Exploring Alternative Varietals: Our Journey Beyond the Classics
In the heart of Margaret River, where Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc have long reigned supreme, we are embarking on an exciting journey into alternative varietals. This exploration isn’t merely about following trends—it’s about discovering new expressions of our terroir and creating wines that challenge and delight even the most discerning wine palates.
What Are Alternative Varietals?
In the Australian wine context, “alternative” refers to grape varieties that step outside the traditional or classic selections typically grown in a region. While Margaret River is renowned for its exceptional Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz, we’ve discovered that varietals such as Touriga, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Viognier, and Grenache thrive equally well in our unique climate.
The Philosophy Behind Our Alternative Wines
Winemaking is a balance between tradition and innovation. As winemakers, we’re naturally curious, always seeking to push boundaries and explore new possibilities. However, this experimentation comes with a crucial caveat: the variety must be suitable for our Margret River region.
We believe there’s little value in producing a wine simply for novelty’s sake. Our approach is guided by a commitment to quality and authenticity. While “vanity wines”— made from personal passion regardless of their suitability to local conditions—have been common in the industry, we’ve witnessed their decline as consumer preferences ultimately determine a wine’s success.
Our philosophy is simple: a good wine should bring joy through its aroma, flavour, and texture, regardless of its grape variety. We listen to our loyal customers, whose opinions, tastes, and preferences guide our winemaking decisions.
Our Flowstone Alternative Collection
Our Margaret River vineyards have proven remarkably versatile, demonstrating the region’s surprising climatic diversity and its ability to nurture a wide range of grape varieties. This versatility is reflected in our portfolio of alternative wines, each expressing a unique facet of our terroir.
Moonmilk by Flowstone
Moonmilk represents our venture into contemporary blends that deviate from traditional Margaret River selections:
- Pinot Gris (Pee-noh GREE) and Viognier (vee-ON-yay): A modern white wine that balances aromatic complexity with textural richness
- Shiraz and Grenache Blend (Gruh-NASH): A lighter-bodied red wine offering abundant flavour with softer tannins
Flowstone Single Varietal Alternatives
Under the Flowstone label, we proudly offer several distinctive single-varietal alternatives:
- Pinot Gris: Crisp, refreshing, with delicate fruit notes
- Gewürztraminer: (Guh-VERTZ-tra-mean-er) Aromatic, exotic, and unmistakably distinctive
- Touriga Nacional: (too-REE-gah nah-syoo-NHL ) Bold, structured, and deeply complex
The Margaret River Advantage
What makes Margaret River special for these alternative varietals? Our maritime climate provides moderate temperatures and consistent growing conditions that allow these grapes to develop their full flavour potential while maintaining fresh acidity and balance.
The region’s diverse soils—from gravelly loams to sandy plots—offer different expressions of these varietals, allowing us to craft wines with complexity and character that truly represent our unique corner of Western Australia.
Why not join us on our journey of adventure and discovery into the world of alternative wines? Explore our collection today and discover a new favourite to share with friends and family.
