Felicitas
2019 Heathcote, Vic
Felicitas is made from hand picked Fiano and is only made in very small quantities. A method traditional sparkling which takes its name from the Roman Goddess of fertility, good luck and happiness.
Fiano is a star performer in the Heathcote vineyard with lovely natural acidity which means, even in the warm conditions of Colbinabbin, it can make a sparkling wine with finesse and freshness without the need for acid or sugar adjustment in the winemaking. A true sign that the grape is a great match for the site. Remember, Felicitas = happiness. On any occasion.
The 2019 Felicitas was hand picked with primary fermentation in stainless tank to retain freshness. Secondary fermentation is taken place in bottle and stays on lees for 37 months and disgorged with no dosage. This version of Felicitas is super complex with loads of toasty brioche, wild rocket, lifted perfumed florals, syrup soaked lemon pistachio cake and a zippy backbone to drive all those flavours to the back palate, a vintage that we’re very excited about.
Vermentino
2022 Heathcote, Vic
Our very first vintage of Vermentino grown and made here in Australia was in 2004, since then it has become our trademark go-to white wine leading the way for many wineries around Australia who now make this wonderful variety. It was very clear to us in the early days that varieties like Vermentino were the key to sustainable wine making in Australia, although grown in a warm to hot climate like Heathcote, it retains beautiful freshness, clean aromatic aromas all at relatively low alcohol levels, a wine that looks and drinks like it comes from a cool climate.
Chalmers Vermentino is a truly unique iteration of the Mediterranean grape, pressed and wild ferment in tank, the 2022 vintage was cool, bringing out characters of Meyer lemon, white stone fruits, raw pine nuts, salt bush and lifted native florals. The palate is crisp and refreshing, just what you want to drink in spring and summer on the beach with some fish and chips or gobbling down some prawn and pork dumplings.
Greco
2021 Heathcote, Vic
A compelling and intriguing variety which makes an equally interesting wine originally hailing from Campania in the south of Italy. With bucket-loads of natural acid, these grapes stay vibrant and racy through the warm summer of northern Heathcote, meaning Greco can achieve fruit richness without compromising freshness.
The 2021 vintage saw lovely high natural acidities and longer hang time to develop luscious apple and vanilla bean flavours with touches of sandalwood. The mouth is generous with a buttery feel, all riding high on that crips chalky mouth-watering freshness. It’s a wine of complexity and layers and an adventurous palate that pairs very well with richer dishes at the dinner table.
Fiano
2021 Heathcote, Vic
The top tier wine of the Chalmers whites, Fiano has shone since day one in both Chalmers vineyards and has really made its home in Heathcote proving that the famous Cambrian soil is just a special for what it imparts to whites as it does to reds.
Chalmers Fiano always has a portion of wood in the winemaking including one large 2000 litre chestnut botte and old French oak barrels. It is also bottle aged before release to help emphasise that natural bees-waxy texture of the variety. For those with patience, it will reward them tenfold as it ages with aplomb taking on characters not too dissimilar to the great white wines from Burgundy, so stick it in your cellar for a couple years and serve it at your dinner party, they will love it!
The 2021 has a balanced generosity and drive to it with all the quality drive Fiano notes we’ve come to love. With autumn spice, wood sorrel, pine needle and almond meal characters, the wine is textural, poised, and drives all those lovely morish flavours right to the back palate and then lingers.
Rosato
2022 Heathcote, Vic
The Chalmers Rosato is made from mostly Aglianico with a splash of Nero d’Avola and Sagrantino. All three varieties originate from Southern Italy and are growing on the prized top block at our Heathcote vineyard on Mount Camel Ridge. It’s a wonderfully complex rocky site with green basalt, ironstone, dolerite and fractured limestone. The block gives a distinct elegance and prettiness to the red varieties grown there, even though these varieties are usually more muscular.
The Aglianico portion of this Rose is fermented in old oak barrels, while the other two are co-fermented in tank to retain those bright, lifted and fresh characters. The end result is an imminently drinkable dry and textural rose that’s just not joy in a glass, but a wine that has substance and a savoury interest coming from the qualities of the varieties, the site its grown, and the hands-off approach to wine making.
Nero d'Avola
2022 Heathcote, Vic
Imported by the Chalmers family in 2001, that one little vine which was brought in has evolved into more than 200,000 vines planted all over Australia and is doing great things. It’s really found a synergy with the red soils of Heathcote, particularly in the top block where the Chalmers Nero d’Avola is grown.
