2025 Billy Button ‘The Suave’ Garganega

Garganega is the signature white grape of northeastern Italy, best known as the backbone of wines from Soave in Veneto. Naturally late-ripening and thick-skinned, Garganega produces wines with bright acidity and a refined, textural palate. In the glass, expect delicate aromas of white peach, pear, and almond blossom, often layered with citrus zest and a subtle mineral note. Depending on vinification, it can range from crisp and stainless-steel–fresh to richer, honeyed, and lightly nutty with bottle age. Elegant and versatile, Garganega pairs beautifully with seafood, fresh cheeses, and simply prepared seasonal vegetables.

Say 'gar-gah-neh-gah'

Vintage Snapshot

The 2025 vintage truly told the tale of two seasons. Harvested in mid-March, this fruit was picked ahead of the intense heat the region experienced later in the season. The fruit benefited from an ideal ripening window marked by clear days and cool nights. The result is a wine that showcases pristine varietal character and beautifully developed flavours with lifted floral notes and a lively, refreshing palate.

Production Notes

Machine harvested in mid-March, the fruit was gently pressed, with free-run and press fractions combined into a single tank. The juice was cold settled overnight, then racked and inoculated with a selected yeast strain chosen to protect and enhance varietal characters. Fermentation proceeded slowly at cool temperatures to preserve aromatics and freshness. Upon completion, the wine was sulphured and divided into two parcels: one matured in stainless steel to retain purity and vibrancy, and the other in Flexcube with oak to build texture and complexity. Both components were held on yeast lees until final blending and clarification. Bottled January 2026.

Tasting Notes

A beautifully complex and expressive nose reveals green melon, lemon zest and delicate mineral notes reminiscent of bath salts. A fresh saline edge gives this wine an energetic feel. The palate opens with a vibrant burst of white peach, interwoven with subtle marjoram and a hint of nutmeg spice. The finish lingers, carrying a fine, gently grainy texture evocative of almond meal and pear flesh. Salinity combined with a subtle creaminess adds a depth to this wine that makes you want to go back for more. A complex dry white that Chardonnay drinkers are sure to enjoy.

Optimal Drinking Window – now to 2034

Technical details

Vineyard:             Politini Vineyard, Cheshunt

Region:                King Valley

Alcohol:               13.0%

Volume made:      87 dozen

Winemaker:          Glenn James & Jo Marsh

Reviews

"A new variety comes to one of the most diverse grape stables in the country; the winemakers certainly love their new Aussie grape chums. An exciting future lies ahead for this elegant charmer, which already boasts both the zip and delicacy we enjoy in Soave (the Italian home to the grape) but with a complex, saline-mineral edge. Honeydew melon, lime and lemon citrus, hints of preserved lemon, pear and almond sit bright and crunchy on a creamy base. That saline note really gets the taste buds working, adding yet another layer to this multi-layered, exciting youngster." Awarded 95 points, Halliday Wine Companion, Jeni Port - Published 24 February 2026

"This has that something extra. It’s a ripper. It’s so dry, so brine-like, so perfumed and so ripped with fruit, but it’s saline-drenched fruit and so it seems savoury. Take this one to the bank. The finish pushes long – just when you think that it’s done, it offers more. (I don’t have a bottle image but you get the idea)." Awarded 94 points, The Winefront, Campbell Mattinson - Posted on 25 May 2026