Macaw Creek Organic Rose 2023: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Bright & crunchy

Pale salmon pink and beautifully fresh, Macaw Creek Organic Rose 2023 is a certified organic Shiraz rosé with lifted raspberry and violet aromatics. The palate stays elegant rather than overtly fruity, layering soft red berries and pomegranate over clean citrus acidity. At 12% alcohol it has an easy lightness, while that crisp finish makes it particularly good at the table. Certified organic and vegan friendly, this is uncomplicated, refreshing rosé with enough texture and flavour to keep things interesting.

Highlights

• SXC Certified Organic and vegan friendly
• Crafted by Macaw Creek — Rod Hooper has more than 40 vintages of winemaking experience
• Made from certified organic Shiraz grapes
• Raspberry, violets, soft red berries and pomegranate
• Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia
• 12.0% ABV

Tasting Notes

A lovely pale salmon pink with fresh, lifted raspberry fruit and delicate violet florals. The palate is elegant and softly textured, bringing together fresh red berries and pomegranate rather than overt confectionary sweetness. Clean citrus acidity cuts through the fruit, leaving the finish bright, crisp and refreshing.

Winemaking

Made from certified organic Shiraz grapes, with the winemaking focused on retaining the variety’s fresh red-fruit character while creating an elegant rosé rather than a heavier red-wine expression. The pale salmon colour points to restrained skin contact, while the clean citrus acidity and absence of obvious oak keep the style fresh and fruit-driven.

Vineyard & Vintage

The 2023 bottle carries a Mount Lofty Ranges regional designation in South Australia. Macaw Creek’s home vineyards near Riverton experience warm, dry summers and cool evenings, with limestone-influenced soils and naturally dry growing conditions well suited to organic viticulture. The winery favours low-yielding vines and minimal intervention in the vineyard, with the aim of producing healthy fruit with ripe flavour and good natural structure.

Why We Love It

The violet note is what gives this rosé a little individuality. Raspberry and red berries make it immediately approachable, while pomegranate and citrus acidity bring a fresher, more savoury dimension. It is light enough for a warm afternoon but has enough texture and flavour to move straight from aperitif to the lunch table.

Food Pairing

Fresh red fruit, florals and citrus acidity make this particularly versatile with Mediterranean and Asian flavours. Salty cheeses, prawns, fresh herbs and sweet roasted vegetables all play nicely against the raspberry and pomegranate fruit.

Try matching this wine with →

• Thai prawn salad with lime, chilli and fresh herbs — Find a Recipe
• Caramelised onion pissaladière with olives — Find a Recipe
• Roast beetroot, feta and walnut salad — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A sunny table and lunch that accidentally stretches well into the afternoon. Fresh enough to pour before the food arrives, but with enough flavour to stay at the table once everyone starts eating.

Cellaring

Rosé is all about freshness here, so drink the 2023 now rather than putting it away. Serve well chilled at around 8–10°C. Once opened, reseal and refrigerate and enjoy within 2–3 days.

Producer

Macaw Creek is a boutique South Australian winery established by winemaker Rod Hooper in 1992 near Riverton in the Gilbert Valley, part of the broader Mount Lofty Ranges zone. The winery and cellar door occupy restored stone stables dating from the 1880s on land that has been in the Hooper family for five generations. Rod has completed more than 40 vintages and has a long-standing commitment to organic and preservative-free winemaking, including research into preservative-free production at Charles Sturt University in 1990. Macaw Creek’s vineyard philosophy centres on minimal intervention, low-yielding vines and organic growing without systemic fungicides or pesticides.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy fresh, dry organic rosé with plenty of red-fruit character, try these next:

• Strawberry, raspberry and watermelon in another organic Shiraz rosé — Angove Organic Rose
• Dry McLaren Vale Shiraz rosé with strawberry, watermelon and crisp acidity — Spring Seed Morning Bride Rose
• Organic Sangiovese rosé with strawberry, sour cherry and a savoury edge — Pig In The House Rose

FAQ

What does Macaw Creek Organic Rose 2023 taste like?

Fresh raspberry and violet aromas lead into soft red berries and pomegranate. The palate is light and elegant, with clean citrus acidity giving the finish a crisp, refreshing edge.

Is Macaw Creek Organic Rose dry or sweet?

This is a fresh, dry-style rosé rather than a sweet pink wine. Ripe raspberry and red-berry flavours give it generous fruit, but the clean citrus acidity keeps the finish bright and refreshing.

What grape is used to make this rosé?

Macaw Creek Organic Rose 2023 is made from certified organic Shiraz grapes. Making the fruit as rosé rather than red wine captures Shiraz’s raspberry and red-berry character in a much lighter, fresher style.

Is Macaw Creek Organic Rose certified organic?

Yes. It is made from certified organic Shiraz grapes and the bottle carries SXC organic certification. Macaw Creek Wines itself is currently certified under Australia’s National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

The bottle states that it contains sulphites, so this particular Macaw Creek rosé is not preservative-free. For wines specifically made without added preservative, explore our No Added Preservative collection.

Is Macaw Creek Organic Rose 2023 vegan friendly?

Yes. The 2023 bottle is clearly labelled Vegan Friendly, making it suitable for customers looking for both organic and vegan wine.

What food pairs well with this rosé?

Try prawns, salmon, chicken salads, mezze, feta, roast beetroot or Mediterranean vegetable dishes. Its fresh acidity also makes it a good match for lightly spicy Asian food and dishes with plenty of citrus and fresh herbs.

How should I serve Macaw Creek Organic Rose?

Serve chilled at around 8–10°C in a white-wine or rosé glass. It does not need decanting; simply give it a few minutes out of a very cold fridge so the raspberry and violet aromas have room to open.

Can this 2023 rosé be cellared?

There is no advantage in extended cellaring now — this style is made around freshness and vibrant fruit. Drink it now and enjoy the raspberry, pomegranate and citrus character while it remains bright.

Who will love this wine?

This is a lovely option for anyone who enjoys dry rosé with genuine fruit flavour rather than a very neutral, barely-there style. If you like Shiraz-based rosés such as Spring Seed Morning Bride, the combination of raspberry fruit, florals and crisp acidity should be right up your alley.

(SKU: MC_Ros_CV)