The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2033
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, slow-cooked beef cheek
✨ Technical Specifications
The Laughing Magpie is a classic McLaren Vale Shiraz Viognier, showcasing d'Arenberg's signature blend of traditional winemaking and whimsical storytelling. The wine's name is inspired by the native Australian kookaburras nesting around the vineyards, whose striking black and white plumage led winemaker Chester Osborn's daughters to dub them 'laughing magpies'—a perfect metaphor for this blend of the dark, robust Shiraz and the pale, aromatic Viognier. The grapes are co-fermented, a technique borrowed from the Northern Rhône, where the small addition of Viognier stabilizes the deep color of the Shiraz and coaxes out exotic floral aromas. True to d'Arenberg's heritage, the grapes are gently crushed in basket presses and foot-trodden, resulting in a rich, textured palate with dark fruit, spice, and a subtle apricot lift.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1912 by Joseph Osborn, d'Arenberg has grown into one of McLaren Vale's most iconic and storied family-owned estates in South Australia. Under the visionary stewardship of fourth-generation winemaker Chester Osborn, the winery adheres strictly to traditional, sustainable methods, utilizing certified organic and biodynamic viticulture along with foot-treading and basket pressing. Renowned for its eclectic naming conventions and distinctive red-stripe label, the estate crafts a wide spectrum of expressive wines with a particular mastery of Rhône varieties, old-vine Grenache, and robust Shiraz. Signature bottlings such as 'The Dead Arm Shiraz' and 'The Ironstone Pressings' stand as benchmarks of regional depth, complexity, and age-worthy character.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Shiraz, Viognier
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
14.0% - 14.5%