Con-Greg Grigoriou grew up on a vineyard in South Australia's Riverland, where his father managed production at a local bulk winery. After wandering far from the family business, he saw a possibility no one else had imagined for his sun-baked home region, and in 2013 Delinquente Wine Co. was born.
Backstory
Delinquente started small, with just a tonne each of Vermentino and Montepulciano made in a corner of a 20,000-tonne Riverland winery. The mission was to prove the region could produce fresh, vibrant, affordable wine. The label is known for its bold, hand-drawn artwork by artist Jason Koen.
The Region
The Riverland is a warm, dry inland region of South Australia. Grigoriou's insight was to match the climate with grapes built for it rather than fighting against the heat.
Vineyards and Farming
Delinquente works exclusively with Southern Italian varieties that handle blazing heat, stay drought-resistant, and retain natural acidity: Vermentino, Montepulciano, Nero d'Avola, Bianco d'Alessano, Fiano, and Negroamaro. All fruit is sourced from organic or biodynamic vineyards.
Winemaking
The wines are handmade in small batches with wild-yeast fermentation and minimal intervention. Grapes are picked early to keep alcohol low and preserve acidity, aiming for wines that are fresh and easy to drink.
The Wines
Highlights include the Tuff Nutt Bianco pet-nat and the Roxanne and Screaming Betty bottlings, alongside reds and rosatos built for fun rather than fuss.
