Dara Dozen Wine 2026
Find out more about wines
The full range of wines donated by each winery is displayed below, however the wines selected in each dozen or six pack will represent a mix from this range. We appreciate your understanding that we are unable to accommodate special requests or swaps of particular wine types.
Clonakilla
2024 O’Riada Shiraz
Best drinking: Now or cellar for 10 to 30 years
Adequate winter rainfall off the back of three wet La Nina years. Spring rainfall was
surprisingly healthy, contradicting the forecast for dry conditions. October frosts reduced
yields, especially on the lower lying blocks. The warm weather arrived though mid to late
summer and excellent ripening conditions prevailed through to harvest in March and April.
The net result: low to moderate yields of high-quality, intensely flavoured fruit.
The O’Riada is a quintessential Canberra Shiraz, fully charged with spice, floral notes and ripe red fruits.
2024 O’Riada Shiraz Reviews
2026 Riesling
Best drinking: Now or cellar for 10 to 30 years
Riesling was the first white variety John Kirk planted at Clonakilla in 1971. As Clonakilla has
grown over the decades, so have our Riesling plantings. It is our second most widely planted
variety after Shiraz. Clones include McWilliams, Pewsey Vale, Geisenheim 198 and the
original unidentified clone planted in 1971. All our Riesling vines are on South facing sites,
angled away from the Northern sun. This cooler aspect slows ripening and works to build
aromatic complexity and retain natural acid in the wines.
In this Riesling the fruit came in in near perfect condition in mid-March with excellent ripeness and lovely balanced acids.
Mount Majura Vineyard
2024 Shiraz
Best drinking: Now to 2039
Lovely medium ruby garnet in colour, with enticing aromas of black pepper, graphite, ripe plum, fresh raspberry and iodine. Bright fresh and direct, with a lovely back end splay of tannins, and a soft wholesome plush carry. Cool Climate Shiraz at its finest!
2025 Riesling
Best Drinking: 2022-2028
‘Mid-straw in the glass, bright and vibrant. Aromas of lemon pith, white flowers, oyster brine and wet stone. Crunchy, punchy and pithy, with a pure and concentrated drive of citrus and tangy acidity. Some phenolics on the finish deliver texture and shape. Delicious.’ 95/100 Aaron Brasher ,The Real Review.
Lovely lifted aromatics of lemon and lime sherbet, kaffir lime leaf, lime blossom with hints of talc and wet stone, leading to a delicately dry and poised mouthfeel with notes of fresh lime juice and pith, with a persistence that glides through the palate. Together with the 2024, another truly classic vintage.
Selecta Wines
Selecta Shiraz
Chilled Red is a light-style blend of Grenache and Mataro — our very first red release. It’s made in collaboration with Lewis Martin, son of Ravensworth owner Bryan Martin. It’s a red-fruit-forward wine with a clean, refreshing finish — think strawberries and plum — crafted as a warmer-weather red that suits pretty much anyone’s preference in how they like their red.
Selecta Natural Riesling
Riesling is floral, slightly sweet and aromatic — hand-harvested, bottled and labelled by yours truly. Expect passionfruit and floral notes, vibrant and concentrated, from our cool-climate block.
Sapling Yard
2023 The Extrovert
Best drinking: Now to 2034
Mal does love a red blend. And this blend from Hilltops is a classic with a twist 40% Mourvedre, 35% Shiraz, 25% Grenache. Aromas of violets, dark plums, ripe cherries and an earthiness that leads into a long palate, fine tannin structure and a very easy drinkability.
Food matches: pair me with aged rib eye, potato gratin, or portobello mushrooms baked in the oven with olive oil and garlic.
2024 Shiraz Viognier
Best drinking: Now to 2034 +
This wine has white pepper, mulberry, cedar and violet aromas, the palate is showing fine silky tannins , complexity and length.
Try this wine with rib-eye steak or slow-cooked shoulder of lamb.
