The Stargazer Tupelo is a medium-bodied, intensely aromatic, and texturally luxurious white blend from the cool-climate slopes of the Coal River Valley, Tasmania. This unique release cleverly weaves multiple varieties together, trading simple, single-grape profiles for a deeply complex, exotic, and food-friendly style that thrives on structural tension.
- Aromas: Highly perfumed and exotic, bursting with intense lychee, ginger spice, mandarin peel, honeysuckle, and ripe nashi pear.
- Palate: Voluptuous and slippery on entry with a dense, mouth-coating weight, beautifully balanced by a crisp line of natural acidity and a fine, pithy mineral grip.
- Style: A modern, dry, and flamboyant aromatic blend that masterfully pairs a complex skin-contact texture with a clean, snappy, and bone-dry finish.
- Winemaking: A traditional Alsace-inspired blend of Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer. The parcels are fermented separately—often with a small portion given extended skin contact or wild fermentation in older wood—before blending to maximize texture.
- Cellaring: Built to celebrate its thrilling primary perfume and snappy energy, it is perfect upon release though it will hold nicely over 2 to 4 years.
- Food Pairing: Phenomenal with spicy Thai street food, salt and pepper squid, Kingfish ceviche with lime and ginger, or a classic Vietnamese chicken salad.
This is a brilliant, intellectual white blend that turns the volume up on perfume without losing an ounce of its cool-climate class. It shifts gears completely away from standard whites, rewarding you with an incredibly sophisticated mix of zesty citrus, ginger spice, and a waxy, tongue-coating mouthfeel that keeps evolving with every swirl.
Stargazer Wines
"Stargazer is one of Tasmania's most compelling new wine voices, owned and run by Samantha Connew. The label pays tribute to Abel Tasman — the first European to sight Tasmania — whose navigation of uncharted southern waters inspired the name.
Samantha's winemaking journey began in Oregon, where she fell under the spell of Pinot Noir before finding her way to an island that produces some of the world's most elegant expressions of the variety. Working with Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay from Tasmania's pristine cool-climate fruit, her focus on purity and balance is already earning Stargazer widespread critical recognition.
