Battle of Bosworth Dissident Skin Contact Field Blend 2025: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Orange-wine & tea-like

Battle of Bosworth Dissident Skin Contact Field Blend 2025 is a skinsy, organic McLaren Vale white that sits beautifully between fresh white wine and gentle orange wine. Expect citrus peel, apricot skin, chamomile, dried herbs and sea-spray freshness, with a dry, savoury palate and soft grip from skin contact. It is textural without being heavy, aromatic without being sweet, and best served lightly chilled with food.

Highlights

• Certified organic; vegan suitable
• No added preservative
• Crafted by Battle of Bosworth — family-owned McLaren Vale producer and long-time organic viticulture leader
• Skin-contact field blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and a lick of Muscat à Petit Grains
• Unfiltered and unfined for texture and savoury detail
• 12.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Aromatic and gently savoury, with citrus peel, apricot skin, chamomile, dried herbs, lemon pith and a faint sea-spray note. The palate is dry and medium-bodied, with preserved lemon, white stone fruit and subtle spice carried by bright acidity. Skin contact adds soft tannin and a tea-like grip, giving the wine structure without harshness.

Winemaking

Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and a small amount of Muscat à Petit Grains are picked together and co-fermented on skins for around five days. The wine is then pressed off skins and bottled unfiltered and unfined, keeping the texture, savoury edge and natural aromatic lift intact. This is part of Battle of Bosworth’s Outliers range, where alternative techniques and varieties are used to make expressive, characterful wines.

Vineyard & Vintage

This wine comes from McLaren Vale, South Australia, where Battle of Bosworth works with organically grown fruit from its family vineyards. The region’s Mediterranean climate gives ripe fruit and flavour, while the skin-contact approach brings grip, colour and structure. The 2025 release is built around freshness, texture and a clean, dry finish.

Why We Love It

Dissident is a clever bridge between white wine and orange wine. It has the brightness of Sauvignon Blanc, the texture of Semillon and the aromatic lift of Muscat, all wrapped in a savoury, gently grippy shape. It is interesting enough for orange-wine lovers but not too wild for someone just starting with skin-contact styles.

Food Pairing

Skin-contact whites love food with salt, spice, herbs and texture. This one is especially good with sushi, roast vegetables, mezze, chargrilled seafood, dumplings, pork belly, mushroom dishes and tahini-rich vegetarian plates.

Try matching this wine with →

• Sushi bowls with avocado, cucumber and pickled ginger — Find a Recipe
• Roasted cauliflower with tahini, lemon and herbs — Find a Recipe
• Chargrilled squid with chilli, lemon and herbs — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

For the friend who always orders the most interesting dish on the menu. Chill it lightly, put out salty snacks or a grazing-style dinner, and let the bottle become part of the conversation.

Cellaring

Drink now to 2028. It is at its best while the citrus, chamomile and sea-spray freshness are vivid, though the savoury skin-contact texture can settle nicely over the next couple of years. Store cool and dark.

Producer

Battle of Bosworth is a family-owned McLaren Vale producer run by Joch Bosworth and Louise Hemsley-Smith. The winery is based near Willunga, where the Bosworth family vineyards have been farmed organically for decades and hold Australian Certified Organic certification. Their approach combines organic viticulture, sustainable farming and thoughtful small-batch winemaking. The Outliers range, which includes Dissident, gives the team room to explore alternative varieties and techniques while keeping the wines expressive, balanced and genuinely drinkable.

Related Wines To Try →

For other textural, skinsy and natural-leaning whites, try these:

• Golden, floral and chalky skin-contact white with bright fruit and savoury grip — Das Juice Maceration
• Organic skin-contact Sauvignon Blanc and Marsanne with citrus, stone fruit and herbal grip — See Saw SAMM Skin Contact Sav Blanc Marsanne
• Amber, biodynamic Viognier with dried apricot, marmalade and natural tannin — Kalleske Plenarius Viognier

FAQ

What does Battle of Bosworth Dissident Skin Contact Field Blend 2025 taste like?

It tastes like citrus peel, preserved lemon, apricot skin, chamomile, dried herbs and subtle spice. The palate is dry and textural, with bright acidity and a soft, tea-like grip from skin contact. It finishes savoury, fresh and food-friendly.

Is this wine sweet, dry or full-bodied?

This is a dry wine. It is medium-bodied for a white, with more texture than a crisp Sauvignon Blanc but less weight than a rich Chardonnay. The fruit is aromatic, but the finish stays savoury and dry.

Is Dissident an orange wine?

Yes, it sits in the orange wine and skin-contact white category. White grapes are fermented on their skins, which adds colour, tannin, aroma and texture. It is a gentle example, so it is a great starting point for anyone curious about orange wine.

How should I serve this wine?

Serve it lightly chilled at around 8–10°C. A white wine glass or universal glass works well, giving the aromatics room without making the texture too broad. Avoid serving it icy cold, as that can hide the savoury detail and grip.

Should I decant this skin-contact wine?

No formal decanting is needed. Open it 10 minutes before serving and let it settle in the glass. Because it is unfiltered and unfined, a little natural haze or sediment is normal.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This wine is No Added Preservative. All wines can contain tiny amounts of naturally occurring sulphites from fermentation, but no preservative sulphites are added here. Once opened, reseal and refrigerate, then enjoy within 1–2 days.

Is Battle of Bosworth Dissident vegan friendly?

Yes, this wine is vegan suitable. It is also unfined, which means animal-derived fining agents are not used to clarify the wine. That approach supports the wine’s natural texture and slightly cloudy, skin-contact character.

What food pairs best with this wine?

It is excellent with sushi, dumplings, chargrilled squid, roasted cauliflower, mezze, eggplant, mushroom dishes and pork belly. The acidity cuts through richness, while the light tannin works beautifully with salty, savoury and umami flavours. For a vegetarian match, try roasted cauliflower with tahini and lemon.

Who will love this wine?

It will suit drinkers who enjoy textural whites, dry rosé, light orange wines and savoury natural styles. If you like Sauvignon Blanc but want more grip, or Chardonnay but want less oak, this is a smart next step. It is also a lovely choice for anyone exploring orange wine without diving into something too intense.

Is this wine keto friendly?

Yes, this is a dry, low-sugar wine. It is a better fit for keto-conscious drinkers than sweet, off-dry or dessert wines. Suitability still depends on your own dietary goals and serving size.

(SKU: BB_DIS_CV)