September is bringing a distinctly American flavour to Melbourne, with hatted dining destination Reine & La Rue celebrating California Wine Month and Bourbon Heritage Month with a limited-edition drinks menu.
Running throughout September, the Melbourne restaurant is putting the spotlight on California wines and American bourbon, with four wines available by the glass alongside an exclusive contemporary take on the classic Whiskey Sour.
The collaboration brings together California Wines and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, giving Melbourne drinkers an opportunity to explore a selection of American producers and styles without leaving the city.
Reine & La Rue is a particularly fitting home for the collaboration. The restaurant’s wine list already counts the United States among its three key country focuses, alongside France and Australia, while its New York-inspired dining room provides an appropriately American backdrop.
Four California wines to try by the glass
The September menu covers several of California’s better-known wine regions, with four bottles available by the glass or bottle.
The line-up includes the Hartford Court Sevens Bench Chardonnay from Carneros, the 2021 Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc from Napa Valley and the 2024 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County.
Rounding out the selection is the 2021 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon, another Napa Valley wine with a place in American wine history after being included in the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting.
Together, the selection offers a snapshot of the variety found across California, from cool-climate vineyards in Santa Barbara County to the better-known wine country of Napa Valley.
California produces more than 80 per cent of American wine and is home to a wide range of regions, climates and grape varieties, making it an interesting place to start exploring American wine beyond the labels most familiar to Australian drinkers.
And there’s a bourbon cocktail, too
For Bourbon Heritage Month, Reine & La Rue has also created a limited-edition cocktail inspired by the Whiskey Sour.
The contemporary version combines Yellowstone Bourbon, mandarin, lemon, toasted rice orgeat and pastis, bringing together citrus, bourbon and subtle spice.
It’s a more elaborate interpretation of the American classic, and gives the September menu a second route into American drinking culture beyond wine.
Callie Poole, Head Sommelier at Reine & La Rue, said the collaboration reflects an increasing willingness among Australian drinkers to explore unfamiliar producers, regions and styles.
“We’re seeing Australians become much more adventurous in what they’re drinking, and we love being able to help people explore new producers, regions and styles in an approachable and considered way.”
The California wines and signature bourbon cocktail are available at Reine & La Rue throughout September, with the wines available by the glass or bottle.
Reine & La Rue
147 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Available throughout September.
Head to Reine & La Rue for bookings.