Trophy Winning 2025 Fiori
Best drinking: This is a perfect summer wine, not for cellaring.
Our “Forest” label of wines celebrates gorgeous blends from Canberra and surrounding regions. This is an exciting aromatic blend of Riesling (30%) from Four Winds, Pinot Gris (30%) from Lake George, Gewurztraminer (30%) from Excelsior Peak vineyard, plus a dollop of Pinot Blanc (10%) from our own vineyard in Braidwood.
“Fiori” translates to flowers – very thoughtfully named given the delicate floral aroma that leaps from the glass. White flowers intertwine with orchard fruits, zesty lime and a hint of ginger and roses. Perfect to pair with south-east Asian inspired dishes.
2025 Sauvignon Blanc
Best drinking: Cellaring potential until 2029-2031
Made in the style of a French Loire Valley wine, this is a Sauvignon Blanc that will win you over, especially for those who don’t normally drink sav blanc.
Match me with free-range roast chicken or triple cream brie.
Capital Wines
2023 The Foreign Minister Sangiovese
Best drinking: Now to 2030
An outstanding expression of Canberran Sangiovese, this wine is charming and has lots of spicy red berries – juicy cherry, a little peppered strawberry with some herbs and violets.
Enjoy with pizzas, tomato or cream based pasta dishes and smoked meats.
2023 The Ambassador Tempranillo
Best drinking: Now to 2027
This local derivative of the traditional Spanish chameleon-like variety, offers warmth, grippy smoothness, textural tannic grip and amplitude of ripe palate-pleasing aromas and flavours. Its generosity and abundance of primary ripe fruit in the mulberry and plum spectrum is very pleasing to the palate.
Enjoy as an accompaniment to robust dishes such as smokey chorizo.
2022 The Swinger Sauvignon Blanc
Best drinking: Now to 2031
Lemon in colour with strong aromas of passionfruit, gooseberry and pear. A wine with excellent structure displaying a fresh and crisp profile balanced with a touch of herbaceous complexity.
Kosciuszko Wines
2024 Kosciuszko Pinot Noir
Best drinking: Drink now to 2032
A mellow and balanced Pinot Noir. With a light ruby colour with the nose full of strawberry, plum and cherry. Flavours of vanilla support these red fruity favours then lead into a well-structured finish.
Ideal with meat especially lamb, also matches very well with duck and classic tapas style dishes.
2023 Kosciuszko Sauvignon Blanc
Best drinking: Drink now to 2028
Our Sauvignon Blanc shows apple and tropical fruit aromas and tangy avours of melon and lime with a touch of melon, fresh crisp wine read to drink now.
Matches well with a variety of seafood dishes or consumed as a versatile aperitif.
2023 Kosciuszko Rose
Best drinking: Drink now to 2030
Made from 100% Sangiovese, this wine is a beautiful vibrant pink colour with peach, red cherry and strawberry flavours with a long lingering and savoury finish.
Enjoy with almost any food and especially pizza and pastas with fresh salads.
Dionysus Winery
Dionysus 2024 Shiraz Viognier
Best drinking: Now to 2034
The perfumed nose shows ripe, dark red fruit flavours, spices and a very subtle hint of white pepper. The palate exhibits smooth tannins and is long and full flavoured. The Viognier is added to enhance aromatic complexity, and to contribute texture to the palate.
This Shiraz Viognier lingers long on the palate and pairs perfectly with red meats like lamb or a tasty cheese.
Dionysus 2025 Riesling
Best drinking: Now to 2034
This wine has a distinct citrus aroma. It bounds out of the glass with zesty, juicy flavours of lemon, lime and apple. Enjoy the dry, crisp and refreshing mouth feel and long finish.
Wimbaliri
2018 First Vines Cabernet Merlot
Best drinking: now until 2029
Fruit is destemmed into vats where it ferments on skins with regular plunging. The wine is basket-pressed to French and American oak barrels and matures for 18-20 months prior to bottling.