In the glass, the combination of the lightness and charry/graphite notes of our site with the cherry/raspberry, tar and hard herb characters of Nero are a great match. Chalmers deliberately go for a crunchy style which gives an enchanting, vibrant and juicy red perfect for summer drinking. Chill it off slightly for utmost enjoyment.
Appassimento
2017 Murray Darling, Vic
Inspired by the great Passito sweet wines of Italy, and decadent and charming at once, this little dessert wine is very special.
Made from 100% Lambrusco Maestri estate grown at the Merbein vineyard, the grapes are hand-picked then naturally sun-dried on traditional sultana racks before vinification. This concentrates the sugars and reduces the weight meaning that there are 1.5kg of grapes in every 375ml bottle of wine. After a long slow fermentation and ageing in barrique the wine is ready for bottle. The result? Think prunes, Dutch cocoa, black cardamom. Pretty much the perfect cheese plate wine.
Lambrusco
2019 Heathcote, Vic
Lambrusco is often a dirty word in the eyes of many a wine connoisseur because of it’s huge popularity as a cheap and cheerful quaff, especially in the 70s and 80s, but real dry Lambrusco is cooler than ever.
The first Chalmers Lambrusco was made in 2012. We make it from Lambrusco Maestri – one of the 14 different Lambrusco varieties used in Emilia-Romagna. Our Lambrusco is made with the quality Traditional Method giving it great drive and complexity. It stays on secondary lees for 9 months which helps build on texture without loosing all that lovely juicy and bright Lambrusco deliciousness. The 2019 is dry and drinks like the perfect aperitif style sparkling red wine shared with friends and a loaded antipasto plate. With plenty of blackcurrant fruit, lifted violets and cooking spices which finishes with a cleansing grip of tannin.
Col Fondo
2021 Heathcote, Vic
We’re never shy of proclaiming our love of Aglianico, and rose…. and sparkling wine for that matter, so here is our love child of these passions; Chalmers Col Fondo, a sparkling Aglianico Rosato complete with the lees in the bottle.
What is Col Fondo? Col Fondo is unfiltered sparkling wine and it’s cloudy with the lees left in the bottle. With its second fermentation occurring in the bottle, similar to Champagne, the result is something drier and more savoury, and typically a terroir-driven wine which can be a little funky and pleasantly drying with no dosage. No funk here though. In the bottle you’ll find freshly squeezed cloudy pink grapefruit in colour, attractive, red-fruited perfume, tart yet moreish with lots of zip and texture on the palate. Fine fizz with a deliciousness that screams ‘pour me another glass’.
Pecorino
2022 Heathcote, Vic
The Chalmers Pecorino, now in it’s 3rd year of existence, it’s now finding its groove especial after the award winning 2021 vintage as a confident, and much more sure of itself wine. Originating from The Marche region in Central Italy, this variety typically is generous and savoury in style, while maintaining the generosity and savoury qualities still, we’re seeing a little more restraint and finesse coming off our heathcote vineyard.
Chalmers Pecorino is confident and textural, with plenty of mouth feel and grip which looks like a 2022 trait. You see those generous apricot kernel notes, with tart cumquat, fresh fig, soft bitter herbs and a smoky finish. It has plenty of natural acidity to balance all those exotic flavours so try it with a poached chicken with tarragon cream sauce.
Falanghina
2022 Heathcote, Vic
From the most recent importation of new clones and varieties to Australia via the Chalmers family. Falanghina refers to two distinct grape varieties in Italy, both grown in Campania primarily – Falanghina Flegrea, a highly aromatic and fruity grape grown closer to the coast, and Falanghina Beneventana, a more savoury and mineral version grown further into the mountains behind Naples. This wine is made from the Chalmers imported clone of Falanghina Beneventana. Chalmers Falanghina is the first commercially released Falanghina in Australia. At Chalmers we have a serious love for this promising variety for its complexity, drinkability and potential in the future of the Australian soils and wine industry.
This attractive wine is aromatic and racy, with notes of orchid and lime donating the nose. White stones and a persistent, tangy palate result in a wine with balanced tension and fresh appeal, think similar to a Riesling. Pair with aromatic, zesty dishes with an oily component such as Thai curry or Gyoza.
Bush Vine Negroamaro
2021 Murray Darling, Vic
The ‘Bush Vine’ project represents the culmination of 35+ years’ experience of our families inland farming and viticultural journey where we test the limits of ‘dry growing’ in Merbein, Victoria, the heart of our production.
