s pioneering work with Italian varietals in Australia. Known affectionately as the “Queen of Pinot Grigio,” Kathleen was one of the first winemakers in Victoria to embrace the style, recognising early on how well it suited the Peninsula’s breezy coastal vineyards. The name Feri Maris means “Wild Sea” in Latin, a tribute to the Bass Strait winds that sweep across the vines, shaping the wine with freshness, saline tension and energy.

The fruit for this Pinot Grigio is sourced from carefully selected sites across the Peninsula, where the combination of volcanic and sandy loam soils, cooling maritime influences and long growing seasons allow for slow ripening and exceptional flavour development. Grapes are harvested early to retain acidity, while gentle pressing and cool fermentation preserve delicate aromatics. Some lees contact adds a touch of texture, ensuring the wine has depth without losing its crisp, refreshing drive.

In the glass it is pale straw with subtle green highlights. The nose is vibrant and inviting, opening with aromas of nashi pear, green apple, lemon zest and white peach, lifted by hints of jasmine, honeysuckle and a whisper of sea spray minerality. The palate is finely balanced, with juicy orchard fruits and bright citrus at its core, framed by brisk acidity and a subtle chalky edge that speaks to the region’s coastal soils. A gentle savoury texture from lees work rounds out the mouthfeel, while the finish is long, dry and refreshingly saline.

Food pairings celebrate its maritime freshness and textural finesse: think grilled calamari with lemon and herbs, spaghetti vongole, prawn risotto, or freshly shucked oysters. It is also a versatile partner for vegetarian dishes such as roasted zucchini with mint, Caprese salad or creamy burrata with tomatoes. For cheese lovers, soft and fresh styles like chèvre or mozzarella enhance its clean lines.

While best enjoyed in its youth for brightness and energy, the Feri Maris Pinot Grigio has the structure to cellar for 3 to 4 years, gaining hints of almond, honey and a more rounded mouthfeel while retaining its mineral backbone.