Welcome to the world, The Group. This new premium wine brand has a cool twist: it’s in partnership with a Grower-Owned Collective. This means around 100 grape growers and their families create a range of full-flavoured, quality wines. In turn, it allows The Group to showcase some of the highest-quality wines from Australia’s leading wine regions, including McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills.
The Plus Ones put together a mid-week wine and cheese night with a couple of mates to showcase some of the delightful new blends.
By working exclusively with the Grower-Owned Collective, The Group helps to maintain the Collective’s initial goal: to support the livelihood of the growers, and to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and expertise to ensure their vineyards thrive and grow.
The diverse range is inspired by The Group’s ‘Collectively Better’ mantra and includes four core
varietals:
• The Murder 2017 McLaren Vale Shiraz
• The Shadow 2019 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir
• The Quiver 2019 McLaren Vale Grenache
• The Fever 2018 McLaren Vale Grower Blend
Plus the limited-edition The Siege 2019 McLaren Vale Shiraz
We paired The Murder and The Quiver with delightful cheese from Surry Hills cheese shop Formaggi Occelo. Here’s more about each delectable drop:
The Murder 2017 McLaren Vale Shiraz 750ml – RRP $34.00
The growers: Brian and Valerie Cameron are 3rd generation McLaren Vale grape growers. With 70 years of family knowledge and experience going into growing the grapes for this wine, it has a depth different to many.
The wine: With vineyards close to the ocean, the benefits of the cooling breezes are evident in the wine. It is inky yet bright, with silky dark fruits and excellent length. Bold, smooth and wonderfully balanced.
Pairing advice: Matt Moran suggests pairing with game meat such as venison.The Quiver 2019 McLaren Vale Grenache 750ml – RRP $34.00
The growers: The grapes for this wine are grown on Dave and Jen Wright’s stunning Wlypena Vineyard. This beautiful site, which they also call home, is managed by Jen’s son Fred and wife Sarah, making this Grenache a family effort.
The wine: Old vines and sandy soil provide a perfectly balanced Grenache with cherry blossom aromas, fresh berry palate and a long smooth finish.
Pairing advice: Matt Moran suggests pairing with a lamb ratatouille with lots of vegetables.
You might have noticed the name Matt Moran! He’s the official brand ambassador for The Group, as he shares a passion for creating honest, authentic and quality produce.
Matt explains, ‘I grew up on the farm and I’ve always had a passion for sourcing great quality produce to create great tasting food. Like paddock- to-plate, Grower Wines by The Group represent an exciting movement in the Australian wine industry. The Group’s collaboration with a Grower-Owned Collective paves the way for the hard-working growers and supports the local, real people behind the label. Establishing these connections is how you create honest, authentic and quality produce –
whether it’s food or wine’.
The Group Wines is such a great outcome of the teamwork of Matt Moran and the Grower-Owned Collective — helping support local producers, growers, and their families in these trying times.
And their Shiraz and Grenache are 👌 drops.
– Theresa
Co-founder of The Plus Ones, Theresa loves supporting amazing Aussie winemakers.
The Group core wines are available exclusively in Liquorland and First Choice Liquor Market Stores nationally. Visit www.thegroupwines.com.au for more info.
