It was about this time last year that popped into an Aldi store in southern Sydney and found myself impressed by the range of imported wines on offer.
I invested in half a dozen different bottles and found them all good value. There is no Aldi near where I live, however, so they dropped off my radar until a couple of months ago.
A PR company acting for the cut-price supermarket chain asked me if I'd be interested in visiting a couple of Aldi producers in the Yarra Valley, but as I had to promise not to reveal who they were, I declined the offer. No point in visiting wineries if you are not allowed to say who they are.
Then Aldi asked if I would be happy to receive some samples of their Christmas range; both imports and own-label locals. As they'd just won a blue-gold at the Sydney International Wine Competition for the $5 Aldi 2015 South Point rosé it would have been churlish to refuse, and it turns out buying director Jason Bowyer has a keen nose for a bargain.
There are some real standouts to be found on Aldi shelves, including a non-vintage Champagne for under $25 (one of three in a range all of which come in at under $30) and delightful Mosel riesling for under a tenner.
Here are some of my favourites from the Christmas and summer seasonal range:
Monsigny NV Brut Selection Champagne: A fresh and crisp aperitif-style bubbly with floral and citrus and a delicate mousse. $24.99.
Peter Mertes 2014 Mosel Riesling: A lovely example of aromatic, off-dry German riesling that is downright delicious. $9.99.
Neve 2015 Nelson Pinot Gris: A delightful drink from New Zealand, fresh and lively with mere hints of spice and barrel maturation. $7.99.
Qiwila 2015 Sauvignon Blanc: From the Maule Valley in Chile, this is a riper style than we are used to, but has plenty of palate interest. $6.99.
Loire Valley 2014 Sauvignon Blanc: Crisp and vibrant and perfect for enjoying chilled with seafood. $7.99.
There were also some very tidy own-label local wines on offer, including:
Second Left 2015 Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc: Very enjoyable with sweet citrus, green notes and overall a nice package for $7.99.
A.C. Byrne 2015 Mount Barker Riesling: Fresh, zingy and citrusy and from one of the best riesling regions in the country. $9.99.
Tudor 2014 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir: A fruit-driven cool-climate pinot that actually comes from one of the best producers in the Yarra. $12.99.
Tudor 2014 Central Victorian Shiraz: A wine that has won a show trophy; bold shiraz with a touch of mourvedre added. $12.99.
For details visit www.aldiliqour.com.au
I invested in half a dozen different bottles and found them all good value. There is no Aldi near where I live, however, so they dropped off my radar until a couple of months ago.
Then Aldi asked if I would be happy to receive some samples of their Christmas range; both imports and own-label locals. As they'd just won a blue-gold at the Sydney International Wine Competition for the $5 Aldi 2015 South Point rosé it would have been churlish to refuse, and it turns out buying director Jason Bowyer has a keen nose for a bargain.
There are some real standouts to be found on Aldi shelves, including a non-vintage Champagne for under $25 (one of three in a range all of which come in at under $30) and delightful Mosel riesling for under a tenner.
Here are some of my favourites from the Christmas and summer seasonal range:
Monsigny NV Brut Selection Champagne: A fresh and crisp aperitif-style bubbly with floral and citrus and a delicate mousse. $24.99.
Peter Mertes 2014 Mosel Riesling: A lovely example of aromatic, off-dry German riesling that is downright delicious. $9.99.
Qiwila 2015 Sauvignon Blanc: From the Maule Valley in Chile, this is a riper style than we are used to, but has plenty of palate interest. $6.99.
Loire Valley 2014 Sauvignon Blanc: Crisp and vibrant and perfect for enjoying chilled with seafood. $7.99.
There were also some very tidy own-label local wines on offer, including:
Second Left 2015 Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc: Very enjoyable with sweet citrus, green notes and overall a nice package for $7.99.
A.C. Byrne 2015 Mount Barker Riesling: Fresh, zingy and citrusy and from one of the best riesling regions in the country. $9.99.
Tudor 2014 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir: A fruit-driven cool-climate pinot that actually comes from one of the best producers in the Yarra. $12.99.
Tudor 2014 Central Victorian Shiraz: A wine that has won a show trophy; bold shiraz with a touch of mourvedre added. $12.99.
For details visit www.aldiliqour.com.au
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