2025 Spinifex Lola, Barossa Valley

The 2025 Lola is a charming, Rhône-style blend with subtle and layered aromas of hay, honeysuckle and melon. It's fresh, dry and lightweight with a savory finish. Drink to 2029.

90 points Angus Hughson for Vinous, November 2026

Pete Schell is crafting a flock of exciting whites from the Barossa. Lola is the original and, some would say, most multi-layered release. Semillon has taken the lead for the last few years and again plays a commanding role 2025. It’s joined by Grenache Gris and Clairette. The Semillon—a grape grown in the Barossa Valley since the 1850s—is sourced from 90+-year-old, low-yielding vines in Ebenezer. The Grenache Gris is estate fruit from Spinifex’s Dominion Vineyard, and the Clairette is from an elevated site in Rowland Flat on the valley's eastern side. The old-vine Semillon brings weight, Grenache Gris lends citrus and spice, and the late-ripening Clairette, with its excellent acid retention, provides a mouthwatering pop of freshness. 

Schell’s attention in the vineyards and a light touch in the shed have given us another exceptional release of this unconventional white. Each parcel was picked by hand and spent 2-4 hours on skins before being destemmed and pressed to a combination of stainless steel (Clairette and Semillon) and mature French oak (Grenache Gris). The wines spent six months on lees before being blended and bottled. A portion of the Semillon went through malolactic conversion. As with all the Spinifex whites, this will shine at the dining table. It’s as savoury as it is primary, with fleshy, medium-weight, citrus, spice and herb notes and a delicious, juicy texture.

Pale straw in colour, the aromas are lifted and herbal, opening with lemon zest, green apple and pear layered with white flowers, fennel and a faint saline note. The palate is light to medium bodied and vibrant, with citrus and orchard fruit wrapped in bright acidity and a softly chalky texture. Flavours of lime, grapefruit and savoury herbs run long through a clean, mouthwatering finish that feels almost coastal.

It pairs beautifully with seafood, grilled vegetables, salads and Mediterranean cooking heavy on olive oil and herbs. Best enjoyed young for its snap and vitality, though it will hold for three to five years and gain gentle savoury complexity.