Welcome to Samantha May Wines by Sam Sutherland
Orange & Multi-regional NSW
Hand picked and whole bunch pressed, grown at the gates of stunning Tumblong Hills Vineyard, Gundagai, NSW.
Beautifully framed from fermentation in clay amphora and maturation in Austrian and French oak. Honeysuckle, nougat, green almond, apple blossom and ripe peach. Powerful yet precise. Textured yet elegant.
Alc/Vol 13%
Vegan Friendly
Reviews
The Wine Front - 93 Points
‘Apple, honey, peanut and almond, a little dusty spice and a sprinkle of white pepper, also has some floral notes. It’s cool and composed, almond, some green olive rolled in herbs, a flinty feel to texture, slightly sandy too, a gentle glossiness with apple and green pear, and a preserved lemon and tonic finish of fine length. Lovely wine. Great drinking.’ - Gary Walsh, July 2026
Qwine Reviews - 93 Points
‘Expressive aromas from the outset of beeswax, honeysuckle and yellow peach skin get my attention. There is a curiosity that builds with intrigue as I taste, and I get the sense that it is an enigmatic character of sorts, almost resisting full disclosure. A gentle, rich presence is partnered by a restrained drive with almond meal, pie apple and nougat creaminess building further delight through the palate. It gives off a distinct sense of autumnal appeal with a green apple-esque crunch on close. Not to be outdone, subtle tonic edge extends the textural appeal, reaching long through to a moreish and contemplative finish. And that's precisely it, it's a wine of complexity, interest and contemplation. Beautifully done’- Steve Leszczynski, June 2026
Halliday Wine Companion - 91 Points
‘Fruit is from the Tumblong Hills vineyard in Gundagai, hand picked and into clay amphora for fermentation and into Austrian and French oak for maturation. White mushroom, pomelo and lemonade fruit. There are notes of lemon pith and a quartz-like quality of stone. Flannel flower and Calla lily, too. White nectarine and fleshy fruit open further with some gentle almond cream. Crystalline acidity and a wisp of pear. This is a very good demonstration of the linear style that is doing well with the Aussie palate. A fabulous first release; keep your eye on this one’ - Shanteh Wale, October 2026
Succulent cherry ripe, blood plum and lavender oil. Graphite, charred fragrant spices, sandstone feel tannins. Maturation in french oak.
Orange NSW, Gordon Hills Vineyard
Alc/Vol 13.5%
Reviews
The Wine Front - 94 Points
‘Ripe cherry and raspberry, biscuit spices, rosehip, empty chocolate box. It’s medium-bodied but has some weight and presence, fresh and juicy redcurrant acidity, dried herb and floral mouth-perfume, a crushed sandstone feel to tannin, with a twist of dried orange peel on a savoury yet fruit sweet finish of excellent length. No shortage of tannin, but I like that sort of thing. Excellent’ - Gary Walsh, June 2026
Halliday Wine Companion - 93 Points
‘Fruit comes from Gordon Hills vineyard in Orange. This is woodsy, with blackberries, thorny stems and Nyon olives. A note of creeping ivy, violets and lavender stems. Cabernet franc feels at home in Orange and demonstrates a full display of inky fruit and accented edges of savoury Mediterranean herbs. This has sandy tannins and fruit that keeps on giving in its blackcurrant way, unmuddied by dominant oak. There is so much charisma here; a triumph for a first vintage under the Samantha May label. Captivating’ - Shanteh Wale, October 2026
Bricky red, rhubarb, violets, wild strawberry, steeped tea, stripped bark. Sensuously fine yet chalky tannin. Persistent and savoury. Five weeks on skins, native yeast, matured for 12 months in neutral french oak.
Tumblong Hills Vineyard, Gundagai, NSW.
Alc/Vol 13%
Vegan Friendly
Reviews
Halliday Wine Companion - 92 Points
‘The fruit comes from the Tumblong Hills vineyard in Gundagai. The wine spends five weeks on skins with native yeasts, then matures in neutral French oak for 12 months. Persimmon, rhubarb stalks and pomegranates. Goji berry tea and terracotta clay. There are some orange bitters, too – a Campari edge, you could say. This has a personality all its own and drinks like an excellent amaro, satiating and remedial. Some pink peppercorn spice and oak influence just cups the fruit. A wine you’ll keep thinking about for long moments’ - Shanteh Wale, October 2026
The Wine Front - 92 Points
‘A very interesting expression of Nebbiolo here, though it still speaks the language, albeit with a different accent. And that’s one of the good things about this grape variety; it’s a broad church, as such. It’s spicy, allspice in particular, dusty, a distinct amaro twang here, liquorice, cherry, poached strawberry and rhubarb. Medium-bodied, a blood orange tang lends a gentle sourness, some raspberry juiciness, tomato consommé too, a fine white pepper grip to tannin, with an almond meal and spiced finish of good length. A very good drink, is the import.’ - Gary Walsh, June 2026
Qwine Reviews - 93 Points
‘Silky, dancy and damn delicious. Woah! Layered with interest, think cherries and cherry pips, red plums, orange peel, black tea and licorice root. Scents of dried rose petals continue to diffuse and call me back time and again with a touch of cola sliding in late. It's such an elegant and graceful wine that possesses a wonderful sense of calm and humility - much like its maker. Drying out ever so slowly, it glides about effortlessly leaving a trail of powdery tannins in its wake. Absolutely gorgeous and moreish, this is nothing short of an enthusiastic recommendation from me’. - Steve Leszczynski, June 2026
Our first ‘orange’ wine from Orange and a little experimental.
100% Riesling. 8 months skin contact. Basket Pressed.
Elderflower, steeped chamomile tea, tangerine, mandarin essence and persistent length with complex tannins drifting on the palate. Very crisp at less than 1g/L residual sugar. Bottled unfiltered this wine does have a slightly cloudy appearance.
Called ‘Citrine’ derived from the Latin word citrus and by way of the French citrin or citron (lemon), citrine is a yellow to orange variety of quartz. We found this name fitting for this wine after a trip to the Australian Museum.
Single Vineyard: Carrington, Orange NSW, which sits above 850m elevation.
ABV 11%
Review February 2026
The Wine Front - 95 Points.
‘Eight months skin contact here. Riesling. An orange wine from Orange. Hallelujah! The stars align. Samantha May is a producer to watch. Tangerine, lemon myrtle, preserved lemon, and quite some perfume generally – crystalized violet and ginger in particular. It’s juicy, tangelo and green mango, it has a firm skinsy texture, though it doesn’t go overboard – it’s all just so – and it’s fresh too. The finish is long with a gently sandy grip, and the pleasure, interest and drinking appeal is there. Excellent. So excellent. My word this is delicious. It’s +1 points for me on that point, as such’ - Gary Walsh
Vegan Friendly
