The Drop – Market Wine Store

Five Wines to Know from Market Wine Store

There’s something about a good wine store that makes you want to take your time. You might walk in looking for one thing and leave with something completely different. A bottle someone behind the counter has recommended, something you’ve never tried before, or simply a wine that looks too good to leave behind.

That’s part of what makes Market Wine Store so interesting. The focus is on good wine without making it feel overly complicated or intimidating. It’s a place to find bottles you’ll actually want to open, whether that’s something a little special for dinner with friends or an easy-drinking bottle for a barbecue on the weekend.

For Damien Ringrose, Beverage Director of Market Wine Store, choosing five wines for The Drop starts with the occasion rather than the bottle. Instead of picking five wines simply to showcase different varieties or regions, he thought about what he’d actually want to drink if he had a group of mates coming over.

His selections take you through an entire evening with friends starting with something bright and celebratory, moving into wines that work alongside food and finishing with something to sip slowly once the night settles in.

There’s Ayala Brut Majeur to welcome everyone through the door, one of Damien’s favourite Champagnes, followed by Henschke Peggy’s Hill Riesling, a fresh Australian white he thinks deserves far more attention. From there, it’s a bottle of Beaujolais from Mélinée Godard, the only wine in the five from outside Australia, before things loosen up with Unico Zelo’s Fresh AF, the cheeky addition to the line-up. To finish, there’s Gentle Folk’s Adelaide Hills Syrah, a lighter take on Shiraz that Damien sees as the perfect bottle for when dinner is done, the fire is going and everyone has settled in for the night.

Together, the five bottles are less about finding the most expensive, rare or serious wines and more about having the right bottle at the right time. Something to pour when friends arrive, something to drink alongside dinner, something a little unexpected and, eventually, something to sip slowly around the fire. We asked Damien to take us through the five bottles he’d be reaching for at home, why he chose them and where each one fits into a good night with friends.

Shop the five + Damien's personal favourite

Want to try Damien’s five picks from this month’s The Drop? He’s brought them all together, then added an extra bottle of Bondar Junto GSM, a personal favourite of his, to make it six. A little bonus bottle, chosen by Damien himself.

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Wine List

1. Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne NV

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This is the bottle Damien would have waiting when everyone walks through the door. It’s Champagne without the need to save it for a big occasion and it’s a pretty good reminder that you don’t have to spend a fortune for a seriously good bottle. Damien’s love for Ayala comes down to its balance and drinkability, with the house taking a more Chardonnay-focused approach than its Bollinger sibling. It’s polished enough to keep wine lovers interested, while remaining approachable for casual drinkers looking to discover something new.

TASTING NOTES

Bright and fresh, with lemon, green apple, pear and subtle brioche characters.

Pair with

Seafood is an obvious match. Oysters, scallops, lobster, crab or grilled fish, while sushi and lighter Asian dishes would work just as well.

TASTING NOTES

Fresh and racy, with the lemon and lime, frangipani, white rose and almond blossom.

Pair with

Seafood, fresh fish, prawns, oysters and lighter dishes all make sense, but it’s equally at home with cheese and crackers, chips and the sort of snacks that sit around while you’re waiting for the barbecue to get going.

2. Henschke Peggy’s Hill Riesling 2025

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At around $25, Peggy’s Hill offers plenty of wine for the price, which is exactly what makes it such a good bottle to have around when friends are coming over. It’s fresh, bright and versatile enough to carry you from the first snacks through to dinner. The wine comes from Henschke’s Eden Valley vineyard, and Damien highlights Prue Henschke’s work in biodynamic viticulture and her focus on restoring balance to the land.

3. Mee Godard Beaujolais Villages 2023

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For Damien, Beaujolais is having a moment. The region has moved well beyond its old reputation for Beaujolais Nouveau and quick, early-drinking wines, with producers like Mee Godard showing just how much depth and character the region can offer. The only international wine in Damien’s five, this French red brings something different to the mix, while still delivering the balance of character and drinkability he looks for. He describes it as a vibrant, fresh expression of Beaujolais, with sustainable farming and volcanic soils adding another layer to the wine.

TASTING NOTES

Fresh strawberry, red cherry and redcurrant sit at the front, with a subtle savoury note underneath.

Pair with

Grilled meats, salads, vegetables and plenty of people helping themselves.

TASTING NOTES

Bright, juicy and fruit-forward, with plenty of freshness and an aromatic lift.

Pair with

This is the post-dinner bottle. Bring it out when everyone has migrated to the kitchen, the food is mostly finished and the conversation is still going. It would also work nicely with spicy food, charcuterie, pizza or salty snacks.

4. Unico Zelo Fresh A.F. 2024

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Every line-up needs a wildcard, and Fresh A.F. is it. Damien calls it “not a serious wine” which is exactly why it’s so much fun. Made from Nero d’Avola from the Riverland with a touch of Zibibbo, it’s a minimal-intervention wine that is all about freshness, fruit and being easy to drink. He describes it as succulent, juicy, aromatic and “supremely refreshing”, which pretty much sums up where it belongs in Damien’s evening.

5. Gentle Folk Syrah 2025

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This bottle brings the evening back to South Australia, but with a lighter take on the classic Shiraz. From Gentle Folk in the Adelaide Hills, this Syrah comes from the Turnbull Vineyard and spends eight months in French oak. Market Wine Store describes Gentle Folk’s range as minimal intervention, vibrant and fresh, with a focus on site and season. For Damien, this Shiraz is less about power and weight, and more about delivering plenty of flavour while retaining freshness and drinkability. It’s the bottle he’d open once the fire is going, the blankets are out and everyone has settled in for the night.

TASTING NOTES

Spiced peppercorn, dark fruit and a lighter, finer structure than a traditional full-bodied Shiraz.

Pair with

This is made for the later stages of a barbecue. Grilled meats, lamb, sausages or roasted vegetables, but it would also be very happy alongside a cheeseboard. Most importantly, it’s the sort of red you can keep sipping long after dinner has finished.

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The Drop – Market Wine Store

Five Wines to Know from Market Wine Store

Shop the five + Damien's personal favourite