Vermentino's home is the Mediterranean coast, and Hither & Yon's 2025 McLaren Vale release captures the same crisp, saline energy the variety is prized for there. It pours pale lemon with a slight green edge, and looks as bracing as it tastes from the very first glance.

Lemon pith, green almond and sea spray define the nose, and the palate stays light and zesty, with a faintly bitter almond note on the back palate that is typical of the variety, along with a fleeting herbal lift on the very edge of the aroma. There is a mouth-watering quality to it, more savoury than fruity, that keeps drawing the next sip.

Acidity dominates a short, clean finish, leaving the mouth refreshed rather than lingering with fruit sweetness or weight of any kind.

It is a natural match for fresh oysters, ceviche or a simple seafood pasta, and one of the more reliably food-friendly whites in this whole range.

It is best enjoyed young and well chilled, ideally within a year or so of release, while its zest is at its sharpest.