CAROUSAL WINES

Carousal Wines is an Australian wine project from acclaimed winemaker Patrick Sullivan and Megan McLaren, created around a simple idea: wine should bring people together. While Patrick Sullivan’s estate wines are strongly associated with the cool vineyards of Gippsland in Victoria, Carousal gives the pair freedom to look across Australia for varieties grown in regions particularly well suited to them.

The name itself captures the philosophy behind the label. Carousal refers to a lively celebration or gathering, and the wines are deliberately designed around enjoyment, generosity and drinkability. Rather than being tied to one vineyard or region, the project allows Sullivan and McLaren to work with growers across Australia and explore varieties outside the Chardonnay-focused wines for which Patrick has become particularly recognised.

At the heart of Carousal is the relationship between winemaker, grower and vineyard. Patrick searches beyond his Gippsland base for varieties growing in environments where they can naturally thrive, allowing each release to highlight a different part of Australian wine. The result is less a conventional regional winery than a travelling exploration of Australia's diverse vineyards.

The Carousal collection consequently stretches across several of Australia's most interesting wine regions. Riesling has been sourced from the Clare Valley in South Australia, Sangiovese from Victoria's Alpine Valleys, Chenin Blanc from Margaret River in Western Australia, and Chardonnay for Blanc de Blancs from the King Valley. This regional diversity is fundamental to the concept: rather than forcing varieties into one location, Carousal seeks them out where Patrick believes they perform particularly well.

The Carousal Sangiovese provides a particularly good example. Fruit comes from the Walpole family's vineyard at Whorouly South in the Alpine Valleys, where Sangiovese was grafted in 2009 using Mat 6 and Mat 7 clones. The fruit is handled as whole berries in a large open fermenter before being pressed to old barriques, producing a vibrant wine built around red cherry and raspberry fruit, savoury herbs, bright acidity and characteristically dusty Sangiovese tannins.

Carousal's Chenin Blanc takes the project to the opposite side of Australia, sourcing fruit from Margaret River. The variety's naturally high acidity and capacity for texture make it particularly suited to the Carousal philosophy, producing an energetic dry white built around citrus and orchard fruit with freshness and easy drinking appeal.

Sparkling wine also forms an important part of the range. Carousal Blanc de Blancs is made from 100% Chardonnay sourced from vineyards at the southern end of Victoria's King Valley, near the foothills of the Victorian Alps. Cool alpine air and a long ripening season help preserve natural acidity in the fruit. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and undergoes secondary fermentation in tank, preserving bright Chardonnay fruit and producing a fine, delicate bead.

Alongside these wines, Carousal has explored varieties including Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, Grenache and Sauvignon Blanc, reinforcing the project's intentionally flexible identity. Each wine provides Patrick with an opportunity to move beyond his usual regional and varietal boundaries while maintaining the freshness and inherent drinkability associated with his winemaking.

This makes Carousal particularly interesting within Patrick Sullivan's broader portfolio. His Gippsland wines increasingly focus on detailed vineyard expression and Chardonnay, whereas Carousal is deliberately more playful and geographically adventurous. The project can move between regions and varieties while maintaining a common philosophy of thoughtful sourcing and uncomplicated drinking pleasure.

For drinkers interested in contemporary Australian wine, Carousal offers an accessible introduction to Patrick Sullivan's winemaking while simultaneously exploring the diversity of Australian terroir. From Clare Valley Riesling and Margaret River Chenin Blanc to Alpine Valleys Sangiovese and King Valley sparkling Chardonnay, these are wines built around good farming, appropriate varieties and the simple pleasure of sharing a bottle.

Shop Carousal Wines online at Wine More Cellars Australia. Discover Patrick Sullivan's Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Sangiovese, Pinot Gris and Blanc de Blancs with Australia-wide shipping and free delivery on eligible orders over $199.