MEET…Alice Davidson [the Aunt behind the wines]
Aunt Alice Wines started in 2016 on the Limestone Coast of South Australia. Alice Davidson was a disciplined Chief Winemaker at Mount Benson’s Norfolk Rise Vineyard by day, and an unrestrained, experimental aunt by night.
In 2022, Alice moved to the Huon Valley in Tasmania and Aunt Alice transformed into a Tasmanian wine label celebrating the clean, crisp and delicious wines of Australia’s most southern corner.
Are you THE Aunt Alice?
Of course!
Obviously… my name is Alice, and I am an aunt (a Mum too), but Aunt Alice just really stuck.
Originally, in my pipeline of dreams, Aunt Alice was going to be a loopy little larder with jams and relish and cheese and produce – but then I went back to study winemaking and snap – Aunt Alice took a turn and became a wine label. Either way, I think the name still congers up crazy aunt vibes – and I like that.
Aunt Alice wines in three words… ?
Clean. Crisp. Delicious.
What are we pairing Aunt Alice wines with?
‘Ocean’ Chardonnay with Oysters - duh!
‘Down by the River’ Riesling with scallops drowned in butter
‘Night Sky’ Pinot Noir with lemon and garlic Roast Chicken.
What do you love most about making wine ?
To me, making wine is all about hope and possibility. Having that blank canvas of vintage every year, it is such a privilege. The freedom that comes with working for myself as a winemaker is also something I cherish every day. From the style of my wines to the oak integrations – packaging, sales, yeast, running wild – these are all choices I get to make every day – and I am very very appreciative of that adventure. Make it stand out
What’s changed most about Aussie wine?
What I once saw as this mono landscape of bigger companies with similar and conservative wine styles has now just exploded to absorb an absolute myriad of smaller brands, new regions, alternative grape varieties and very unique winemaking styles. I think that trend of ‘anything different’ (which in my humble opinion saw some pours of shocking quality getting mistaken kudos) has really evolved into ‘anything different AND exceptionally made’. Us smaller players have really lifted our game across the board. This in combination with punters building their knowledge, and growing expectations – has really fuelled this wave of exceptionally GOOD wine here in Australia.
Where will Aussie winemaking be in another five to ten years ?
I hope we are going to see a continuation of that fine tuning and improvement in winemaking – especially when it comes to understanding, recognising and treating wine styles in line with regions and climates. As the consistency of our climate disappears – winemakers can’t keep using the same approach every year or try to make the same wine year on year. I hope we focus on – from a winemaking perspective – identifying and adapting to those regional and vintage changes. Embracing the changes and educating people about it.
I also hope we’re going to move to planting varieties more intentionally – looking at those climate changes, and where we can grow alternate varieties more strategically.
Most underrated wine variety at the moment ?
Aussie Chardonnay. Many may disagree that it’s underrated. Yes, it’s ubiquitous and its sort of always been in style right, it’s a classic. But I still think it’s underrated and I definitely want to see more of it on wine lists; there’s room for some of our ‘pointy end’ Chardy to be celebrated. Here is Australia, we have some truly amazing and confident styles coming from dedicated producers in very distinct regions. Is it a little pricier for a glass? Yes. But nothing compared to the white burgundies of France (which these can absolutely hold themselves against).
Currently reading…
‘Bite Back’ by Hannah Ferguson
Currently listening to…
‘Blame Brett’ by The Beaches on repeat! Love this band and the double meaning/winemaking reference of blaming Brett is hilarious.
Currently watching…
The Tennis. Loved watching Sabalanka!