Fall in love with 'Favorita' | The Pickled Pixie

Flying off the beaten track will do one of two things: a) get you terribly lost or b) lead you to a little ‘wow’ moment of wondrous discovery as you stumble upon an incredible boutique winery.

Option B is akin to choosing your own adventure; therefore, veering off the main path is highly recommended-with a map, of course!

On one such spontaneous flight, I spied with my little pixie eyes a place of views, vines, and vibes – LS Merchants.

The lemon-coloured light filtered through the trees, shining down upon a country-style timber and tin abode set amongst towering Marri and Karri trees, hosting a sign that read ‘Cellar Door’.

With a flick of my heels and a spray of sparkles, I fluttered towards my happy place to discover what deliciousness awaited behind those doors.

Dylan and Taryn, the creative duo behind the LS Merchants curtains, began their humble adventure in 2017.

Speed dial with a wave of successes, and the small grew tall with their tasting room and winery opening its doors in 2021.

With an immense love of the land and a deeply ingrained passion for winemaking, their label is an exploration of the region, capturing the innate characteristics of the soils from the historic Swan Valley in the north, and along the coast to the wild and picturesque far southern regions of Frankland River.

A winery on a mission to craft deliciously interesting wines that carry a core message-wine should be a source of enjoyment.

And this, they have mastered. It is a winery where you can freely abandon the often solemn ways of wine. A joyful place where fun, banter, and smiles are a staple bar snack alongside your tasting. However, the wines are seriously good!

LS Merchant’s charismatic line-up of wines ensures you leave with a superb stash.

However, one white wine glittered like a sunbeam, bowed her head grandly, and introduced herself as the star of the show – LS Merchants 2023 ‘Vermentino’.

Hailed as the queen of Gallura on the island of Sardinia, Italy, this wine variety embodies the season of summer and the ocean on a sun-drenched day. It’s all about salt spray, citrus, and delicate stone fruits that sing, “I’m alive!”

There’s a reason why Vermentino’s known as the sleek and sexy seaside wine. It’s simply beautiful in an idyllic, effortless way.

She’s spirited and sophisticated in all the right places and works the room with a friendly flair.

Whilst the most beautiful expressions of this wine are found in Italy, Vermentino has a cryptic past, with Spain and Greece laying claim to its origins.

However, science begs to differ, giving Liguria in northwest Italy the most likely birth certificate stamp of approval.

Today, this wine has become a local legend of the Italian paradises of Sardinia, Liguria, Piedmont, and Umbria, and in small quantities from stunning Corsica and Southern France.

It thrives and shines in warm coastal climates, so it’s no surprise that this gorgeous grape has been popping up around Australia.

Our state’s dry, moderate maritime climate offers a heavenly home for Vermentino plantings.

As with any grape variety, the climate’s temperature greatly influences the variety’s voice. Cool climate wines will chirpily chat with zippy acidity and citrusy voices tinged with tones of green fruits and delicate florals, whilst warmer climates carry more intense conversations of rich, riper fruits with robust words of complexity.

True to their exploration quest, LS’s Vermentino is sourced from multiple vineyards to capture the whole essence of the region within the wine.

“Our Vermentino is sourced from two vineyards, with 90 percent coming from our more northern Della Fey vineyard,” explains founder and head winemaker Dylan Arvidson. “The vineyard is only 2km from the ‘oven’ as the crow flies and sits NE up an escarpment which funnels cool, salty air through the vines. The limestone soils bring fresh acidity and a mineral element to the wine.

“The other site is in Frankland River; this fruit is a bit riper and rounder in fruit profile, helping to build out the palate.”

With a wine as charming as this, I will follow in any direction that crow flies… Because when a wine transports you – it’s pure magic! This wine will whisk you away on an island holiday from the slopes of Sardinia to the shores of WA. It is distinctly Vermentino at its roots, accompanied by that sensational WA X factor.

Vermentino is lovingly known as ‘Favorita’ in Italy, having conquered the hearts of local wine growers for centuries. This wine will put a spell on you, and if you have a penchant for Pinot Grigio, a sweet spot for Sauvignon Blanc, or a racy Resiling, you will also fall in love with Vermentino.

And Dylan agrees. “I love Vermentino as it’s the perfect wine for the WA lifestyle. It is great with seafood and low alcohol, so it’s a great session wine!”

On that delicious note, your Vermentino will dazzle alongside a spaghetti alle vongole, dance heavenly with a grilled pesto chicken, fennel, orange, and green apple salad, and deliver the dreamy goods paired with oysters or fritto misto.

If this wine has piqued your curiosity, try these local beauties (available from their cellar doors or your local bottle shops): L.A.S. Vino – Vermentino Marea; Marq Wines – Vermentino.

And to taste from an Italian Sardinian source, try: Monti ‘Nord’ Est’ Vermentino – available from Margaret River Liquor Merchants.

The sunset beckons, as does my glass of ‘Favorita’, so I will bid you arrivederci, for now, my friends.

Have fun. Discover. Live.

P.P

LS Merchants 2023 ‘Vermentino’

Pale gold hums in the glass. Citrus bliss waves hello instantly, dressed in a pretty floral flinty design. Lemon and lime zest patterns the bouquet, laced with delicate orange and jasmine blossom nuances. Tarty green apple and grapefruit winks and accessorises alongside a refreshing ocean spray misting. The palate wraps around the mouth like a mouthwatering shawl, with the salinity melding into moreish savouriness that carries crunch with a mineral edge. Citrus fruits flow through with softened corners, lending a long, luscious length that leaves you wistfully staring out to sea.