Yangarra Estate has released an Australian first: a blend of heat-resilient white varieties sourced in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and grown on newly planted cuttings in McLaren Vale, South Australia.

Yangarra Estate winemaker Peter Fraser said: “The wine is the result of years of research and quarantine of the best white varieties of the ancient north-west Mediterranean wine regions”

Yangarra Blanc is a blend of Grenache Blanc (35%), Clairette (30%), Roussanne (20%), Picpoul (10%) and Bourboulenc (5%).

Mr Fraser said: “Right from the start we knew Yangarra grew amazing dry-grown Grenache.

“Old bush vine Grenache is the red cornerstone of those coasts from Italy to Spain. It was logical to investigate their top whites for trial on our south coast.”

These varieties ripen later, so better handle the increasing heat of January and February.

Mr Fraser said: “Our High Sands vineyard planted in 1946 is one example, the 2015 vintage was recently crowned Best “Other Reds” at the 2019 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.

“There’s no doubt that the world’s getting hotter, this is not just a threat, it’s happening.

“With that in mind we reckon these varieties may become primary white types for McLaren Vale’s Mediterranean climate.

“We have bought some of the world’s most popular varieties from one of the world’s most prestigious wine regions and created a white wine that we think Australians will relish.”

Peter Fraser is creating revolutionary change in Australian vineyards and his wine making techniques are being awarded globally. Not only was he named Winemaker of the Year by James Halliday as part of his 2016 Wine Companion Awards, but more recently, it was announced Peter is a nominee for the Wine Enthusiast’s Winemaker of the Year award, a significant awards program run in USA. This award category has only five nominations.

The Yangarra Blanc wine retails for $25 and is 13% alcohol. It was made and matured in ceramic egg vessels of 675 litres.