At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Established
- 2005
- Winemaker
- John Quarisa
- Family
- John and Josephine Quarisa
- Wine categories
- Red, white and sparkling
- Published registration numbers
- Australian 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/