💎 Sake It to Me 💎
We stumbled across this funky little bottle while sniffing out a Grenache last week. It's a Shiraz Grenache blend with a cheeky splash of sake flavour (more on this below). With a tall silhouette, bold label art, and a price tag slashed in half, we figured it was worth rolling the dice...and found a hidden gem!
Got a mate who’s never heard of sake-infused wine? Blow their mind and please forward this on.
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Monkey Business That Actually Works 🐒
🍷 Sun Monkey Shiraz Grenache Infused with Sake Flavour (NV)
We found this one last week while hunting a Grenache - it technically counts (thanks to the blend), but it’s also got something else going on: a sake infusion. Yep, you read that right. A Shiraz Grenache blend with sake vibes, which sounds like the start of a wild night or a marketing gimmick. Either way, we were in.
It’s currently going for just $11 at Dan Murphy’s and BWS - not bad when the normal price is double that. The bottle itself is tall and sleek with a kind of graphic-novel-meets-Asian-fusion label that makes it stand out from the usual suspects. It looks like the kind of thing your most interesting friend would bring to dinner - you know the one with new school tattoos and a record player that actually gets used.
The wine launched in late 2023 and comes with a surprisingly layered backstory. Apparently, it was inspired by the Monkey King from Chinese folklore...think magical powers, rebellion, and a general disdain for rules. Basically the wine version of your cousin who moved to Byron. Designed by Chinese tattoo artist JAX, the bottle’s vibe is all about self-expression, freedom, and not taking itself too seriously.
Taste-wise, this one really surprised us...in a good way. The Shiraz brings the body we were missing in last week’s pick, while the Grenache still keeps it fruity. Smooth, easy drinking, and a bit bold, it’s actually kind of fun. Whether or not the sake infusion actually adds anything...we’ve got no idea. But it’s a yarn you can tell, and sometimes that’s half the reason we buy the bottle anyway.
Despite the exotic branding and Shanghai storytelling, this one's made right here in South Australia, our all-time favourite region for Shiraz. And while the bottle doesn’t scream “luxury,” it does have that cool-factor you can’t quite explain. It’s not the fanciest thing at the party, but you still want to hang out with it.
We’d definitely recommend giving it a crack. It’s like most good Shiraz blends, but with a little twist that makes it more interesting. A bit of flavour, a bit of flair, and more than enough to get the convo started at your next barbie.
VITR Official Score: 8 / 10
👍 Reality vs Perception: A cool $11, but drinks like a stylish $25 to $30 bottle.
👩🎨 Label Aesthetics: Modern, punchy, and straight from a tattoo parlour. Not premium, but "cool".
👴 Comparison to Nonno’s Home Brew: Surprisingly, this was one of the closest to Nonno's we've had in a while. He'd raise an eyebrow, and then go in for a second glass.
🪩 Fit for an Engagement Party: Maybe not black tie, but if you're going for a more modern party atmosphere this would fit right in.
🤑 Keep the Change: At $11, you've got leftover coin to put towards some dumplings. Or chance it and buy a scratchie!
Real Talk
📖 Fake It 'Til You Make It
Riddling: It’s not a brain teaser, just spinning Champers bottles so the sediments slide down to the cork.
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💡 Sip Tip
Hot Water Only, Mate: Don’t wreck your fancy glasses with dish soap - it clings like an ex and kills the smell. Just rinse with hot water and air dry.
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🍿 Sip & Snack
Champagne & Bacon Brekkie: Pop some bubbly and pair it with a fry-up this Mother’s Day. Cuts through the grease and says, “Thanks Mum, and sorry for that time I...”
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Until Next Week, Cheers 🍷
Sun Monkey: 50% Shiraz, 50% Grenache, some sake squeezed in, and 100% more interesting than your usual Friday bottle. Worth a go for the story alone, and the taste actually holds up.
See you next week 👋
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