22/02/2026
The Geelong Quaffa Society
Another rocking Quaffa done and dusted, this time with a w**e theme ‘Global w**es and varietals’.
The crew came ready and prepared, after securing their allocated vino’s.
It was really great to experience this array of French, Italian and Spanish w**es, all different yet all yummy.
The food throughout the day was also awesome, and complimented the w**e choices really well.
We did them in this order:
Whites:
1. Fiano: Generally the lightest, crispest, and most mineral-driven of the group, featuring delicate white flowers and zesty lemon.
2. Chenin Blanc (Dry/Unoaked): High-acidity and versatile, often showing crisp green apple, quince, and stony mineral notes.
3. Roussanne: Introduces more weight, with a richer, often nutty texture, herbal notes (tea, chamomile), and pear, acting as a bridge to fuller-bodied w**es.
4. Viognier: Aromatic and fuller-bodied, offering strong notes of apricot, peach, and honeyed flowers, sometimes with an oily texture.
5. Marsanne: Typically the heaviest and most full-bodied of the list, especially with age. It is often oily and rich with low acidity, providing a final, robust experience.
Reds:
1. Tempranillo (Lightest/Savory): Often the lightest-bodied in this group (unless it is a heavily aged Gran Reserva), it offers bright red fruit and savory, dusty notes, making it a good, mild starting point.
2. Nero d'Avola (Medium-Full/Fruity): A Sicilian w**e with high acidity but moderate-to-high, smooth tannins. Its strong, dark cherry and plum flavors are richer than Tempranillo but usually less alcoholic than a typical Primitivo.
3. Malbec (Full-Bodied/Smooth): Generally, a fuller-bodied w**e than the previous two. It offers intense dark fruit, high tannins, and a velvety, heavy mouthfeel.
4. Primitivo (Boldest/Heaviest): Often high in alcohol and tannin, this Puglian w**e is known for being jammy and fruit-forward, often acting as the "big" w**e of the night.
