2024 Montepulciano

2024 Ringer Reef Montepulciano is a dry, full-bodied red wine from Victoria’s Alpine Valleys. It has rich berry fruit flavours, gentle acidity and chocolatey oak, with enough structure to give the wine shape now and help it soften further as it matures.

This is a generous red for hearty meals, cooler nights and slow dinners at home. It is the kind of bottle to open with rich pasta, slow-cooked beef, lamb ragu, mushroom dishes, pizza, hard cheese or even a little dark chocolate. Full flavoured, warm and satisfying, but still held together by the savoury structure that makes Montepulciano so good with food.

Wine details

Vintage: 2024
Region: Alpine Valleys, Victoria
Variety/style: Montepulciano
Producer: Ringer Reef Winery
Grown/made by: Holm family, Porepunkah
Alcohol: 14.5%
Body: Full
Sweetness: Dry
Acidity: Gentle
Tannin: Structured, with tannins that will soften further as the wine matures
Tasting notes: Rich berry fruits, chocolatey oak, dark fruit, savoury warmth
Winemaking: Made from late-ripening Montepulciano fruit, with oak influence adding chocolatey depth and structure
Best served: At room temperature
Food pairing: Hearty rich meals, slow-cooked beef, lamb ragu, mushroom dishes, pizza, hard cheese, dark chocolate
Occasion: Cosy winter dinners, Friday night pasta, BBQs, gifts for red wine lovers, hearty meals with friends
Cellaring: Enjoy now or cellar until 2040
Bottle size: 750ml
Price: $35 AUD

Best for

This wine is a good choice if you are looking for:

• a dry Victorian Montepulciano

• a full-bodied red wine from the Alpine Valleys

• an Australian Montepulciano under $40

• a rich red wine to serve with pasta, lamb or beef

• a red wine with berry fruit and chocolatey oak

• a hearty winter red from a small family-run winery

• a cellar-worthy red wine that will soften with age

• a generous red for BBQs, cosy dinners or Friday night pizza

FAQs

Is this Montepulciano dry or sweet?
This is a dry Montepulciano with rich berry fruit, gentle acidity, chocolatey oak and structured tannins.

What does this Montepulciano taste like?
It is full-bodied and generous, with rich berry fruit, dark fruit character and chocolatey oak. The tannins give it structure now and will soften further as the wine matures.

Is Montepulciano a place or a grape?
It can be confusing. Montepulciano is both the name of a town in Italy and the name of a grape variety. This wine is made from the Montepulciano grape, grown by Ringer Reef in Victoria’s Alpine Valleys.

What food does this Montepulciano go with?
It is made for hearty food. Try it with slow-cooked beef, lamb ragu, rich pasta, mushroom dishes, pizza, hard cheese or dark chocolate.

Where is this wine from?
This wine is made by Ringer Reef Winery in Porepunkah, in Victoria’s Alpine Valleys wine region.

Should Montepulciano be served chilled?
Serve this wine at room temperature so the rich berry fruit, chocolatey oak and structure can show properly.

Can I cellar this Montepulciano?
Yes. It is drinking well now and can be cellared until 2040. Over time, the structure will soften and the wine will become more mature and savoury.

Is this a good winter red?
Yes. This is a full-bodied, generous red that suits cooler nights, rich meals and slow dinners around the table.

Is this a good gift?
Yes. It is a strong choice for someone who enjoys full-bodied red wines, Italian grape varieties, hearty food and bottles with cellaring potential.

If you like this Montepulciano, you may also enjoy:

• 2024 Merlot, for a medium to full-bodied red with red cherry, plum and lovely oak structure

• Cabernet Sauvignon, for a structured red wine with classic dark fruit character

• 2022 Nebbiolo, for a cellar-worthy red with rose petal, cherry, bright acidity and fine tannins

• 2023 Sangiovese, for a lighter, savoury food wine with dark cherry and fine tannins