Three Wines By Female Winemakers

Three wines from female winemakers

• Joseph Mellot Sancerre Graveliere
• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
• Robert Oatley Semaphore Shiraz

Here’s to the women in wine.

You don’t have to wait for International Women’s Day to try wines made by women winemakers. The wonderful women at R&R Teamwork, Hannah Leathers, Eilidh Stalker, Eleanor Standen and Rosamund Hitchcock, sent me three female-made wines:

And if you are looking for some smart female voices in wine, here’s a few to get you started:

Jane Anson, Victoria Moore, Anne Burchett, Mimi Avery, Anne Krebiehl MW, Wink Lorch, Tania Olevska, Jane Rakison, Kirsty Rushby, Sera Svitlana Karamshuk, DipWSET, Marinela Ardelean, Reka Haros, Németh Ágnes, Meg Maker, Trina Plamondon DipWSET, Laura Taylor, Zsuzsa Toronyi, Helena Nicklin, Libby Brodie

As to the wines, it an Old World vs New World SB-off followed by a classic Aussie Shiraz.

**Joseph Mellot Sancerre Graveliere 2024, Loire, France (£26, Wholefoods, Amps Fine Wines, Fountainhall Wines)**

They say:

A powerful nose with floral and fruity aromas of passionfruit and orange. There is an elegant balance between freshness and structure.

I say:

Textured, concentrated Loire Sauvignon made by Catherine Corbeau-Mellot

12.5%

100% Sauvignon Blanc

pale gold; greengage, melon, green apple and quince with grated lime zest and chopped micro-herbs; sleek and saline with citrus, white stone fruits, melon, green apple and savoury salinity. Very harmonious and adept.

Good.

Drinks nicely on first pouring; opens up with air and will repay some cellaring for greater complexity.

Match with seafood or goat’s cheese.

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Stellenbosch South Africa (£30, The Wine Reserve, Drinks Direct)

They say:

Only the best bunches from five different terroirs are carefully selected to create a full-bodied, zesty and pure Sauvignon.

Crafted from old, low-yielding bush vines in Stellenbosch, the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Chenin Blanc is a benchmark example of South Africa’s mastery of this noble grape.

Hand-harvested fruit from select vineyard blocks is partially fermented in French oak barrels, giving the wine remarkable texture and depth while preserving the purity and vibrancy that define great Chenin Blanc. The result is an elegant yet powerful wine that embodies the unique character of its terroir.

Perfect for wine enthusiasts, fine-dining pairings, or anyone seeking a truly world-class South African white wine.

I say:

Savoury, Old-School oaked Sauvignon made by Carla van Wyk.

13.5%

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Deep gold, complex with orchard and stone fruits, quince, honey, citrus blossom and toasted almond with oaky spice and vanilla; rich yet fresh, pure and linear with orchard and white stone fruits, lemon curd, toasted macadamia and oatmeal, savoury salinity. Elegant, focused and adept.

Very Good.

Drinks nicely on first pouring; opens up with air and will repay some cellaring for greater complexity.

Match with roasted poultry, creamy seafood dishes, grilled lobster or rich vegetable dishes.

Robert Oatley Semaphore Shiraz 2024, McLaren Vale, Australia (£11.75, Co-Op)

They say:

A complex, well balanced flavourful Shiraz displaying characters of wild cherry and delicious plum, with lingering, refined silky tannins.

I say:

Sophisticated, ripe-yet-fresh Aussie Shiraz made by Debbie Lauritz.

13.5%

Dark purple to the rim; cooked dark-berry fruits, vanilla spice and minty herbs; fresh and plush with blackberry, blueberry and black cherry fruit, wild strawberries and dark plums with dried green herbs and violets; polished, very fine, well-integrated tannins

Good.

Drinks nicely on first pouring; opens up with aeration and can be cellared for greater complexity.

Match with plain roast red meat, beef wellington or a meaty pizza.