Alternis by McW is the latest offering from the McWilliam’s Wines Group and heads the next chapter in the family’s six generations of viticultural exploration.

Already an award-winning range - claiming three trophies and 38 medals at wine shows around Australia this year alone - Alternis features a Vermentino, Touriga, Petite Sirah, Tempranillo and Nero D’Avola, with each varietal selected for its elegance, food friendly style and flavour profile.

Chief winemaker Andrew Higgins has developed the Alternis range with dining experiences in mind, alongside “great drinkability”.

“These varietals are all renowned as fantastic food wines and they really do excel in this area,” Mr Higgins said.

“They also offer a great summer red drinking opportunity in the case of the Tempranillo and Touriga, which offers more occasions to enjoy them.

“Our Alternis range is quite unique as it stands out enough for those who are looking for something different, but not so much that it’s unapproachable to casual or new wine drinkers.”

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Part of the appeal of the new range is that they are so different from other wines on the market.

“Touriga and Tempranillo are quite unique wines,” Mr Higgins said.

“Casual drinkers should be attracted to them due to a great looking package, but they’re great wines and suitable to a range of cuisines.”

The Alternis by McW label features a stylised view of vineyards from above.

Alternis has been in development since 2011, starting with small batch trials leading to continued fine tuning. Mr Higgins said its development came about to cater for a shift in the Australian market.

“We feel this range showcases alternate varieties and how well they thrive in the local climate,” he said.

“We’ve definitely seen a shift in the domestic market, with consumers having a stronger focus on fresh whites and medium-bodied reds that are great companions to a wide range of food.”

While the majority of grapes for the new varieties are grown in the region, Mr Higgins said it would be at least another five years before they would all be grown in and sourced from the immediate area.

“Four of the five varieties for the range are being grown in the Riverina, with a view to source all wines from the area when the fruit is at a place we believe will offer the best expression,” he said.

Petite Sirah

A French varietal that creates deeply coloured wines of great power. Aromas of black cherry and blood plum with fine tannins and flavours of dark chocolate and subtle spice.

Touriga

Native to Portugal but at home basking in the Australian sun. Aromas of morello cherry and violet, an elegant palate of vibrant red fruits creating a juicy style.

Tempranillo

One of Spain’s most elegant and food friendly wines. Vibrant aromas of violets and red summer berries enlivened by dark cherry, pomegranate and blackcurrant flavours.

Vermentino

Complex, refreshing wine from Sardinia. Aromas of honeydew melon and lemon developing into stone fruit and tangerine flavours.