Leko White 2021

Sons of Clare Valley farmers, wine enthusiasts, brothers Damon and Jono Koerner are two young, enterprising winemakers who are very much in tune with their times. The high-altitude vineyards of Clare Valley and the Adelaide Hills are their favorite playground. The goal: “to produce wines that we enjoy drinking,” meaning fresh, textured, structured yet fluid and digestible. They rely on healthy viticulture (organic practices), early harvests, minimalist vinification, and very moderate use of sulfur.

This wine, composed mainly of Savagnin (a Jura grape variety), comes from the cool climates of the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. The vines are planted on sandy loam soils, cultivated with minimal chemical intervention. After a careful manual harvest, the wine ferments in amphora and used barrels with contact of the grape skins. It will then age for 14 months in stainless steel vats. This wine presents aromas of citrus peel , yuzu , quince , exotic fruits , white flowers and candied ginger . The palate has an invigorating acidity and a saline side, while maintaining texture and delicacy.

Australia began producing wine more than two centuries ago. This has resulted in a country rich in old vines, multi-generational winemaking families and an ingrained knowledge and respect for craftsmanship. Add to that a thirst to explore and innovate, a fearless attitude and a diverse notebook of 65 wine regions in many climates, and you have the makings of an extraordinary wine country unlike any other. Australia burst into export markets in the 1980s and since then has been providing the world with vibrant, fruity and exceptional value wines. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s, Australian wine history was dominated by examples of Shiraz, Grenache and overly concentrated red blends. Between these two extremes lies the diversity of Australia's offering of high quality and regional wines that has always existed. Australian viticulture is mainly concentrated on the southern oceanic edge where conditions are cooler. There are four main wine regions located around major cities. Western Australia around Perth, South Australia around Adelaide, Victoria around Melbourne and New South Wales around Sydney. The country is one of the largest wine producers in the world, and was the 4th largest exporter in the world in 2011. This recent development now makes Australia one of the most prominent countries for the quality of its wines. You can taste Australian wines all over the country. Each Australian region has its own grape varieties. Australian wines are defined by their grape variety, unlike French wines which are defined by their terroir.