Australia · Riverina

Quarisa Wines

Tharbogang family producer using grapes from New South Wales and South Australia across red, white and sparkling wines.

The producer

John Quarisa has more than 30 years of winemaking experience and completed a Wine Science degree before working with some of Australia's largest and most well known brands. John and Josephine Quarisa established Quarisa Wines as a family business in 2005, using grapes from New South Wales and South Australia and making wine in leased space. The producer publishes Australian Certified Organic registration 13120 and Freshcare certification FC216305. Its export markets include Sweden and countries across Europe, Asia, Oceania and North America.

Known for

Australian red, white and sparkling wines

Notable facts

The story

Two Trophies In 2004

John Quarisa completed a Wine Science degree before making wines for some of Australia's largest and most well known brands. His career included serving as Chief Winemaker at Nugan Estate, where he helped develop the company's export strategy. In 2004 he won both the Jimmy Watson Trophy and the Stodart Trophy. His career has run for over 30 years, linking formal wine study, work with large Australian brands and two named trophies.

Two Trophies In 2004

John Quarisa completed a Wine Science degree before making wines for some of Australia's largest and most well known brands. His career included serving as Chief Winemaker at Nugan Estate, where he helped develop the company's export strategy. In 2004 he won both the Jimmy Watson Trophy and the Stodart Trophy. His career has run for over 30 years, linking formal wine study, work with large Australian brands and two named trophies.

From the atlas

Quarisa Wines

Quarisa Wines is an Australian family wine business using grapes from New South Wales and South Australia across red, white and sparkling styles.

At A Glance

FieldDetail
Established2005
WinemakerJohn Quarisa
FamilyJohn and Josephine Quarisa
Wine categoriesRed, white and sparkling
Published registration numbersAustralian Certified Organic 13120; Freshcare Australian Wine Industry Standard of Sustainable Practice FC216305

The Producer

John Quarisa completed a Wine Science degree before making wines for some of Australia's largest and most well known brands. He has more than 30 years of winemaking experience. His career included serving as Chief Winemaker at Nugan Estate and helping develop its export strategy.

John and Josephine Quarisa set up a family wine business using grapes sourced from various parts of New South Wales and South Australia. Wine is made in leased space, giving the company a production model built around sourced fruit and flexible cellar access.

Place

743 Slopes Road, Tharbogang, New South Wales 2680 is the listed address for Quarisa Wines. Q Malbec carries the broad South Eastern Australia regional origin. No village, slope or parcel is named for that wine, and no named single vineyard is given for Q Malbec, The Great Bonza Reserve Shiraz Cabernet or Caravan Durif.

A regional origin names a wider source area than a village or parcel, so Q Malbec is located at regional level on the label.

Wines

Quarisa's red wines include Q Malbec 2022, The Great Bonza Reserve Shiraz Cabernet 2022 and Caravan Durif 2021. The white wines include Chardonnayburk 2024 and Byron Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2024. Bubbelburk Brut 2025 and LXRY Sparkling are sparkling wines.

The Great Bonza Reserve Shiraz Cabernet carries Shiraz and Cabernet in its name, while Caravan Durif carries Durif and Q Malbec carries Malbec. The range places grape names across red, white and sparkling bottles.

In The Glass

The Great Bonza Reserve Shiraz Cabernet 2022 is full bodied, with dense ripe berry fruit in cherries and blackcurrants, spicy oak and a long, smooth finish. Caravan Durif 2021 brings blackberry, cherry, currant, cassis and plum, with lightly mint touched herbs. Its acidity is balanced, and its tannins are present but approachable.

A Bottle To Understand It

Choose The Great Bonza Reserve Shiraz Cabernet 2022. It is the red bottling whose name joins Shiraz and Cabernet, and it carries the Reserve designation. Q Malbec 2022 and Caravan Durif 2021 carry Malbec and Durif in their names, so this bottle keeps the first comparison between grape names on the label.

Final Word

Quarisa Wines makes wines that are down to earth, full of character and approachable.

Sources

1. https://www.quarisa.com.au/ 2. https://www.quarisa.com.au/about-us/ 3. https://www.quarisa.com.au/about-us/who-is-johnny-q/ 4. https://www.quarisa.com.au/contact/ 5. https://winecompanion.com.au/wineries/south-australia/south-australia/quarisa-wines 6. https://www.quarisa.com.au/wines/2022-the-great-bonza-south-easter-australia-shiraz-cabernet/ 7. https://www.boxtoppen.se/produkt/caravan-durif-2021/

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