Like its name, this winery is but a drop in the ocean of Australian wine. But oh what a drop. Smallfry is a partnership in business and life between Suzi Hilder and Wayne Ahrens, viticulturists bitten by the winemaking bug. That they are also foodies drives their winemaking down a certain path: native yeast ferments, zero to minimal adjustment, old oak, and a soft hand in the cellar allowing the vineyard to speak. Their style is food friendly, European-influenced (Wayne spent part of his youth in Spain), with a eye to balance and subtlety.
Wayne and Suzi own two very special vineyards, one in Eden Valley and the other in Barossa’s Vine Vale subregion in the valley floor. The Eden Valley vineyard has been established since 1994 while the Vine Vale block has been the Schlieb’s family seat for generations, with the last incumbent putting in 52 vintages before hanging up his snips. In other words…the vines are OLD, some dating back to the 1850s!
Here’s Wayne’s philosophy on winemaking:
If I can’t offer you something I’m excited about we might as well all pack up, go home and leave it to Jacobs Creek.
Too right. Winemaking at Smallfry is 100% certified biodynamic, with the biggest point of difference between them and the majority of the Barossa winemaking community being a reliance on wild yeast to conduct the primary alcoholic ferment. As Wayne says,
The winemaker's companions (c) Smallfry
The biggest kick I get out of using wild ferments is the Dionysis thing. Wine was a gift from the gods because before microscopes no one had any idea of what was turning their grapes into wine. Fermentation was a spontaneous event to be celebrated by giving thanks to the gods, it turned a perishable item i.e. grapes into a storable, pleasant (we hope) health giving product.
Crushing grapes into a fermenter then later getting in with my bare feet and feeling around for the little warm patches and mixing them into the rest of the must until within a day or two a lovely, healthy, sweet smelling ferment results is a thing of great excitement for me.
Pour la toute première fois, la cuvée tant adorée de Suzi et Wayne chez smallfrywines fait son entrée dans le réseau SAQ 👌 Situé dans la vallée de Barossa en Australie, ce domaine nous épate avec ses cuvées juteuses, équilibrées et tellement pleines de vie 😍
Tangerine Dream 2023 c’est du Pedro Jimenez (30%) et du Sémillon (70%) savamment macéré et assemblé pour créer un vin délicieux à la couleur envoutante. Des notes d’écorces d’agrumes et d’épices, une belle texture en bouche, ce sera définitivement votre nouveau vin de macération préféré! Du soleil en bouteille ☀️
Un peu d’espoir printanier à travers les tempêtes hivernales ! Faites-vite, ça ne durera pas longtemps 🏃♀️
Another look back to 2024, this time a snapshot of skin contact wines; so many great ones around, anyway here are 4 beauties. . Different Skins from one of my favourite Swan Valley producers vino_volta - a delightful blend of Frontignac and Gewurztraminer - an aromatic explosion. . Plenarius from kalleske, absolutely outstanding Viognier from Moppa in the Barossa . Tangerine Dream from smallfrywines also from Barossa, a fabulous blend of Semillon, Pedro Ximenez, Riesling, Roussane and Muscat. One of my go to wines, I love it. . Long Play from montoutwines a mix of Margaret River and Mount Barker Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc. Only way to drink Savvy Blanc (sorry Casey)
Anyway if you want to try something a little different, a little funky, but oh so good, grab one of these. . . #montoutwines #kalleskewines #vinovolta #smallfrywines #barossavalley #margaretriverregion #mountbarker #moppa #skincontact #copperandoak #Therealperthcafeculture #perthwineblogger #perthwineblog #instawine #2024 #winetasting #wineworld #justanotherdayinwa ...
All hail our chilled red for December, the 2023 ‘Jellyfish’ Grenache by smallfrywines!
Light, juicy, and packed with personality, this one is here to really light up your festivities this holidays. Made by legends Suzi Hilder and Wayne Ahrens, this biodynamic beauty comes from 40-year-old vines on the sandy flats of Barossa’s Vine Vale. It’s Barossa Grenache, but not as you know it…
Think vibrant red fruit, Christmas spice, black cherries, and a hint of Black Forest gateau (yes, the dessert vibes are strong) 🍒 and with just 4 days on skins, it’s dangerously easy to sip. Add in a herbal twist of green capsicum, black tea, and cloves, plus a bit of gingerbread on the palate, and you’ve got your Christmas day wine sorted. Here until the end of the month!