The vineyard was established organically in 2017 and managed with no herbicides or pesticides, hand pruned, hand harvested and even manually weeded. In the extreme hot and brutal climate of the Murray Darling, each vine is grown as a little tree/bush to provide its own shade and protection from the harsh sun. They are spaced 2.5 metres apart which enables them to capture the water it needs and minimises competition from neighbouring vines.
Hailing from Puglia in the hot, dry peninsula in the south-east of mainland Italy, Negroamaro was a natural and appropriate choice for our bush vine planting. It’s sturdy nature, good natural vigour, drought tolerance and thick skins all positive qualities for the site conditions.
The 2021 vintage shows an elegant pure lifted version of our Bush Vine Negroamaro, with red cherries, plum and quandong jelly, hints of blood orange rind and a saltbush edge. In the mouth its focused and long, dusty fine tannins, a driving line of plum, cherry and currants with a talc minerality. It can do with a splash around a decanter an hour before drinking and will continue to develop and open up in the glass, with the last mouthful most likely the best. It’s a good chance this vintage will go the distance and we’re pretty chuffed to see where it might go. Paired to a duck leg and sausage cassoulet or even a grilled fish with caponata and you’ll doing well.
Bush Vine Inzolia
2022 Murray Darling, Vic
The ‘Bush Vine’ project represents the culmination of 35+ years’ experience of our families inland farming and viticultural journey where we test the limits of ‘dry growing’ in Merbein, Victoria, the heart of our production.
The vineyard was established organically in 2017 and managed with no herbicides or pesticides, hand pruned, hand harvested and even manually weeded. In the extreme hot and sometimes brutal climate of the Murray Darling, each vine is grown as a little tree/bush to provide its own shade and protection from the harsh sun. They are spaced 2.5 metres apart which enables them to capture the water it needs and minimises competition from neighbouring vines.
Hailing from the west of Sicily, Inzolia is considered one of the most important ancient Mediterranean (warm climate) white grape varieties and was a natural and appropriate choice for our bush vine planting. It’s sturdy makeup, drought tolerance, plump berries and thick firm skins all positive qualities for the site conditions.
“Very pure and emphatic”, ” well sculptured” notes Jancis Robinson, this intensely perfumed and lifted wine shows aromas of citrus peel, cardamon pods, white and yellow stone fruits and florals, wattle and pine needles. It is medium to full bodied, with concentrated stone fruits the hero, fresh apricot kernels, buttery, slippery, waxy and chewy, it’s a wine with power and definition, perfectly suited to the dinner table with a Miso Black Cod or Jerusalem Artichoke Hazelnut Tart.
Piedirosso
2021 Heathcote, Vic
** 1st Release **
A likely native to Campania, Italy, Piedirosso was a part of our most recent importation and with early trials showing it to be a great candidate for our Heathcote vineyard grown on the rocky red Cambrian soils of the region. The wine is farmed sustainably with wild ferments and aged on fine lees for added complexity.
The sheer brilliant colour of this wine radiates through the glass with deep red, blue and violet hues. The nose is super pretty and explodes with fresh blue and red berries, you can see those deep red Cambrian soils in the wine, a mineral edge if you will. The palate is bright and juicy, you think that this is going to be a big heavy red, but half way through it lightens with crunchy cranberries, sweet cooking spices, new leather and a touch of licorice allsorts. This wine is perfect for those game meat dishes like venison or even a vodka beetroot risotto.
Aglianico
2019 Heathcote, Vic
**95 POINTS – HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION
In the quest for grapes which produce excellent wines in warm Aussie conditions in the face of climate change, Aglianico has won the race. A late ripening grape, it cruises through summer to ripen slowly in the cooler autumn months giving a lower alcohol yet complex and refined red wine capable of long ageing. Made in a chestnut botte and bottle aged before release, Chalmers Aglianico has earned its place at the top of the range showing all the hallmarks of a great red wine. Poise and structure, freshness and complexity, this wine has it all.
