Organic Hill Preservative Free Montepulciano 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Pasta’s Best Friend

A smooth, generous Montepulciano from Organic Hill’s preservative-free range, made with certified organic Riverland fruit and no added preservative sulphites. Ripe cherry and dark berries meet chocolate and a subtle almond note, with a dry, medium-to-full-bodied palate and rounded tannins. It has plenty of flavour without becoming heavy — exactly the sort of warm, easygoing red that belongs beside a bowl of pasta.

Highlights

• Certified organic, vegan suitable and No Added Preservative
• Crafted by Organic Hill — a South Australian producer specialising in organic, vegan and preservative-free wines
• Ripe cherry, dark berries, chocolate and a hint of almond
• Organic Montepulciano from Riverland, South Australia
• 88 Points — USA Wine Ratings 2025
• 14.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Bright garnet in the glass, with fragrant dark berries and ripe cherry leading into chocolate and a delicate almond note. The palate is smooth, dry and medium to full-bodied, with juicy cherry fruit through the middle, a cocoa-like savouriness and rounded tannins providing enough structure for food without becoming firm or drying. There is richness from the ripe fruit and 14.5% alcohol, balanced by enough freshness to keep the finish composed and moreish.

Winemaking

Made from certified organic Montepulciano and bottled in Organic Hill’s preservative-free style, with no preservative sulphites added during winemaking. The emphasis is on retaining the grape’s bright fruit, smooth texture and natural savoury character rather than building the wine around obvious oak. It is vegan suitable, bottled under screwcap and made as a generous, approachable red to enjoy while its cherry and chocolate characters are fresh.

Vineyard & Vintage

The 2024 fruit comes from the Riverland in South Australia, where the warm, dry growing conditions suit Mediterranean varieties such as Montepulciano. This Italian variety is naturally capable of combining deep colour and generous fruit with useful acidity and tannin, making it particularly well suited to warm Australian regions. The finished wine is dry at approximately 2 g/L residual sugar, with 14.5% alcohol.

Why We Love It

This is the red to reach for when Shiraz sounds a little too familiar but you still want something generous and comforting. Cherry, chocolate and almond make it instantly appealing, while the rounded tannins and savoury edge stop it becoming overly plush. Add certified organic fruit, vegan credentials and no added preservative sulphites, and it becomes a very easy bottle to put on the weeknight dinner table.

Food Pairing

Montepulciano loves food with tomato, herbs, cheese, roasted vegetables and savoury meats. Its cherry fruit works beautifully with tomato-based sauces, while the moderate tannin and chocolatey depth can handle richer pasta dishes and pork without overwhelming them.

Try matching this wine with →

• Spaghetti all’amatriciana with tomato and chilli — Find a Recipe
• Eggplant parmigiana with tomato and mozzarella — Find a Recipe
• Pork and fennel sausage ragù — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Pasta night with the good parmesan, pizza shared around the table, or a relaxed Sunday dinner when you want a red with enough generosity to satisfy everyone. It is approachable enough for an ordinary Tuesday, but has more character than the standard weeknight red.

Cellaring

Best enjoyed now through 2027 while the cherry, berry and chocolate characters are bright and generous. As a wine made without added preservative sulphites, it is intended more for youthful drinking than extended cellaring. Keep bottles somewhere cool, dark and away from temperature fluctuations.

Producer

Organic Hill is a South Australian wine producer founded by Leon Hill, with its vineyard and cellar door at 36 Twentyeight Road in McLaren Vale. The business began in 2005 and has built its range around organic farming, vegan winemaking and wines made without added preservative sulphites. Its preservative-free collection uses certified organic fruit, while its McLaren Vale Founders Release also incorporates biodynamic practices. Although this Montepulciano is sourced from the Riverland, it follows the same philosophy: expressive Australian fruit, straightforward winemaking and familiar, generous flavours without unnecessary additions.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy this smooth, savoury Mediterranean-style red, try these next:

• Rich, savoury Montepulciano with dark fruit, spice and plenty of depth — Tscharke The Master Montepulciano
• Rich, powerful McLaren Vale Shiraz with blackberry, black pepper and supple tannins — Organic Hill Founders Preservative Free Shiraz
• Silky, savoury biodynamic Tempranillo with dark cherry, herbs and spice — Paxton Tempranillo

FAQ

What does Organic Hill Preservative Free Montepulciano taste like?

It shows ripe cherry and dark berries with chocolate and a subtle almond note. The palate is smooth, dry and medium to full-bodied, with rounded tannins and a generous but balanced finish.

Is this Montepulciano dry, and how much body and tannin does it have?

Yes, it is dry, with approximately 2 g/L residual sugar. Body sits between medium and full, while the tannins are moderate and rounded rather than particularly firm or grippy. Acidity is moderate, giving enough freshness to balance the ripe fruit.

How should I serve Organic Hill Montepulciano 2024?

Serve it around 16–18°C in a medium or large red wine glass. It does not require decanting, although 10–15 minutes in the glass or a short splash decant can help the cherry, chocolate and almond characters become more expressive.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This is a No Added Preservative wine, meaning preservative sulphur dioxide has not been added during winemaking. Small amounts of sulphites can occur naturally as a result of fermentation, even when no sulphites are added.

Is Organic Hill Preservative Free Montepulciano vegan friendly?

Yes. The 2024 wine is vegan suitable as well as certified organic and made with no added preservatives. Organic Hill’s preservative-free range is specifically produced without animal-derived winemaking agents.

What food pairs best with this Montepulciano?

Tomato-based pasta, pizza, pork and fennel sausages, antipasti, roasted meats and firm cheeses all work beautifully. For a vegetarian option, try eggplant parmigiana, mushroom ragù or roasted vegetables with herbs and tomato.

Can this wine be cellared?

It is best enjoyed from now through 2027 while its cherry fruit and smooth texture are at their freshest. Because it is made without added preservative sulphites, careful cool storage is particularly important and long-term cellaring is not its main purpose.

Who will enjoy this wine the most?

It suits drinkers who enjoy smooth, medium-to-full-bodied reds with ripe fruit and a savoury edge. If you like softer Shiraz, Sangiovese, Italian-style reds or other alternative red varietals, Montepulciano is a very natural next step.

How long will it last after opening?

For best freshness, enjoy it within 1–2 days. Reseal the bottle and store it in the fridge after opening, then bring it back towards cellar temperature before serving.

Is Organic Hill Montepulciano keto friendly?

The wine is dry at approximately 2 g/L residual sugar and contains less than 1 gram of sugar per 100 mL. That makes it relatively low in sugar, although alcohol and your overall dietary intake still need to be considered.

(SKU: OH_Mon_CV)