I’ve been drinking Vermentino for decades, indeed it was decades ago that I sent a letter to the Chief Winemaker of Yalumba, Brian Walsh suggesting Vermentino would be the next big thing. This was prompted by an earlier suggestion by him to send in any views predicting the future.
Now I can reveal the truth as for every bottle of European, mostly from the Mediterranean, Vermentino that inspired me, many were defective, yet this was from bad winemaking not the variety. I write this note, glass by my desk. Scented with a difference, shows fragrance, good length, made for Australia-a picnic white, for the anything but Chardonnay crowd. Perhaps serve on your boat on Sydney harbour, during summer of course.
Sourced from a nameless, smart boutique in the Adelaide Hills. For those without a boat, the rest of us, Vermentino like Gruner Veltliner will be one of the very large number of varieties that clamour for attention which you try a few times each year. Recall the idea of Glug is to buy good wine as we find it regardless of the variety. Then offer this to customers that have learnt that good wine which is sold at modest prices is risk free. What the variety is called is a secondary issue. I’ve had a few sips now and the flavours are building nicely on the palate-this white gets better and better. Glad we bought it.
