2024 Delinquente Hell Series Fiano

WINEMAKER: Con-Greg Grigoriou
REGION: Riverland, SA
VARIETY: Fiano
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

100% Fiano from Basshams Organic & Biodynamic Barmera Vineyard. "Fiano is a variety we’ve lusted over for a long time, and in the last few years have had the opportunity to work with in new exciting ways. Set to become a mainstay in the Hell range, upon receiving the fruit into the winery, we split it into two parcels – half was pressed off straight into barrel for fermentation, the other half in stainless steel. Elevage in a combination of Slavonian oak foudre and neutral French barriques before final blending and bottling.

All white floral, jasmine flower and honeysuckle on the nose, the palate opens up into a candied citrus dream – blood orange juiciness and acid offset but a well developed, deep fruit feel. Fuzzy mouthfeel from the barrel fermentation and time on lees interplays well with the acid to provide glorious length. Drinks fantastically with fatty, oily, salty food – fried zucchini flowers, or sweet and sour pork."

Con-Greg Grigoriou grew up on a vineyard in the Riverland, South Australia, where his father has managed wineries for over 35 years. A few years ago, while working for an advertising agency in Melbourne, he tasted his first truly interesting Riverland wine and something clicked - why weren’t people producing high-quality wines in his home region?

Greg’s idea for Delinquente Wine Co was to take advantage of the Riverland’s small vineyards planted with Southern Italian varieties, which are suited to the region’s dry Mediterranean climate. He sources grapes from trusted growers many of whom he has know his whole life, who work organically. In the cellar Greg takes this organic philosophy forward, all his wines are small-batch and single-vineyard, fermented in stainless steel with wild yeast and without acid adjustments. His aim is to make wine that is pure, drinkable and delicious - or as he would put it, “smashable”.