Handpicked Regional Selection Chardonnay 2019
Our fruit was harvested by hand at the end of February then whole-bunch pressed and settled in tank before transfer to tank and barrel for fermentation. The wine underwent a partial malolactic fermentation and was aged for 10 months – part in stainless steel tank to retain fresh fruit flavours, part in barrel for added complexity. We used a mix of old and new French oak barrels.
Crisp & Refreshing, White, Medium-bodied wine. Great with river trout, Asian style dishes, roast chicken.
Handpicked Capella Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
Mornington Peninsula, Australia
The 2017 vintage on the Mornington Peninsula was a classic one in which overall mild and stable conditions produced superb quality fruit and wines of great balance, finesse and longevity. Dubbed by some a “Goldilocks” vintage, 2017 delivered just enough and not too much of everything. Vines ripened slowly, building great depth of flavour while retaining fine balance in sugar and acid. Harvest began in early-March, a little later than the long-term average, and somewhat of a relief after the record-early vintage of 2016.
Fruit from select blocks at Capella Vineyard is handpicked, destemmed, and sorted by hand to ensure only the finest berries make it into this beautifully perfumed, supple and silky wine. The aromas are classic Pinot Noir – cherries, strawberries, and earthy spice - with the purity and perfume we have come to expect of Capella Vineyard. The palate combines power and grace with great texture and silky-smooth tannin.
Recommended Serving Temperature: 15-17°C
Food Pairing: Peking Duck, Roasted Quail, Mushroom Risotto
Starward Unexpeated
Starward Whisky has fused the new world Australian way with old world Scottish expertise to craft UNEXPEATED, a new red wine barrel aged Australian single malt whisky, finished in peated whisky-drenched barrels from the finest distilleries in Islay, Scotland. For the first time, whisky drinkers will taste coastal, peaty, smoky flavour in Starward’s signature fruit-forward whisky. Now that’s UNEXPEATED!
Our juicy, tropical Starward flavours have taken on peat smoke character, in this latest release. On your tongue, subtle sweet peat melds with red-wine-barrel red berries and sticky golden peaches. You’ll discover coastal peat in the aroma and a lingering smouldering dry finish too.
Nose: Tropical fruits, toasted oak and a hint of sweet peat.
Palate: Ripe red berries, coastal peat smoke, yellow peaches and cocoa nibs.
Finish: Oak slowly dries the palate, with a long peated finish after.
Starward Vitalis
Vitalis is a limited-edition whisky that commemorates Starward's 15th anniversary. A true encapsulation of our life in a bottle, Vitalis comprises of six, hand-selected whisky parcels that all hold a special piece in Starward's story. With notes of chocolate-coated pineapples, coffee beans and tropical fruits, you'll find Vitalis nestles perfectly next to your favourite home cooked meal or sipped neat on its own.
Vitalis represents Starward’s life and how we are looking to new horizons. Named after our Founder, David Vitale, Vitalis is a signpost of David's gumption to "bet the farm" in hopes of creating a modern and accessible whisky. This dedication led to the food-friendly and approachable whisky that Starward is known for today, which Vitalis celebrates with its unique liquid story.
Aroma: Chewy toffee, raisins, chocolate coated pineapples and cedar.
Palate: Big & viscous, rich dried fruits, red currant, and lightly roasted coffee beans. Nice balance with the bright tropical, old school Starward spirit.
Finish: Long & oily finish with a delicate balance of fruit and oak. The higher ABV gives good palate weight and texture.
Handpicked Capella Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
Mornington Peninsula, Australia
The Mornington Peninsula is famous for its Pinot Noir wines and this is a fine example of a great vintage: deep colour, spicy berry aromas, a silky-smooth palate and fine tannin to finish.
Elegant & Refined
Food Pairing: Peking Duck, Roasted Quail, Mushroom Risotto
"A boldly spicy pinot that has ripe red cherries and a layer of charcuterie, as well as sappy, first-wood aromas. The palate has boldly spicy, red and dark-berry flavors with assertive tannin grain. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - 92 points, James Suckling
Handpicked Capella Vineyard Chardonnay 2016
Mornington Peninsula, Australia
This wine has wonderful complexity on the nose with aromas of flowers, ripe melon and guava and generous barrel ferment character. It is a full-bodied Chardonnay with citrus fruits on the palate, some lanolin and well-integrated oak.
Whole bunch pressing, barrel fermentation and regular lees stirring over 11 months in French oak add to the complexity of this full-bodied Chardonnay
Food Pairing: Shellfish and Seafood, Creamy Vegetarian Pasta, Soft Cheese
"This is an impressive contemporary expression of domestic chardonnay: a conflation of Chablis-like flint and toasted hazelnut, curd and stone fruits flowing effortlessly and long across a thread of juicy acidity and mineral tension. Burgundian. All augurs for a long future. A stamp of authority for this producer." - James Halliday
Awards: 96 points, James Halliday Wine Companion 2018
Handpicked Collection Chardonnay 2016
Mornington Peninsula, Australia
Opening with stone fruit and floral aromas with bright citrus notes, this wine has layers of fruit flavour and creamy complexity derived from 11 months aging on lees in barrel.
