We love sharing our wines and our favourite parts of our beautiful Kangaroo Island. Our blog shares our team's favourite ways to get the most from your visit when you're exploring Kangaroo Island. And of course we like to share the latest news and wine reviews with you too!
Nestled off the coast of South Australia, Kangaroo Island is renowned for its pristine landscapes and unique maritime climate, which lends a special character to its wines, especially Shiraz. Unique to those from any other Australian region, discover a new style of Shiraz.
While South Australia's traditional Shiraz-growing regions like Barossa Valley produce warmer-style wines known for their full-bodied, ripe fruit and robust tannins, Kangaroo Island enjoys a cooler climate, dominated by the maritime climate of its surrounding ocean.
This environment influences the growth of Shiraz grapes, which have a long, slow ripening period. The result is a more medium-bodied wine with beautifully balanced sugar and acidity. Kangaroo Island's Shiraz wines are lower in alcohol, elegant, and well-structured.
At The Islander Estate Vineyard, we employ wild fermentation for our Shiraz wines to fully express their terroir, along with our signature traditional French winemaking techniques. These methods accentuate the complexity and elegance of the mid-palate, making wines perfect for pairing with food.
Each of The Islander Estate Vineyard's ranges offers Shiraz wines for every kind of wine lover:
The Red Shiraz: We've just released Vintage 2022 of our classic cool-climate Shiraz, designed for everyday drinking. On the nose, notes of pepper, eucalyptus, and vanilla. Flavours of mulberry and red fruit, hints of toasty oak, and slightly gamey notes. A round, generous mouthfeel leads to a long finish. Winter Pairing: Mid-week casserole or Friday night pizza & footy. Drink now or cellar for up to 5 years.
Our Estate range focuses on crafting unique & premium Shiraz blends, each with a nod to the regions of France.
The Cygnet 2017 is no ordinary Shiraz, crafted over six years before release to craft a wine that balances power and elegance. With dark cherries, baking spices, and a touch of earth on the nose, on the palate, it's like Christmas in a glass: steeped cherries and dried fruit, spices, and savoury tannins, all wrapped up with a composed structure across the palate and long fine tannins. Pair it with darker meats and spice-based dishes, such as braised short ribs, Middle Eastern lamb dishes, or slow-cooked pork shoulder. The Cygnet pays dividends if you can cellar it for up to 15 years.
At The Islander Estate Vineyards, we are committed to crafting wines that mirror their unique terroir and reveal the true potential of the Kangaroo Island wine region. By blending traditional French winemaking methods with the creative freedom of the New World, we ensure that each bottle of Shiraz is a testament to our dedication to quality and a fresh interpretation of this renowned variety.
If you're discovering Kangaroo Island's wine region, we invite you to explore the elegance and sophistication of our cool-climate Shiraz. Visit our cellar door or explore our collection online.
All wine combines grapes and yeast (wild/naturally occurring or added). However, animal-based products derived from eggs, fish, or dairy have traditionally been used to clarify and filter wine to create the clean, bright wines consumers love to drink. Vegan wine producers like us seek alternatives like bentonite clay to achieve the same result without using any animal products.
The fundamentals of wine pairings apply regardless of your diet. Here are some overarching guidelines we like to follow:
Tasting Notes: Tropical fruit, citrus, herbal notes & sea spray with middle palate texture.
Sauv Blanc's fresh citrus flavours & crisp acidity are delicious with:
- Asparagus & pea risotto
- Spring grilled vegetable skewers
- Spinach & feta stuffed mushrooms
Varietal Range The White Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: Peach, nectarine, melon, toasted nuts with refreshing acidity & a long finish.
Pair Chardonnay's toasty notes with creamier dishes like:
- Creamy mushroom and garlic pasta
- Vegan Caesar salad with cashew dressing
- Butternut squash and sage pasta
The Enigma Extended Skin Contact Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting Notes: Passionfruit, lime zest, ripe citrus, and herbal notes blend with savoury/sour secondary characteristics and tannins.
Skin contact white wine can carry more robust & umami flavours like:
- Vegan Thai green curry with tofu and vegetables
- Zucchini noodles with vegan pesto
- Vegan sushi bowls with marinated tofu and seaweed
Varietal Range Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting Notes: Preserved lemon, apricot, citrus & tropical fruit with a textural palate.
More complex whites like Sem Sauv Blanc pair beautifully with:
- Quinoa salad with fresh herbs and citrus dressing
- Grilled corn on the cob with lime and chilli
- Marinated Tofu Poke Bowl
Estate Range Wally White Oaked Semillon
Tasting Notes: Textural & elegant, lemon curd, vanilla custard & a mouth-watering natural acidity.
A sophisticated, textural white like Wally White complements dishes like:
- Cashew Alfredo pasta with roasted vegetables
- Bell peppers stuffed with wild rice
- Truffle-infused polenta
Varietal Range The Rosé
Tasting Notes: Strawberries & cream, peach notes & a light leesy grip add complexity.
Elegant, delicate & fresh, The Rose is delicious with:
- Watermelon and mint salad
- Vegan Caprese salad with tomatoes, basil, and vegan mozzarella
- Strawberry and rocket salad with balsamic glaze
Varietal Range Tempranillo
Tasting Notes: Black fruits, spice, vanilla, mocha, hints of liquorice & tobacco leaf.
Pair our Tempranillo with Spanish-inspired dishes like:
- Vegan paella with assorted vegetables
- Eggplant and chickpea curry
- Vegan Tapas platter
Varietal Range Sangiovese
Tasting Notes: Spicy cherries, vanilla oak & hints of leather. Mid-weight with fine-grained tannins.
Sangiovese's tannins are stunning with tomato based & Italian dishes like:
- Vegan margherita pizza
- Ratatouille with polenta
- Spinach and vegan ricotta-stuffed shells
- Eggplant parmigiana
Estate Range Old Rowley Shiraz/Grenache
Tasting Notes: Plush & elegant with raspberry, boysenberry, lifted florals, vanilla & clove oak.
Rich & elegant Old Rowley deserves dishes to match:
- Dolmade's stuffed with rice and herbs
- Roasted red pepper and walnut dip with pita bread
- Vegan lentil and vegetable curry
- Eggplant & Chickpea Tagine
Varietal Range Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes: Red fruit, cherry, cranberry & raspberry with earthy notes, good acidity & a rounded palate.
Cabernet Sauvignon's tannins & earthy notes go well with:
- Ratatouille
- Vegetable Bolognese
- Mushroom red wine risotto with shaved parmesan
Flagship Range The Investigator Cabernet Franc
Tasting Notes: Blackcurrant, plum & mulberry, dried herbs & fennel. Lean with super fine tannins & a composed structure.
Pair elegant, lean Cabernet Franc with umami flavours like:
- Lentil and mushroom burgers
- Grilled portobello mushrooms with a balsamic glaze
- Vegan shepherd's pie with lentils and vegetables
Flagship Range The Cygnet Shiraz
Tasting Notes: Blackberry, liquorice, anise, menthol, cedar & savoury tannins.
The more robust flavours of Shiraz go with:
- Spicy black bean & corn chilli
- Vegan dark chocolate mousse
- Vegan pasta puttanesca
Flagship Range The Independence Malbec
Tasting Notes: Malbec's full-bodied structure & firm tannins with black plum, blackberry, cocoa & sweet tobacco.
Hark back to Malbec's home in South America, pair it with:
Vegan Argentine empanadas with vegetable filling
Black bean and corn salad with cilantro lime dressing
Vegan chilli con carne with kidney beans