🌱 Organic, Biodynamic, Natural – What’s the Difference? 🍇
Although we may understand that terms like organic, biodynamic, and natural wine can be puzzling, here`s a short and sweet breakdown of what they are!
Organic Wines – These wines are made from grapes grown without synthetic chemicals like pesticides or fertilizers. Everything that goes into the winemaking process is natural, which means no artificial additives are used. Some organic wines also have no added sulphites, which makes them a purer choice for those who want a cleaner wine experience. 🌿🍇
Biodynamic Wines – Taking organic farming a step further, biodynamic wines follow special practices based on the lunar calendar 🌙. Farmers use natural compost to enrich the soil and avoid all chemical treatments. It’s a holistic approach that views the vineyard as a living organism, and everything from planting to harvesting is done in harmony with nature. 🌍✨
Natural Wines – These wines are made with as little human interference as possible. Winemakers don’t add extra yeast for fermentation, and they skip processes like filtering, so the wine remains raw and unfiltered. This often gives natural wines a cloudy appearance and a unique, authentic taste that reflects the land they come from. 🍷🍂
One of the perfect examples of this approach is smallfrywines from Australia. Known for their commitment to organic and biodynamic winemaking, Smallfry produces wines that are a true reflection of their environment. From thweir minimal-intervention approach to their dedication to sustainability, their wines capture the essence of nature in every bottle. 🍷
Ready to discover these eco-friendly wines? Check out the link in our bio for our latest promotions!
Connie suggests kicking off your famelia.wine wine flight, (or famelia.wineshop 3-pack box), with a bit of fizz — the levrierwinesbyjoirvine Meslier on pour this month is a refreshing mineral delight. With crisp grapefruit notes, it’s the perfect palate cleanser, setting the stage for the next two wines: a rich, smoky rosé from smallfrywines that’s full of character, followed by a smooth, light and bright Cab Sav from gegika_wines. Expect supple tannins, luscious chocolate and black fruit, and a hint of bright thyme. Yum!
famelia.wine is open from 4pm Wednesday, but our online store famelia.wineshop never sleeps…
Truly one of my favourite wines, smallfrywines Tangerine Dream. I remember when I first tasted it was back in 2019 at cookiemelbourne and I was over there to see john_prine in concert at the palaistheatre in St Kilda which proved to be his last tour of Australia. So two memorable moments, the great late John Prine and this wonderful wine.
Have had it a number of times since and I spied the 2022 release in gooseberryhillcellars yesterday and of course grabbed a bottle.
Made largely from Semillon, Pedro Ximenez and Riesling, with a splosh of Roussane and a dash of Muscat from visitbarossavalley grapes.
A cloudy, light orange hue, with an enticing bouquet of citrus peel, lemon blossom, apples and a wheaty waft to underpin it all.
The palate is zippy, slippery, with flavours of lemon zest, oranges, honey, ripe apples and white pepper. Quite grippy tannins add to the refreshingly vibrant palate. . . #smallfrywines #barossa #tangerinedream #semillon #pedroximenez #roussanne #riesling #muscat #orangewine #skincontact #gooseberryhillcellars #naturalwine #minimalinterventionwine #Therealperthcafeculture #perthwineblogger #perthwineblog #instawine #winestagram #wineworld #winetasting #inmyglass #youcansipwithus #justanotherdayinwa ...
🍇 We heard through the great wine that Thursday`s the new Friday... 🍇
🍷 Did you know that Guyala`s wine list is packed with small, passionate producers from Australia and around the world?
🍷 We curated this selection with a focus on sustainability and flavour balance - and we`re confident that you can discover a delicious new wine at your next visit!
🍷 Booze available from 10 am daily
📸 One of our favourite producers is South Australian smallfrywines in Barossa. Fun fact: last year, Guyala owner ollyjames took a working holiday to learn how to make wine from Smallfry owners Wayne and Suzi!
