The Hunter Valley is one of the oldest wine growing regions in Australia and is synonymous with good quality wine cultivation. For almost two centuries, the region to the north of Sydney has become the nation’s home to an abundance of vines that flourish within the region.
The gentle folds of the Hunter Valley floor are surrounded by native bush, home to some of Australia’s iconic indigenous marsupial and bird species. These two icons, great wine and natural heritage, are the foundation of our classic collection of wines from the Hunter Valley. Named after Australia’s much-loved red kangaroo, scientifically known as Macropus Rufus, Friends of Rufus is a fun, easy-drinking range of Hunter wines with labels depicting native legends of the bush.
Taking centre stage is the classic Friends of Rufus Semillon, which is bright and fresh in style and synonymous to the Hunter Valley region. In reflection of the wine’s very character, this bottle is aptly illustrated by one of our national treasures of the natural world, the elusive and cheeky koala.
The wine is made using whole bunches harvested with a light pressing to maintain freshness in the juice. A steady fermentation captures the floral notes of a classic Hunter semillon. Containing visual hues and flavours of green and gold, with refreshing aromas of honey, blossom and kaffir lime, the end result is vibrant with herbaceous and zesty tones. This light white wine goes well with locally caught Australian seafood, such as jumbo prawns, Moreton Bay bugs, mud crab or scallops. The perfect white wine to serve with a shared seafood platter.
Equally as engaging, is the Friends of Rufus Shiraz, which draws many parallels to the jovial character of the bold and beautiful kookaburra. A classic Hunter red with loud and boastful dark fruit flavours, this shiraz also contains a delicate hum of peppercorn spice that sings across the palate, alongside aromas of plum and blueberry that engulf the senses.
It takes two days of pre-fermentation skin contact to extract the wine’s deep red colour, flavour and texture. It is then macerated for a further week to extract more colour and flavour before being barrel-aged for 12 months. While ready to pour now, Friends of Rufus Shiraz will cellar for an additional five years. Like any ready-to-enjoy red, this wine effortlessly complements a variety of red meats, with its delicate acidity equipped to cut through the subtle fattiness of confit duck or grain fed beef steaks.
To complete this iconic trio, Friends of Rufus Rosé offers some fresh fruity flair in its stunning sunset pink hue. Adorning the label of this varietal is the suitably charming platypus, who signifies the perfectly balanced and aromatic style of this wine.
This is a fresh and fruity, yet dry rosé with the dusky pink hue of a Hunter Valley sunset, and notes of strawberry, raspberry, grapefruit and rosewater on the nose. Flavours of raspberries, strawberries and cream on the palate make this a fun wine to experiment with when it comes to food pairings. Like many Australian rosés, you can’t go wrong with a thoughtfully curated cheese or charcuterie board. However, the end result of this particular rosé is eclectic and textural, working well alongside crudo menu items such as beef tartare or carpaccio.
If you’re after a range of wines with character to complete your summer drinks list, Friends of Rufus can give your customers the true taste of one of Australia’s iconic wine producing regions at an approachable price point. It’s fun, friendly and easy to identify on the shelf or in the fridge, making it a go-to range.
What's next?
Find out more about Friends of Rufus
Find out more from a local branch
