22/02/2026
The Geelong Quaffa Society
Another rocking Quaffa done and dusted, this time with a wine theme ‘Global wines and varietals’.
The crew came ready and prepared, after securing their allocated vino’s.
It was really great to experience this array of French, Italian and Spanish wines, all different yet all yummy.
The food throughout the day was also awesome, and complimented the wine choices really well.
We did them in this order:
Whites:
1. Fiano: Generally the lightest, crispest, and most mineral-driven of the group, featuring delicate white flowers and zesty lemon.
2. Chenin Blanc (Dry/Unoaked): High-acidity and versatile, often showing crisp green apple, quince, and stony mineral notes.
3. Roussanne: Introduces more weight, with a richer, often nutty texture, herbal notes (tea, chamomile), and pear, acting as a bridge to fuller-bodied wines.
4. Viognier: Aromatic and fuller-bodied, offering strong notes of apricot, peach, and honeyed flowers, sometimes with an oily texture.
5. Marsanne: Typically the heaviest and most full-bodied of the list, especially with age. It is often oily and rich with low acidity, providing a final, robust experience.
Reds:
1. Tempranillo (Lightest/Savory): Often the lightest-bodied in this group (unless it is a heavily aged Gran Reserva), it offers bright red fruit and savory, dusty notes, making it a good, mild starting point.
2. Nero d'Avola (Medium-Full/Fruity): A Sicilian wine with high acidity but moderate-to-high, smooth tannins. Its strong, dark cherry and plum flavors are richer than Tempranillo but usually less alcoholic than a typical Primitivo.
3. Malbec (Full-Bodied/Smooth): Generally, a fuller-bodied wine than the previous two. It offers intense dark fruit, high tannins, and a velvety, heavy mouthfeel.
4. Primitivo (Boldest/Heaviest): Often high in alcohol and tannin, this Puglian wine is known for being jammy and fruit-forward, often acting as the "big" wine of the night.
