What to Drink This Spring: A Rutherglen Wine Guide
Spring is the season most people reach for something crisp, light and cold. And we completely understand that. When the weather warms up and the table moves outside, the instinct is to pour something fresh.
At Stanton & Killeen, we have plenty of that. But we also want to push back on the idea that Rutherglen wines are only for the cooler months. Some of our most interesting bottles are made for exactly this kind of weather: long lunches, outdoor tables, that transitional hour when it is warm enough to sit outside but cool enough to really taste what is in your glass.
Here is our guide to what to open this spring, and why.
Start with Something You Have Probably Never Tried
2026 Arinto
If you are looking for a fresh and surprising spring white, Arinto is the one. It is a rare Portuguese variety that we planted on our estate in 2015, chosen specifically for its ability to retain natural acidity and freshness in warm growing conditions. In short, it was built for this weather.
The 2026 is bright and zesty with lime zest, nashi pear and a thread of minerality that runs right through to a clean, refreshing finish. A slightly waxy texture gives it more substance than you might expect from a wine this light on its feet. Crisp, lively and hard to put down.
Best with: Fresh seafood, grilled fish, oysters, grilled chicken or a long summery lunch with no particular agenda.
Serve at: 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. Well chilled.
Shop the 2026 Arinto at stantonandkilleen.com.au.
2026 Alvarinho
Alvarinho (pronounced al-va-reen-yo) is the Portuguese name for Albaríno, and it is one of the most aromatic white varieties we grow. Fragrant and inviting on the nose with nectarine, lime and honeysuckle, light-bodied and crisp on the palate, closing with a whisper of saline minerality that feels distinctly coastal despite being grown well inland in Rutherglen.
If Arinto is the crisper, more citrus-driven of the two, Alvarinho is the more fragrant and floral one. Both are worth trying, and tasting them side by side is one of the more interesting things you can do with a spring afternoon.
Best with: Sashimi, grilled prawns, light Asian dishes, goat’s cheese or simply on its own in the sunshine.
Serve at: 8 to 10 degrees Celsius.
Shop the 2026 Alvarinho at stantonandkilleen.com.au.
Something to Celebrate
Spring has a way of making every occasion feel worth marking. Whether it is a long lunch that turns into dinner, a garden gathering or simply the fact that the sun is out and the table is outside, these two sparklings are made for exactly that kind of moment.
NV Estrela Cuvée: A Star for the Table
Estrela means star in Portuguese, and that is exactly how this wine is meant to feel. A bright bottle at the centre of the table with a first pour that shifts the moment from everyday to something a little more special.
This is a wine about coming together. It suits the big celebrations but is just as perfect for the smaller ones: a long lunch, an easy dinner, or a quiet catch up with someone you have known forever. The bottle between two old friends on the back porch when the conversation is flowing and nobody is checking the time.
Brilliant pale straw with a very fine bead of gentle persistent bubbles, the flavour profile is generous and lifted. Brioche and freshly baked apple strudel rise from the glass while a fresh line of lime keeps everything bright. On the palate, the mousse is fine and creamy with lemon sherbet and crisp apple up front, a soft mid-palate and a long clean finish that stays light and refreshing.
Bright, generous and ready when you are. Serve chilled, pour generously and enjoy the company.
Best with: Oysters, soft cheeses, strawberries, prosciutto or anything that benefits from a little effervescence.
Serve at: 6 to 8 degrees Celsius. Well chilled.
Shop the NV Estrela Cuvée at stantonandkilleen.com.au.
2023 Sparkling Tempranillo
If you have not tried a sparkling red, spring is the time to start. Our Sparkling Tempranillo is vibrant, fun and genuinely unlike anything most people have poured before. All the richness and dark berry character of Tempranillo with a smooth creaminess and fine bubbles that lift the whole thing into something bright and celebratory. It surprises people every time and converts them just as quickly.
Best with: Barbecued meats, antipasto, aged cheddar or served slightly chilled as the centrepiece of a spring grazing table.
Serve at: 10 to 12 degrees Celsius.
Shop the 2023 Sparkling Tempranillo at stantonandkilleen.com.au.
The Spring Essential
2026 Durif Rosé
Rosé is the wine most people reach for in spring, and for very good reason. Ours is a little different from most. Made from Durif, Rutherglen’s most celebrated red variety, the 2026 Rosé is salmon pink with a slight copper hue and built in a dry, textural style rather than the sweet, light style that fills supermarket shelves.