Vintage 2016 was marked by warm and dry conditions and the Mornington Peninsula harvest was one of the earliest on record. It arrived in a hurry too and many vignerons were being picked in early February. The resulting wines have excellent flavour and weight and tend to be earlier drinking styles.
Starward Muscat Cask
Starward Muscat | Single Malt Australian Whisky
Fully Matured in Muscat Barrels; combination of fresh and charred barrels In a Starward first, this single malt whisky was fully matured for 4 years in Muscat barrels from Rutherglen, Victoria. Australia produces some of the finest Muscat fortified wine, and we are lucky to have access to these barrels within a day's drive of our distillery.
Our distillers used two parcels of locally sourced casks, wet filled and charred. The whisky absorbed the brightly perfumed aroma from the wet filled casks while the charred casks provided caramelized Muscat undertones and a toasty oak profile.
Our team are no strangers to experimenting with fortified wine. Our very first whisky, Solera, is fully matured in Apera barrels while our previous Dolce and Tawny releases show further variation in our fortified wine barrel maturation.
This latest Projects release is a nod to the iconic Muscat grape, balancing the deliciously sweet, sticky characters with soft oak spice from the barrels. Featuring notes of toasted almond, raisins, and cinnamon, it's delicisous sipped neat and fits perfectly around the dinner table.
Nose: Toasted almonds and raisins, topped with sweet and juicy lychees.
Palate: Imagine a plate of hot sticky cinnamon spice buns, straight out of the oven. Smooth and delicate, with hints of toasted oak and liquorice.
Handpicked Regional Selection Rosé 2020
The colour is a clear light salmon. The nose has vibrant red fruit and spice aromas, and the palate has juicy fruit flavours and savoury notes. This wine is perfect for sipping on its own and will pair handsomely with a range of foods. A youthful wine made to drink while young and fresh.
Food Pairing: Pan fried rainbow trout with new potatoes, smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches, sushi, vegetarian frittata, antipasto.
Wine Style: Crisp & Refreshing, Soft & Fruity
Recommended Serving Temperature: 8-12°C
Starward Dolce
Dolce, a single, limited release, is a melding of juicy wine and oak characters with a flourish of sweet ‘Sicilian’ notes; marshmallow and cola. A twice distilled single malt spirit. Made with Australian barley and brewers' yeast for extra flavour. This Single Malt Australian Whisky was matured in Australian red wine barrels and then finished in barrels that held an Australian interpretation of a Sicilian Dessert Wine.
It is the newest release from the Starward Projects, a program where distillers get to experiment with different whiskies and create flavour forward and unique expressions. That is why Dolce is unlike any released before. Intriguing marshmallow and cola characters melding with the Starward stamp of red wine barrel maturation, it is an embodiment of the Italian word for sweet, Dolce. This one's a stunning straight sipper, especially with a cheeseboard, after dinner or just as your dessert!
Nose: Dried fruits, toasted marshmallows, and marzipan.
Palate: Initial sweetness on the front palate, rich dried fruits, brown sugar, cola and toasted marshmallows.
Finish: Palate is viscous, caramelised but enough tannin leaving a well-balance finish.
Handpicked Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Margaret River, Australia
This is a complex wine with aromas of black berry fruits, chocolate, and cedar with berry highlights. On the palate it has layers of interest starting with rich dark berry fruit flavours, deft oak treatment, and plush tannins. It is ready to drink and will age beautifully over the long term.
This fruit was hand harvested in late March in a selection of our vineyards; the majority was from the Wilyabrup sub-region and there was a parcel from Carbunup. The wine was aged in French oak barriques, 30 per cent new, for 15 months.
Starward Sticky Toffee Apple
Starward's Sticky Toffee Apple whisky is the latest release from our Small Batch program where our distillers source unique barrels or trial something new. Our distillers sourced Apple Brandy barrels from the United States and finished our red wine matured, single malt whisky in these barrels for three years. These barrels worked hard in Melbourne's 'four seasons in one day', which allowed the delicious liquid to achieve the full orchard and oak experience. This resulted in our luscious Sticky Toffee Apple whisky which is bound to please every crowd; whisky lover or not.
Nose: Floral notes of apple blossom and tropical fruits followed by vanilla and toffee apple.
Palate: Ripe orchard fruits and almonds give way to luscious stewed apples and all spice. Medium to long finish of rich fruit and cinnamon sugar.
Finish: Medium to long finish of rich fruit and cinnamon sugar.
Colour: Deep copper
Bottles in the World: 1,600