2025 Viognier The Vinedresser
Best drinking: now until 2032
Our first Viognier release, named for our family’s ancestor Johaan Zeininger, a vinedresser who left Germany for the Hunter Valley in the 1850s to work in the fledgling wine industry.
Vineyard 1207
2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Best drinking: now until 2034
This Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend from Canberra’s cool climate pours a deep ruby red. Its flavours are a mix of spiced blackcurrant and plum, with a touch of apple and spice in its aroma. This well-structured wine is marked by tannins that linger, suggesting it will evolve beautifully with age. It’s a wine that promises even more complexity and depth as it matures, making it a good choice to set aside for a while, if you can wait.
2024 Pinot Gris
This Pinot Gris offers a refreshing and crisp experience, unveiling lively notes of passionfruit, green apple, citrus zest, and a hint of pear. Its bright acidity dances on the palate, leading to a clean, invigorating finish. Perfect for a sunny day or paired with light seafood dishes.
Vineyard 1207 is dedicated to making the best wines possible whilst living in harmony with the abundance of our native fauna and flora. Our chemical use is minimised, and our farming techniques are environmentally friendly.
Wallaroo Wines
Wallaroo Sparkling Rose
Best drinking: Now to 2030
Wallaroo Wines was the first in the district to make a Sparkling Rose – crisp and fruity with lots of citrus and apricot – our sparkling wine is made in the full champagne method; bottle fermented for at least 15 months.
Wallaroo Sparkling Riesling
Best drinking: Now to 2030
Crisp and fruity with lots of citrus and apricot – our sparkling wine is made in the full champagne method; bottle fermented for at least 15 months. A classic and never fails to please.
Altina (Non-Alcoholic Wines)
Altina Sparkling Brut
Altina Sparkling Brut is crafted in the style of a Sparkling Brut Chardonnay. With top notes of Native Australian Peach and strawberry, supported by a bright acidity and toasty vanilla notes. Pop the cork and celebrate!
We gently remove the alcohol from premium Australian wine and blend it with health-giving botanicals to create a complex, delicious non-alc. experience.
Altina Sparkling Sangria
Altina Sparkling Sangria is crafted in the style of a Non-alcoholic Sangria. It’s a lush and vibrant style of bubbles with a stunning red colour. Rich dark fruits including native Australian Riberry are balanced with sweet Orange, soft vanilla and spicy notes. This non-alcoholic sangria drink is delicately structured, complex, slightly sweet and ultra-refreshing.
Serve this Non-alcoholic Sangria ice cold in a wine glass with dried citrus. Perfect for any time easy drinking.
Altina Finger Lime Sauvignon Blanc
The perfect blend of premium de-alcoholised Sauvignon Blanc wine and Native Australian Finger Lime. Bright aroma of white nectarine and fresh cucumber. A crisp, lingering finish underpinned with herbaceous notes.
We gently remove the alcohol from premium Australian wine and blend it with health-giving botanicals to create a complex, delicious non-alc. experience. The tasting experience is nuanced and layered. Delicious flavours build in complexity as you sip. We combine the ritual and theatre of wine with the discovery of new natural ingredients.
Serve chilled in a flute or champagne saucer. After opening, refrigerate and consume within 2 days.
Altina Pepperberry Shiraz (non-alcoholic wine)
The perfect Shiraz blend of premium de-alcoholised Shiraz and Native Australian Pepperberry. Bursting with juicy red fruits and a hint of dark chocolate. A dry, smooth finish, with notes of vanilla and layered lingering spice.
We gently remove the alcohol from premium Australian wine and blend it with health-giving botanicals to create a complex, delicious non-alc. Shiraz experience. The Shiraz tasting experience is nuanced and layered. Delicious flavours build in complexity as you sip. We combine the ritual and theatre of wine with the discovery of new natural ingredients.
Serve in a red wine glass. After opening, refrigerate and consume within 2 days.