2024 Hand Crafted Verdelho

Hand Crafted

Limestone Coast

Story:   The Verdelho grape’s history in Portugal dates to the 17th century, at least. On the island of Madeira, Verdelho is considered a noble grape, alongside Sercial, Bual and Malvasia. The outbreak of phylloxera had a devastating impact on these noble grapes. Verdelho was brought to Australia in the 1820s by James Busby and John Macarthur. It was used in the production of fortified wines primarily in the Hunter Valley before spreading to South and Western Australia where today it tends to be made into clean crisp white wine styles.

Vintage: The 2024 Vintage at K1 was initiated by a very wet spring after a relatively dry July, August and September. The wet period included two large rainfalls during November and early December leading to spoilt flowering, very low berry numbers and an extremely low crop in most varieties. These low crops were blessed with cool dry conditions throughout the three months up to vintage giving fabulous flavour development very much like the 2002 season which makes me confident of wines that will age brilliantly.

Nose: Pineapple, citrus, apple, lemongrass, melon, and spice with hints of banana and mint.

Palate: This medium bodied fruit driven wine displays loads of pulpy tropical fruits accentuated by fruit derived spice elements that dance softly across the tongue to a dry crisp finish.

Pairing: Fresh pesto pasta with grilled chicken and blistered cherry tomatoes                 

Cellaring: Drink now or to 2026                   

 Winemaker: Shane Harris