2026 J&S Fielke Onkaparinga Valley Fiano | Adelaide Hills, SA | 94 Points

🏆 94 POINTS THE WINE FRONT | 93 POINTS HALLIDAY – ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING NEW FIANOS IN AUSTRALIA! JUST $30!

94 Points – The Wine Front | 93 Points – Halliday Wine Companion

2026 J&S Fielke Onkaparinga Valley Fiano – Adelaide Hills, South Australia

 RRP $30

Every now and then, a wine comes along that reminds you just how much extraordinary talent is emerging from the Adelaide Hills. The 2026 J&S Fielke Onkaparinga Valley Fiano is one of those wines.

This is the very first Fiano produced by the exciting husband-and-wife team of Jemma and Steve Fielke, and what an extraordinary debut it is.

Already awarded 94 points by Kasia Sobiesiak at The Wine Front and 93 points by Mike Bennie at Halliday Wine Companion, this is a seriously impressive white wine at an almost ridiculously affordable price.

Just $30 a bottle.

The fruit comes from the highly regarded Deanery Vineyard at Balhannah, in the Onkaparinga Valley subregion of the Adelaide Hills.

The 2026 vintage was exceptionally late and cool, providing the ideal conditions to produce a Fiano with remarkable aromatic intensity, beautiful natural acidity and the wonderful texture for which this Italian variety is celebrated.

The result is a wine overflowing with character.

Think white peach, yellow apple, crunchy green plum, citrus oil, fresh herbs, ginger and delicate almond notes, all wrapped around a wonderfully textured palate with vibrant acidity and a refreshing, savoury finish.

This is not simply another crisp white wine.

It is a beautifully considered, seriously delicious and remarkably sophisticated Fiano.

And at just $30, it represents some of the most exciting drinking value emerging from the Adelaide Hills.

J&S Fielke – Two of the Adelaide Hills' Most Exciting Young Wine Talents

J&S Fielke is the creation of Jemma and Steve Fielke, two passionate wine professionals who grew up in the Adelaide Hills.

The couple met while studying Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Adelaide.

Their careers subsequently followed complementary paths.

Jemma developed her expertise in viticulture, working closely with vineyards and focusing on the cultivation of exceptional fruit.

Steve concentrated on winemaking, developing his experience in the cellar and exploring the techniques required to translate vineyard character into beautifully crafted wines.

Following a vintage working in the United States, the opportunity to work with a small parcel of vines in the Piccadilly Valley arose during the 2018–19 growing season.

And J&S Fielke was born.

Their philosophy is refreshingly straightforward.

Great wine begins in the vineyard.

Rather than imposing a predetermined winemaking style on every wine, Jemma and Steve focus on understanding the individual character of each site.

Their approach combines meticulous viticulture with thoughtful, minimal-intervention winemaking.

The objective is to produce wines that express the remarkable diversity of the Adelaide Hills.

From the cool slopes of Piccadilly Valley to the vineyards of Lenswood and the Onkaparinga Valley, each site offers something different.

And that diversity is exactly what makes their range so fascinating.

Jemma and Steve represent the new generation of Adelaide Hills winemakers – talented, ambitious, vineyard-focused and completely committed to quality.

Young Gun of Wine Finalists – A Producer to Watch

Jemma and Steve Fielke have already attracted considerable recognition within the Australian wine industry.

The couple were finalists in the Young Gun of Wine awards in both 2024 and 2025, an impressive achievement for such a young wine business.

These awards recognise emerging Australian winemaking talent and celebrate producers who are helping shape the future of the country's wine industry.

For Jemma and Steve, the recognition reflects their commitment to vineyard quality, individuality and thoughtful winemaking.

Their wines have developed an enthusiastic following among wine professionals and serious enthusiasts who appreciate beautifully balanced, site-specific wines.

And the arrival of their first Fiano demonstrates that their ambitions extend well beyond the more familiar Adelaide Hills varieties of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The 2026 Onkaparinga Valley Fiano is another reason to keep a very close eye on this exciting producer.

Deanery Vineyard – The Heart of the Onkaparinga Valley

The fruit for this wine comes from the Deanery Vineyard at Balhannah, situated in the Onkaparinga Valley section of the Adelaide Hills.

This is a particularly interesting site for Fiano.

The Adelaide Hills is one of Australia's most diverse wine-growing regions, with substantial differences in elevation, temperature, rainfall and vineyard exposure between its various subregions.

The Onkaparinga Valley offers an attractive combination of cool-climate conditions and the opportunity to achieve full flavour development.

For a variety such as Fiano, that balance is particularly important.

Fiano naturally possesses a distinctive waxy texture and can produce generous, richly flavoured wines.

However, maintaining sufficient acidity is essential if the finished wine is to remain fresh, vibrant and beautifully balanced.

The 2026 vintage provided precisely the conditions required.

An exceptionally late and cool growing season allowed the fruit to develop complex aromas while retaining excellent natural acidity.

The result is a wine with both richness and precision.

This is what makes the best Adelaide Hills vineyards so exciting – the ability to produce wines with wonderful flavour intensity without sacrificing freshness or elegance.

