2021 MDI Ribolla Gialla

WINEMAKER: Kevin McCarthy
REGION: Mildura, VIC
VARIETAL: Ribolla Gialla
VITICULTURE: Organic/Sustainable

This is the wine inspired by Gravner, and the most seductive, hedonistic and phenolic in the suite. Ribolla Gialla is just made for skin contact. In the vineyard it can appear quite neutral, but get the skins involved and it comes alive. This had 192 days on skins in open stainless steel vats before it was pressed to barrel to rest on lees. Additions are miniscule—the wine got a lot of protection from its lees and there was no oxidation during the time spent on skins.

Like so many great wine stories, MDI begins in Europe – Friuli to be precise. For Kevin McCarthy (of Quealy fame; the OG of skin contact in this country), and daughter Celia (co-founder of MDI wines), their last Italian trip (a few years ago now) not only provided an opportunity to reconnect with old friends (including Josko Gravner), it was also the source of inspiration for their latest wine project—MDI, or Murray Darling Italy. The name (previously known as Mandi) sums up the project nicely—Italian varietals from the Murray, left-field whites with lots of skin-contact, and unknown reds guaranteed to get your taste buds humming.