💎 Have We Found A Gem? 💎
It’s taken us 32 issues, but we’ve finally dipped our toes into Sangiovese territory. We went hunting the shelves for one that felt right and landed on a South Aussie bottle with a name that sounded more like yoga advice than a wine label. And hey, at $12, it’s well within our comfort zone.
🙏 Know someone who claims to be “all about Italian wine” but hasn’t tried an Aussie Sangio? Forward this on and start a friendly debate.
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A Soft Step For Sangiovese Kind 🧑🚀
🍷 Tread Softly Sangiovese (2024)
We’ve sipped our way through a fair few reds on Vine in the Rough, but this is our first crack at a Sangiovese. It was only a matter of time. This one’s from South Australia though, which did have us wondering how it might stack up against the "true" Sangiovese hailing from Tuscany.
Price-wise, it’s exactly where we like it: $12 on special (usually $13.99). Not too flashy, not too stingy. Right in the middle lane for a midweek bottle or a weekend BBQ where the good glassware stays in the cupboard.
The front label keeps things low-key with just the essentials...beautifully understated. Flip it around, and you’re hit with a sweet floral pattern that somehow doesn’t feel naff. They’ve absolutely nailed the aesthetic, which is probably why this bottle ended up in our trolley.
We were keen as mustard to like this one. Honestly, we had high hopes - but it just didn’t get out of first gear. It had that trademark red fruitiness you expect from a Sangiovese, sure, but then it sort of wandered off like a bloke at Bunnings who forgot what he came in for. No real finish to speak of, and nothing that made us want to go back for another glass. Maybe it’s just not our flavour profile.
The Tread Softly brand story is one we can get behind, though. They're certified in sustainable wine growing, go easy on the alcohol, and they’ve got this whole tree-planting thing going where they plant one for every case sold. It’s the kind of brand that sounds like it should come with a reusable tote bag and a composting guide.
So where does that all leave us? Look, we won’t be sprinting back for a second bottle, but we’re definitely not writing off the grape. Next stop: finding a proper Italian Sangiovese that still fits the Vine in the Rough price bracket. The hunt continues.
VITR Official Score: 6 / 10
👍 Reality vs Perception: Priced right, but doesn’t quite back it up in the glass.
👩🎨 Label Aesthetics: Clean, chic, and surprisingly lovely. One of the prettiest so far.
👴 Comparison to Nonno’s Home Brew: Nonno would’ve taken a polite sip, then gone back to his own barrel.
🪩 Fit for an Engagement Party: Not centre stage, but fine to pull out for the cousins who show up late.
🤑 Keep the Change: Enough left over for a tin of cannellini beans and a rosemary sprig from the garden...if that's what you're into.
Real Talk
📖 Fake It 'Til You Make It
Dry Grown: Sounds technical, but just say it while nodding like you’re in a wine doco and you’ll get away with it. Simply put...the grapes are grown without irrigation.
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💡 Sip Tip
Make Wine Cocktails: Feeling a bit cheeky? Splash in some orange juice, maybe throw in a berry or two - suddenly your sad glass of vino’s looking like it belongs on a beach somewhere.
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🍿 Sip & Snack
Sangiovese & Tomato Bruschetta: A solid pairing. Tomato, garlic, olive oil - all the things this wine wants to hang out with to feel more important.
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Until Next Issue, Cheers 🍷
This one had the look, the eco-credentials, and the label charm – but when it came to the sip itself, it just didn’t cut through. A swing and a miss for our first Aussie Sangio, but we’re not giving up on the grape just yet.
Cheers to finding our next hidden gem! 🍷
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