Continental Platter is a collaboration between Les Caves de Pyrene and their Australian distribution arm, Puncheon Bottles. It grew out of a frustrating hunt for larger-scale Australian wines that were genuinely drinkable and readily available for both the local and UK markets. Teaming up with winemaker Patrick Sullivan, they launched a project to craft a range of Australian wines from carefully sourced, high-quality fruit, made with natural, sustainable practices and priced for outstanding value. The brief was simple: purity, freshness and consistency at a scale that can reach real drinkers. The outcome is Continental Platter—wines that are vibrant, accessible and responsibly made, delivering the character of their vineyards without pretence and proving that scale and integrity can go hand in hand.

South Australia is home to many of the country’s flagship regions, stretching from the warm inland Riverland to the ocean-cooled Limestone Coast. Climate: broadly Mediterranean, moderated by the Southern Ocean, gulf breezes and high altitudes in the Adelaide Hills; Barossa is warm/continental, Eden and Clare elevated and cooler, Coonawarra maritime. Soils range from terra rossa over limestone (Coonawarra) to sandy loams, schistous gravels and red-brown earths. Key areas: Barossa & Eden Valleys, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Langhorne Creek and Riverland. Shiraz and Cabernet lead—plum, blackberry, spice, chocolate or minty cassis—alongside Grenache/GSM blends, benchmark Riesling (lime, talc, blossom) and modern Chardonnay/Pinot from the Hills. Expect ripe fruit, clear varietal character, polished tannins and vibrant acidity.

Semillon is a versatile white grape variety originating in the Bordeaux region of France, where it has long played a central role in both dry and sweet wine production. Its thin skin and susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) make it especially valued in the production of the world-famous sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac. Viticulturally, Semillon is relatively easy to grow, with a tendency towards high yields, though careful vineyard management is required to maintain concentration and quality. The grape thrives in warm to moderate climates, producing wines with good body and ageing potential, but is more prone to disease pressure in cooler, wetter regions.

Today, Semillon is planted in several key wine regions beyond Bordeaux. It is particularly successful in Australia, where the Hunter Valley produces dry, unoaked styles noted for their remarkable ability to age, developing from zesty lemon and grass notes into complex flavours of toast, honey and lanolin. South Africa, Chile and Argentina also cultivate Semillon, often blending it with Sauvignon Blanc to add texture and depth.

In terms of style, Semillon ranges from fresh, citrus-driven dry wines to lusciously sweet botrytised examples. Flavours commonly include lemon, apple, stone fruit, honey and nutty, waxy characters, with aged expressions gaining rich, layered complexity.