What types of wines does Bellarmine Wines produce?

Updated

Bellarmine Wines produces both white and red wines from its estate in Pemberton, a cool-climate region in south-western Western Australia. The range covers Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc on the white side, and Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Merlot on the red side. A separate aged Riesling offering sits alongside the current-release wines, and the cool climate is the main reason the styles lean toward freshness and structure rather than ripe, heavy fruit.

White wines

  • Riesling — the variety Bellarmine also bottles in aged form (see below)
  • Chardonnay
  • Sauvignon Blanc

Red wines

  • Pinot Noir
  • Shiraz
  • Petit Verdot
  • Merlot

Aged Rieslings

Bellarmine lists aged Rieslings as a distinct category rather than folding them into the standard white range. If you already know you like Riesling with bottle age — the toastier, more honeyed character that develops over time — this is the part of the range to look at first. If you prefer your Riesling young and citrus-driven, the current-release white wines are the better starting point.

How the cool climate shapes the wines

Pemberton is described as a high-quality cool-climate region, and that has a direct effect on what ends up in the bottle:

  • Whites tend to keep higher natural acidity, so Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc come across as crisp and focused rather than soft.
  • Pinot Noir is the red most associated with cool climates, since it ripens earlier and retains perfume and lighter tannin in cooler conditions.
  • Shiraz, Merlot and Petit Verdot in a cool site generally show more pepper, savoury and structured notes instead of the jammy, high-alcohol profile you get from warmer regions.

Which one to choose

If you usually drink… Start with…
Crisp, dry whites Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc
Fuller, textural whites Chardonnay
Light to medium reds Pinot Noir
Fuller reds with spice Shiraz
Structured, firm reds Petit Verdot or Merlot
Wine with bottle age Aged Rieslings

The range is small and focused rather than broad, so the practical question is less "do they make my usual variety" and more "do I want the cool-climate version of it." Bellarmine has also been listed among Australia's Top 100 Wineries by The Real Review, led by Huon Hooke, which is a useful signal if you are deciding whether the quality level justifies trying an unfamiliar producer.

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