7,500 bottles, 26 different lines, sale price of half a million AUD$ ready to populate restaurant wine lists.
A stunning selection of handpicked wines from Italy, Germany, Austria and France have just arrived in the Melbourne ports, ready to be delivered to all four Melbourne restaurants, Red Spice Road, Red Spice QV, Burma Lane & Meat Fish Wine, with some to continue their journey across the Tasman to the Auckland Meat Fish Wine.
The 7,500 bottle delivery features 26 different wines, showcasing a number of varietals not often seen on Australian shores, along with a selection of loved varietals from hand-sourced producers. Apples + Pears Director of Wine, Vanessa Green, put in the “hard yards” to source these producers earlier this year.

“While judging at the Vinitaly 5 star wine awards in Verona and visiting VinExpo in Hong Kong earlier this year, I came across some magnificent wines I just had to bring back to Australia.” said Vanessa. “I was very grateful to have the opportunity to meet the winemakers and producers and thrilled that we were able to negotiate some priceless trade agreements allowing us to bring these wonderful wines to Australia through Crimson Wine, our wine wholesale company. One of my favourite wines is a delicious light red blend of Dolcetto and Fraise from Italy, served chilled and perfect for summer. I only wish there was more available!”
Many native Italian wine varietals like these are only produced on tiny parcels of land in specific areas of the country. By traveling to the region Crimson Wine is able to meet with small producers, many of whom have been making wine from traditional and native varieties for generations, and bring these unique wines to Australia and New Zealand.
The total value of the recent wine delivery sits at an impressive $500k and ranges from only 12 bottles of the most rare and elusive to multiple pallets of delicious friendly easy drinking wines, including Prosecco’s and Pinot Grigio’s, perfect for summer.

Group Beverage Manager, Matthew Lamb is thrilled to be able to showcase a vast array of new producers.
“My favourite pick would have to be the stunning Burger ‘Alte Reben’ Grüner Veltliner from Austria, which is a perfect wine to accompany the variety of bold flavours across the Asian venues.” said Matt. “I also love the intriguing Cantine Madaudo ‘Capovero’ Etna Rosso, which predominantly uses Nerello Mascalese, a grape gaining great traction in Australia, sourced from the volcanic soils of Etna, a region producing exciting wines at the moment”
Le Grand Noir wines from France, handcrafted by highly respected wine identities Robert Joseph, Hugh Ryman and Kevin Shaw make their first visit to Australia, along with an exquisite Riesling from Weingut Mesmer – a small scale but highly respected vineyard that normally has all their wine consumed by the German locals before it gets the chance to leave the country!
Also to be discovered is rare La Valle Franciacorta (the Italian equivalent of Champagne, using the same method of production), with a total production of only 50,000 bottles, and fine Villa Calcinaia wine, owned by the Capponi family who have been making some of Italy’s best Chianti since 1524. Another wine of note is the Follador “Treviso’ Extra Dry Prosecco – the sparkling wine served on the Orient Express since 2013.

A wealth of wonderful wines are waiting to be discovered at the restaurants, many never before seen in Australia and New Zealand. Can’t decide which to try? Meat Fish Wine in Melbourne and Auckland offer the chance to sample three at one time thanks to the wine flights now available in the wine bar.
Apples + Pears are giving guests plenty of reason to celebrate this festive season.