Serafino Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2019

Not often can you sit back and bask in your own glory.  Well, this wine pairing is 100% one of those moments.  As soon as I cracked open the delicious pinot and gave it a whiff I knew it would pair beautifully. 

I love the name, it could be the bad guy in a poorly shot western movie but instead it's yet another recipe from yours truly that the Heart Foundation has tried to censor.

Serafino (Steve) Maglieri arrived in McLaren Vale in 1968 determined to enter the wine industry.

Steve was hands on from the beginning, getting his hands dirty with picking, pruning and cellar hand work and planting his own vineyards, building his first winery.  Steve has enjoyed great success. Today, the Serafino vineyards have expanded to over 300 acres of prime McLaren Vale land including a new state of the art winery, purpose built for small batch production. Serafino make brilliant Shiraz and alternative varietals but also manage to conjure magic in unexpected ways. McLaren Vale does not have a world class reputation for Chardonnay or Cabernet production, yet, year in year out, Serafino make fabulous Chardonnay and Cabernet.

Less than 40km south of Adelaide, McLaren Vale is another one of South Australia's renowned Shiraz producers, accounting for roughly 50% of grapes crushed annually. The climate is markedly different from the Barossa, being much more Mediterranean with four clear seasons and higher rainfalls. McLaren Vale reds reflect this, showing deep complexity and power along with the ability to cellar for decades. While Shiraz grabs the most attention, chocolate-rich Cabernet Sauvignons, Chardonnays and Viogniers are worth sampling.

The climate is influenced by ocean breezes coming in from the Gulf of St. Vincent to the west and the altitude of the Sellicks Hill Range to the south. Soil type is varied, ranging from red-brown loam and sand to dark clay and the often-mentioned terra rosa. A misspell of the Italian phrase "terra rossa" (meaning "red soil"), this ruddy-red stuff is left behind when limestone breaks down, and any viticulturist will tell you it's great stuff to grow vines in due