2019 Chalmers Aglianico (Heathcote, Vic) – Destemmed, wild fermented, left 30 days on skins, pressed to chestnut botte. The classic southern Italian red grape is incredibly well suited to the climate and soils of Heathcote. Each vintage re-affirms that. A complex, fleshy expression of the grape is wrapped in black cherry, white pepper, allspice, dark chocolate, licorice and a gentle savouriness. A lovely depth of flavour with hints of almond nuttiness is just developing on the palate. It’s going to age into a beauty. 95pts Jeni Port HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION
Appassimento
2021 Heathcote , Vic
375ML
At Chalmers we love a bit of variety and have always been intrigued by the many and varied Passito-style sweet wines of Italy where grapes are dried before fermentation to concentrate the sugars and flavours. It’s this love that set us on the path to make a Chalmers Appassimento. After early attempts beginning from 2005 with hand picked Moscato Giallo laid out to dry in the mid-row or hung indoors on a wire, our first official dried-grape dessert wine was from vintage 2009, titled Aurora it was made from 80% Malvasia and 20% Picolit. At the time we were busy establishing our new Murray Darling site in the Merbein irrigation district, a region with a strong history in dried fruit production. Our property came with historic sultana drying racks, which we renovated, allowing us to naturally sun-and-air dry the Sagrantino in 2013 and Lambrusco Maestri in 2017 for our following two Appassimento wines. In 2021, the planets aligned and after all these years we had the opportunity to take a great parcel of estate grown Moscato Giallo from our Heathcote site and finally bring Bruce’s dream alive – a Moscato Giallo Appassimento.
This labour of love resulted in a wine that is luscious and exotic, with yellow box honey-soaked dried Muscatels, treacle, bacon maple, super lifted aromatics of orange blossom, perfumed wattle and coriander seed. The mouth is opulent, with baked figs, burnt English toffee, caramelised onion, short crust pastry, shitake mushroom and umami. It’s a food pairing delight, perfect with those baked desserts, pear tarte tatin, spit roasted pineapple and a mouldy cheese match made in heaven. The finish is uber long and unrelentless, balance nicely with a weft of bright tangy citrus. This will age very well, the longer you keep it, the more savoury it will become, masking the sugar into more of those umami, bacon and mushroom notes.
The Spirit
2021 Heathcote , Vic
500ML / 47% alc
‘The Spirit’, made from the very same bunches of fruit as the Appassimento, encapsulates the next generation of the Chalmers story. Kim and Tennille with their no holds barred, no boundaries attitude, brimming with innovation and excitement, and Bart van Olphen whose experience in Germany inspired this rehydrated grape marc derived spirit: a white spirit that defies categorisation, a love child of Grappa, Schnapps and Eau de Vie, guided through the process by our assistant winemaker at the time, experienced distiller Megan Hume. The end result is an unadulterated pure expression of Moscato Giallo, showcasing the classic lifted floral and herbal notes with a hint of dried grape and umami aromas too. The clean palate has warmth and spice – magically it manages to be both bracing and delicate in nature.
A digestive style and crystal clear in the glass, ‘The Spirit’ is a pure, driven expression of Moscato Giallo, lifted and aromatic with chamomile flowers, pearl barley, caraway seed, loquat and grape skin notes. It’s got some fire paired with a generous mid palate to help tame the alcohol. The Spirit will sit comfortably on the dinner table at the completion of a meal, where it’s deliciously drinkable straight up, or as the hero in an aperitif style cocktail, depending on what takes your fancy.
Our Brands
Along with the core Chalmers range of wines, we also produce the following brands.
Chalmers wines are the result of years of experimentation and refinement, from the soil to the bottle, Australian wines which pay respect to their continental heritage.
Where the Chalmers range is all about unique and detailed expression of variety, site and vintage, Montevecchio is just about good drinks. Based on style rather than variety, this concise range of everyday drinking wines have fun and flair at their heart.
Where all the fun happens. Every year Chalmers makes experimental wines from the nursery source blocks in Merbein as well as the every growing Heathcote plantings. Not to be locked away in the lab – these wines are made public and can be found in a wine bar or indie bottle shop near you. You can’t miss the colourful labels.
Dott. is handmade by Chalmers from estate grown fruit. Inspired by the late Dr. Rod Bonfiglioli a passionate, eccentric scientist whose dogged determination and visionary foresight brought so much colour, interest and integrity to Australian wine. He sought out these rare grapes for our collection, seeing their promise long before we did, and for that we are grateful.
When your main business is as left field as the eclectic and diverse work with Italian varieties at Chalmers, what do you do for a side project? Sisters Kim and Tennille decided to make a Heathcote Shiraz, but in the style of red that they enjoy.
After Chalmers imported 6 clones of Malbec selected from Mendoza in Argentina 15 years ago Bruce Chalmers has been passionate about making great Malbec. Arturo is his baby.
Our Brands
