Great new winery - Smidge Wines

[Gavin Trott]

Here at auswine we are always trying to find the best of the new wineries around the scene, picking those offering something different, something classy, today its Smidge Wines!

Smidge Wines is a great newcomer to the Australian Wine scene, bringing a sense of humour and fun to the business, along with outstanding wine making and wines.

Behind this new name are two people, Matt Wenk and Trish Callaghan.

Matt is one of AustraliaÂ’s most exciting young wine making talents. After working internationally, and with Nepenthe Wines in the Adelaide Hills, Matt is now the full time wine maker for Two Hands Wines in the Barossa Valley.

Trish has extensive business and marketing experience and brings these to Smidge Wines.

The name Smidge Wines, Matt tells me, comes from his English background. His whole family used the word smidge extensively for a small amount, you know, just a smidge left etc.

This carries over to their new wines, wines must be of such an exceptional standard that you won't be able to resist having just another smidge. Also, as a micro producer, it reflects the volumes they make...thereÂ’ll only ever be a smidge available!

Smidge makes Merlot, Viognier and Zinfandel, no Shiraz and no Cabernet! Most unusual these days, but thoroughly individual and high quality varietal wines these are, all exactingly hand crafted! These are must try wines, and below are a few wine notes for you, from myself and Matt, along with the first of what will clearly be a mass of high praise and reviews, from Phillip White and Campbell Mattinson. max Allen wrote glowingly recently in the Weekend Australian also.

Try these wines, well, at least have a smidge!! - Gavin

2003 Smidge Wines Le Grenouille Adelaide Hills Merlot

The fruit from this small vineyard in Verdun has produced a wine with deep red/black hues, complemented by aromas of dark cherries and plums, cedary spice and hints of bitter chocolate. ‘These aromas are seen to flow onto the palate with fleshy red/black fruit supported by fine dry tannins with the wine finishing even, long and balanced.

“Another newcomer and more alluring luxury: coffee oak and fine polished fruit opens the play; dense merlot magic fills the middle, and typical Hills tannins (leafy and green but not harsh) tidy up the tail with their tart balancing twist. If all our HilIsbilly merlots had this heart and poise, we’d be rockin’. It’ s perfect with tea-smoked duck and bok choy with chilli ginger, like you’ll find at Rundle Noodle.” Philip White 91 Points


“Smoke, ash, cedar, fresh-cut cigar, blackberry and plum, with a sweet, fleshy lightness to the inordinately complex palate. Lots of vigorous, fruit-driven length. Harmony, balance, complexity and an appropriate level of fruit weight. Brilliant. Drink: Now-2011.” 93 points. Campbell Mattinson Wine Front Monthly

The first in the regional Zinfandel Series, The Tardy from Langhorne Creek, (Barossa Valley and perhaps Clare Zins to follow).

has been inspired by the winemaker’s timekeeping and the late ripening of Zinfandel at Langhorne Creek. This wine is as scarce as Mart’s punctuality, but it’s complexity and ‘Zin~-ness’ will more than make up for your persistence in finding it, and worth every minute you waited to try it.

2002 Smidge the Tardy Zinfandel

Winemakers Comments: The growing season in Langhorne Creek was very mild and overall one of the coolest summers on record. Rainfall was negligible and subsequently disease incidence was low. The dry, mild weather through March & April allowed for even development of sugar, flavour and tannins, resulting in wines of great structure and balance. This Zinfandel is no exception.

Tasting Notes: This wine exhibits aromas of a true Zin, rich fruitcake and spice reminiscent of pepper, cloves and cardamom. These characters then flow onto the palate and although the wine is technically ‘dry’ with all sugar fermented, sweetness is detected influenced by the fruit charter and alcohol. These qualities along with fine tannins combine to result in a wine of good balance, length and structure.


“Smidge Wines Langhorne Creek The Tardy Zinfandel 2002 ($45, sold out): Ripe and melodramatic with a turnstile of overt sweetness and dry herby tobacco – which turns out to be an intoxicating, thrilling mix, but probably makes for a polarizing style. It’s punishingly long and juicy with tar and tobacco cartwheeling from the mid-palate onwards – boy this is good stuff. Get on board! Drink: Now-2015.” 95 points. Campbell Mattinson Wine Front Monthly

2003 Smidge the Tardy Zinfandel

Winemakers Comments: The weather during this growing season was overall fine and warm, except for some heavy rain one night late in February causing some disease. Although yields were reduced across many reasons in the State, overall quality in Langhorne Creek was good to very good.

Tasting Notes: Although picked at slightly lower baumé than anticipated, this wine is more elegant than its older brother from 2002.

The flavours and characters of the 2003, once again reflect the uniqueness of Zinfandel. Coloured ruby red with notes of red fruit, subtle fruitcake and spice and a subtle palate of ripe red fruit, pepper, French oak, balanced by overall fruit richness and sweetness.


“Bloody good stuff. Beautiful tannins. Powerful fragrance. Gobfuls of spice and tar, cedar and dust, with outstanding length. The fruit is sweet but it finishes dry and spicy, and you can’t help but admire its poise and style. Outstanding. Drink: Now-2012.” 93 points. Campbell Mattinson Wine Front Monthly