Australia’s FishEye brand available at supermarkets might just be in your price range for Thanksgiving — the regular-size bottle runs about $7 or less, but you’ll also find 1.5L bottles and the 3L “Octavin” box.
I’ve always thought the wines delivered a lot for the price. They have enough varietal character and acidity to make you ask for another glass. They are made in New South Wales and the grapes are grown in South Eastern Australia. They are part of The Wine Group’s Underdog line, which always seems spot on.
More of the story: The winemaker is surfer Steve Roden. The name FishEye refers to a fisherman with a good eye for big catches, and as the story goes, Roden has a good eye for wine.
Everybody needs an affordable, reliable house wine for the holidays. Here’s one brand to put on your list.
Wines to try:
FishEye Winery Chardonnay South Eastern Australia 2011, $7: Here’s your turkey wine, for about seven bucks. It struts out green apple, pear and apricot with nice acid balance and some minerality to add to the complexity. It doesn’t taste like an assembly line wine — and believe me, FishEye makes oceans of wine.
FishEye Riesling South Eastern Australia 2011, $7: This nice quaffer walks the line between dry and sweet — leaning a bit to dry. It’s got Riesling’s traditional floral notes, along with apricot, white peach and lime.
FishEye Moscato South Eastern Australia 2011, $7: Moscato is the sweet white wine that’s riding a wave of popularity today. Think tangerine, juicy peach and pineapple flavors. It’s a good foil to spicy Asian dishes, and just plain delicious to sip with friends and a nice dessert.
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