Bright red berries, grapefruit and white florals on the nose. Light-bodied with a savoury edge and refreshing acidity that makes it genuinely moreish. It was born out of a happy accident: a late frost last season meant we could not use our Portuguese varieties for rosé production, so we turned to Durif instead. The result showcases just how versatile this variety can be beyond its reputation as one of Rutherglen’s boldest reds.
Best with: Grilled salmon, charcuterie, soft cheeses, a picnic spread or a sunny afternoon with good company.
Serve at: 10 to 12 degrees Celsius.
Shop the 2026 Durif Rosé at stantonandkilleen.com.au.
The Modern Chardonnay
2026 Rutherglen Chardonnay
If you have ever been put off Chardonnay by heavy, oaky styles, this one is worth trying. The 2026 is fresh, vibrant and built for drinking young: white peach, honeysuckle and grapefruit on the nose, crisp and dry on the palate with a fine mineral line and just enough French oak to add gentle complexity without overwhelming the fruit.
Harvested early to lock in natural freshness and made with minimal intervention. Can be cellared for up to three years, but is genuinely best enjoyed young, fresh and well chilled. This is not a wine to wait on.
Best with: Grilled chicken, fish, pasta with cream sauce, brie or camembert, or as a stand-alone spring aperitif.
Serve at: 10 to 12 degrees Celsius.
Shop the 2026 Chardonnay at stantonandkilleen.com.au.
Yes, You Can Drink Red in Spring
We know the instinct is to put the reds away when the weather warms up. But not all reds are created equal, and two of ours are made precisely for the kind of drinking that spring calls for: lighter, food-friendly and equally at home on an outdoor table as they are beside a fire.
2026 Tempranillo
Tempranillo is one of the great food wines of the world, and ours is no exception. Light to medium-bodied with bright red cherry, plum and a touch of dried herb, it has the kind of soft, approachable tannins that work beautifully in warmer weather. Serve it slightly chilled and it feels entirely at home alongside a long spring lunch.
Best with: Grilled lamb, tapas, charcuterie, tomato-based pasta or anything coming off the barbecue.
Serve at: 14 to 16 degrees Celsius. A short spell in the fridge before pouring makes all the difference.
Shop the 2026 Tempranillo at stantonandkilleen.com.au.
Terra Mãe
Our Terra Mãe is a unique blend of Portuguese varieties, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cão, and one of the most distinctive reds we make. Medium-bodied and aromatic with dark cherry, floral notes and a savoury complexity that makes it endlessly interesting in the glass without demanding a heavy meal to match it. A spring evening wine if ever there was one.
Best with: Duck, roasted vegetables, mushroom dishes, aged manchego or a grazing board with good company.
Serve at: 15 to 16 degrees Celsius.
Shop Terra Mãe at stantonandkilleen.com.au.
For the Sweet Finish
NV Rutherglen Muscat
Rutherglen Muscat is not just a winter wine. In spring it works beautifully served slightly chilled as a dessert wine, drizzled over vanilla ice cream, used as the base of a Muscat Spritz or served alongside a cheese board on a warm evening. Fresh, fragrant and approachable, our NV Rutherglen Muscat carries notes of rose petal, raisin and marmalade that feel genuinely at home in the lighter, brighter mood of the season.
If you have never tried Muscat as a spring drink, start here. It might change how you think about fortified wine entirely.
Best with: Blue cheese, fruit, a cheese board, dessert or over ice as an afternoon aperitif.
Try it as a Muscat Spritz: 45ml Rutherglen Muscat, 90ml chilled prosecco, 30ml soda, large ice and orange peel. One of the best warm weather drinks going.
Shop the NV Rutherglen Muscat at stantonandkilleen.com.au.
The Short Version
For something crisp and rare: 2026 Arinto or 2026 Alvarinho
For something to celebrate with: NV Estrela Cuvée or NV Sparkling Tempranillo
For the spring essential: 2026 Durif Rosé
For a modern fresh white: 2026 Chardonnay
For red wine drinkers who want to keep going: 2026 Tempranillo or Terra Mãe, served slightly cooler
For a sweet finish: NV Rutherglen Muscat, chilled or in a spritz
Taste Them All at the Cellar Door
All of our spring releases are available to taste at the Stanton & Killeen cellar door, open seven days a week at 440 Jacks Road, Rutherglen. No booking required for a standard tasting. Or shop the full range online at stantonandkilleen.com.au.
