This MDI wine is pretty incredible - it's a blend of white grapes that originate in Central and Northern Italy - Favorita, Fiano and Garganega. It spends an incredible 170 days macerating on skins, and yet isn't a wildly 'orange' orange wine. It has an opulent texture and complex aromas of white flowers, various herbs and citrus. The flavours are savoury, elongated and balanced, with vibrant acidity and an elegant softness.

The wines by MDI are a beacon of light for the warm region of Victoria's Mildura, crafted by roving Winemaker Kev McCarthy. Best known for his many decades on the cooler Mornington Best known for his many decades on the cooler Mornington Peninsula, where he established iconic winery T'Gallant, Kev now has a new playground. It's here, out in the vast, dry landscape of the greater Murray Darling with an abundance of sunshine and giant night skies, that Kev crafts a new kind of story. As a bit of an outsider here, the advantage is, he gets to see what the locals can't see... in a way, it's a gift. He has done, and can do anything - in winemaking, that is. Having had skin in the 'contact' game for decades, Kev's biggest inspirations are from the wines of Italy, applying the kind of ideas and techniques that are far more traditional than most know. Not only does he bring serious chops to his new brand 'MDI', Kev gets to experiment with the old school, in a kind of punk way - with open eyes and an alternative ambition for skinsy deliciousness. These are wines on the edge, made with esoteric grape varieties usually found in northern Italy.