Hither & Yon Vermentino 2024 by Hither & Yon from McLaren Vale is a sun‑soaked, Mediterranean‑style white that tastes like a botanical aperitif built for the coast – briny, citrusy and seriously thirst‑quenching. Picked early and cool‑fermented on skins for around two weeks, it shows a yellow‑gold hue and a longer, textural palate that still stays beautifully light on its feet.

Aromas hum with cypress, myrtle, wild grasses, tea‑tree oil, chamomile, lime oil, preserved lemon, martini olive and grapefruit pith – basically citrus sea spray with herbs and tonic vibes. On the palate you get citrus peel, quinine, passionfruit, lime zest, faint pine and crushed mint over fine chalky texture, saline slip and feather‑light grip, making Hither & Yon Vermentino 2024 a crisp, zippy, coastal white that begs for another sip.

This is spot‑on with fried eggs under soft herbs on sourdough, grilled prawns, fish and chips, salty snacks or a simple beach‑side picnic. At 11% alcohol and 93 Halliday points, it’s a brilliant alternative to Sauvignon Blanc – more Mediterranean, more maritime, and perfect for warm days.