The grape takes its name from the Italian ‘pecora’ meaning sheep because the vines grew along the route the shepherds took as they brought the sheep down from the mountains in central Italy (or so the story goes!).

Continuing their pioneering role in alternative varieties, winemakers Ian & Suzanne Little in 2021 produced one of the first Pecorino wines in Australia. They chose to grow it here in the Hunter Valley for its ability to hold flavour and acid during the warmer ripening months of December and January. It is also a variety that has a lower demand for water which makes it a more sustainable option than many other white varieties.

We love this variety for its delicious crisp crunchy palate and its delicate pear and pink lady apple flavours. The wine shows complex minerality with a lovely aromatic crispness that make it appealing as a young wine and indicates an ability to age for further complexity.