Del Popolo Bianco 2022: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Textural & mouth-filling

Del Popolo Bianco 2022 is a dry, organic and vegan white from Minimum Wines in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley. It is not a sharp, squeaky-clean white; this is a softly skinsy, textural style with ripe nectarine, peach, subtle phenolic grip and gentle savoury depth from wild fermentation, barrel work and extended ageing. Think relaxed Italian table wine energy, but made with organic Victorian fruit and a very considered natural-wine hand.

Highlights

• Certified organic and vegan suitable
• Crafted by Minimum Wines — organic, vegan wine from a small family vineyard in the Goulburn Valley
• Dry white blend with ripe nectarine, peach and subtle skinsy lift
• Wild-fermented, barrel-fermented, unfiltered and aged for 18 months
• 12.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Del Popolo Bianco is dry and gently textural, with ripe nectarine, peach, peach skin and a little golden orchard fruit. The two days on skins give a subtle grippy edge rather than full orange-wine chew, while barrel fermentation and malolactic fermentation bring roundness, savoury depth and a creamy lees-like texture. It finishes clean, softly skinsy and food-friendly, with enough freshness to keep the ripe fruit in balance.

Winemaking

The white grapes were soaked on skins for two days, then pressed to stainless steel for another two days while wild fermentation began. The ferment was then transferred to aged 300L barrels, with daily stirring until dry. The wine was brought together in tank, redistributed back to barrel to complete malolactic fermentation with a little bâtonnage, then barrel-aged for 18 months before bottling unfiltered.

Vineyard & Vintage

Del Popolo Bianco is made by Minimum Wines from organic Victorian grapes in the Goulburn Valley. The region’s warm inland days and cooler nights suit ripe, flavourful whites with enough freshness to hold shape. The 2022 release leans into texture and generosity, using short skin contact, wild fermentation and long barrel ageing to build savoury complexity around the ripe peach and nectarine core.

Why We Love It

This is the kind of white that works beautifully when a crisp white feels too simple, but a full orange wine is too much. It has natural-wine personality without being wild for the sake of it: ripe fruit, gentle grip, creamy texture and an easy table-wine charm. It is also excellent value for an organic, wild-fermented, barrel-aged white made with this level of care.

Food Pairing

Del Popolo Bianco suits food with texture, herbs, roasted vegetables, creamy sauces and gentle spice. The ripe stone fruit works with richer dishes, while the subtle skin grip and dry finish cut through oil, cheese and roasted flavours.

Try matching this wine with →

• Roast chicken with lemon, herbs and pan juices — Find a Recipe
• Pumpkin and ricotta pasta with sage or browned butter — Find a Recipe
• Roasted cauliflower salad with tahini, herbs and almonds — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A relaxed long-lunch white for roast chicken, shared plates, golden-hour cheese boards and dinners where everyone keeps reaching for the bottle. It has enough texture for food, but stays bright enough for casual sipping.

Cellaring

Drink now for its ripe nectarine, peach and softly skinsy texture. It can be held for another 1–2 years under good storage conditions, but this style is best enjoyed while the fruit and natural freshness are still front and centre.

Producer

Minimum Wines is a small family producer based in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley, working with organic and regenerative viticulture. Their wines are organic and vegan, with a natural-wine approach that favours wild fermentation, texture and honest fruit expression over heavy manipulation. The Del Popolo range is their more relaxed, Italian-inspired house-wine style: affordable, organic and made for the table. For Del Popolo Bianco, short skin contact, aged barrels, malolactic fermentation and unfiltered bottling create a white that is generous, savoury and quietly distinctive.

Related Wines To Try →

These are good next steps if you enjoy dry, textural organic whites with stone fruit, savoury detail and a more natural edge.

• Richer amber-style Viognier with grip and spice — Kalleske Plenarius Viognier
• Lightly sparkling, wild-fermented white with salty citrus freshness — Delinquente Tuff Nutt Bianco d'Alessano Pet Nat
• Textural organic Fiano with citrus, peach and almond detail — Love Not War Organic Fiano

FAQ

What does Del Popolo Bianco taste like?

Del Popolo Bianco tastes dry, ripe and textural, with nectarine, peach, peach skin and soft orchard-fruit notes. The palate has a subtle skinsy lift, creamy barrel texture and a gentle savoury finish.

Is this a white wine or an orange wine?

This is best described as a textural white with short skin contact, rather than a full orange wine. The grapes spend two days on skins, giving light phenolic grip and savoury interest without becoming deeply amber or very tannic.

Is Del Popolo Bianco organic?

Yes. Del Popolo Bianco is certified organic and made by Minimum Wines in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley. Minimum works with organic and regenerative viticulture, with a focus on lower-intervention winemaking.

Is this wine vegan friendly?

Yes. Del Popolo Bianco is vegan suitable. It is also bottled unfiltered, which suits the more natural, textural style of the wine.

Does Del Popolo Bianco contain preservatives or sulphites?

This wine is certified organic and naturally made, but it is not listed as a No Added Preservative wine. As with most wines, sulphites may be present, including naturally occurring sulphites from fermentation.

Is this wine sweet or dry?

It is dry, with residual sugar listed at approximately 2 g/L. The ripe nectarine and peach give a generous fruit impression, but the finish remains dry and gently savoury.

How should I serve Del Popolo Bianco?

Serve it lightly chilled at around 10–12°C in a medium-sized white wine glass. Avoid serving it ice-cold, as a little warmth helps the texture, peach fruit and savoury barrel notes open up.

Should I decant this wine?

A decant is not essential, but a quick splash into a carafe can help if the bottle is very cold or tightly wound. Ten minutes of air is enough to bring out the creamy texture and soft skinsy detail.

What food pairs best with this wine?

It pairs well with roast chicken, creamy pasta, pumpkin dishes, cauliflower with tahini, grilled fish and soft cheeses. For vegetarian meals, it is especially good with roasted vegetables, herbs, nuts and savoury pastry.

Who will enjoy this wine?

This is a great choice for drinkers who enjoy textural whites, natural wines and skinsy styles that are still easy to share. If you like orange wine but want something softer and more approachable, Del Popolo Bianco is a very good step.

Is Del Popolo Bianco keto friendly?

Yes. With residual sugar around 2 g/L, it sits in the dry wine range and is low in sugar. Suitability still depends on your own goals and serving size, but from a sugar perspective it is a keto-friendly style.

(SKU: MN_DPB_CV)