In a pioneering move within the realm of winemaking, Pernod Ricard Winemakers has unveiled its latest venture, Aces & Arrows. This innovative wine brand takes a bold step towards creativity and collaboration, setting a distinctive tone in the industry.
Aces & Arrows presents a unique range of four wines, each meticulously crafted by a different winemaker. The creative process involved these artisans experimenting with their preferred wine varieties, resulting in a collection that showcases the diversity and expertise of the team.
The inaugural Aces & Arrows lineup comprises the 2022 Riverland Vermentino, 2020 Adelaide Hills Grüner Veltliner, 2022 Central Otago Pinot Noir, and 2019 Barossa Valley Grenache.
Dan Swincer, Chief Winemaker at Pernod Ricard, shed light on the unconventional approach, stating, “We gave our winemaking team the opportunity to have extra creative input, play and have fun when it comes to their craft. No idea was to be left unturned, that’s how Aces & Arrows was born.”
Swincer continued, “Every bottle is a direct portal to the inner workings of the winemaker; liquid labours of love, full of heart and skill in spades. When you select a bottle of Aces & Arrows, you can be sure that every drop contains the creativity, passion and spirit of the craftsman who made it.”
Describing the collection as a “peek behind the proverbial curtain” and an “all-access discovery pass to the winemaker’s playground,” Swincer emphasized that these wines rarely see the light of day.
The Vermentino, the first in the series, is a creation by winemaker Allira, using grapes from South Australia’s Riverland. Fermented in tanks and matured in oak, the result is a refreshing wine with nashi pear and stone fruit flavors, best enjoyed chilled.
Winemaker Tim’s Grüner Veltliner aims to bring lesser-known wines into the spotlight. Harvested and pressed at night to preserve aromatics and fruit integrity, the blend of old oak and tank-fermented and matured components results in a balanced profile with light fruit flavors and subtle spice notes.
The Pinot Noir, crafted by Greg, represents the pinnacle of Central Otago’s 2021 offering. Wild-fermented grapes add weight and complexity, while maturation in fine-grained French oak imparts a touch of spice to this one-of-a-kind wine.
Lastly, winemaker Mick’s experimentation with the Grenache, sourced from four different old-vine vineyards across the Barossa Valley, results in a wine with fresh fruit notes, a testament to his love of Spanish wine.
“I am proud to be a part of this new brand born out of the passion projects of our Pernod Ricard winemakers. We’ve allowed our winemakers to push the boundaries and experiment with different varietals in capacities that haven’t been done before,” added Swincer, expressing enthusiasm for the groundbreaking initiative.
