Bandicoot Run are Adriana and Al, organic grape growers and winemakers with their own little farm in West Gippsland, Victoria. Established in 2017 with the expansion of the half-acre vineyard on Al’s family property, they now have 3 hectares of vines, farmed organically and with a huge focus on biodiversity and building healthy soil microbiology.

Fruit procured from North West Victoria, is Bandicoots Run first time working with Grillo, a Sicilian native varietal. This is the second harvest from this young vineyard, only 6 years old. Part of a move towards growing mediteranean varietals in Australia with the changing climate.

Fruit is destemmed and the berries left to soak in the juice for 8 days of skin-contact, during which fermentation was well underway. It is then pressed off and juice left to run clear to complete fermentation in stainless tank. The wine was then left to settle for 8 months before being bottled directly from the vessel.

True to variety it shows lifted fruit ripeness, citrus blossom, grapefruit and apricot. Balanced by texture from the skin contact and lovely salinity. A really beautifully balanced wine with a nice natural acidity to lengthen it all out.