Fiano – One of Italy's Great White Grape Varieties

Fiano is one of southern Italy's most fascinating indigenous white grape varieties.

Its spiritual home is Campania, particularly the hills surrounding Avellino, where the great wines of Fiano di Avellino have demonstrated the variety's extraordinary potential.

The finest Italian examples are celebrated for their combination of stone fruit, citrus, floral complexity, savoury herbs, subtle nuttiness and distinctive mineral character.

But perhaps Fiano's greatest attraction is its texture.

Unlike varieties that rely primarily on bright acidity or intense aromatics, Fiano can deliver a wonderfully rich, layered and almost waxy palate.

The best examples possess remarkable depth while remaining fresh and beautifully structured.

There can be notes of white peach, pear, lemon, quince, almond, honey and Mediterranean herbs.

And with bottle age, the finest wines can develop extraordinary savoury complexity.

It is a variety that deserves to be taken very seriously.

Fortunately, Australian winemakers are beginning to recognise its potential.

Regions such as the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley are producing increasingly impressive examples.

And the 2026 J&S Fielke Onkaparinga Valley Fiano demonstrates just how exciting the variety can be in the cool climate of the Adelaide Hills.

White Peach, Citrus Oil, Green Plum & Extraordinary Texture

The 2026 J&S Fielke Fiano is a wonderfully expressive and beautifully textured wine.

The aromatics are immediately captivating.

Citrus oil, white peach, yellow apple and crunchy green plum combine with fresh herbal notes of tarragon and sweet mint.

There is a fascinating savoury complexity, with hints of green almond, ginger and delicate spice adding further interest.

On the palate, the wine is wonderfully generous.

The fruit has an almost juicy quality, with ripe orchard-fruit flavours supported by vibrant acidity.

But what makes this wine particularly exciting is the texture.

There is a beautiful combination of richness and freshness, with the wine's natural weight balanced by a wonderfully energetic acid line.

The finish introduces a distinctive bitter-citrus character, reminiscent of lime zest and tonic water.

This savoury edge provides definition and makes the wine extraordinarily refreshing.

It is a wine that manages to be both generous and precise.

Beautifully fragrant, wonderfully textured, bursting with flavour and finishing with exceptional freshness.

This is exactly what great Fiano should deliver.

Fascinating Winemaking – Three Different Skin-Contact Treatments

One of the most interesting aspects of the 2026 J&S Fielke Fiano is the approach taken in the cellar.

Rather than simply pressing the grapes and fermenting the juice, Jemma and Steve explored three different levels of skin contact.

The fruit was destemmed and divided into three parcels.

One parcel received no skin contact.

The second spent approximately three hours on skins.

The third remained on skins for approximately six hours.

This approach allowed the winemakers to build additional texture and complexity while maintaining the freshness of the fruit.

Following the skin-contact treatments, the grapes were gently basket-pressed.

The juice was settled overnight before being transferred to small-format stainless-steel vessels for wild fermentation.

The wine then underwent full malolactic fermentation, further enhancing its texture and mouthfeel.

The result is a fascinating combination of fruit purity, savoury complexity and beautifully integrated structure.

This is clever, sensitive winemaking that brings out the very best characteristics of Fiano without overwhelming the fruit.

The 2026 Vintage – A Perfect Match for Fiano

The 2026 Adelaide Hills growing season was particularly interesting for Fiano.

The vintage was exceptionally late and cool, allowing the grapes to develop flavour gradually while retaining high natural acidity.

For Fiano, this was a significant advantage.

The variety naturally produces wines with generous texture and can become quite broad if acidity is insufficient.

The cooler conditions helped preserve freshness while allowing the fruit to develop its characteristic richness and aromatic complexity.

This balance is evident in the finished wine.

There is impressive mid-palate weight, but the acidity provides wonderful energy and precision.

The result is a wine that feels rich and satisfying without becoming heavy.

The 2026 vintage has given Jemma and Steve the opportunity to produce a Fiano with both remarkable texture and exceptional freshness.

One of the Most Versatile White Wines at the Dinner Table

Fiano is an extraordinary food wine.

Its combination of fruit generosity, refreshing acidity and savoury complexity makes it particularly versatile.

The 2026 J&S Fielke Onkaparinga Valley Fiano would be magnificent alongside grilled prawns, scallops, calamari and beautifully prepared white fish.

Its texture also makes it an excellent match for richer seafood dishes, including crab linguine and seafood risotto.

The wine's herbal and citrus characters work beautifully with Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.

Think roast chicken with lemon and thyme, grilled vegetables, fresh pasta, antipasti and dishes featuring olive oil and fresh herbs.

It would also be a wonderful partner for Thai-inspired seafood or lightly spiced Asian dishes.

This is a wine that can handle everything from a casual seafood lunch to a beautifully prepared dinner.

A White Wine Worth Following in the Cellar

One of the most underrated characteristics of serious Fiano is its ability to develop beautifully with bottle age.

The finest examples from Italy can evolve into wonderfully complex wines, developing notes of honey, toasted nuts, dried herbs and savoury spice.

The 2026 J&S Fielke Fiano has the combination of natural acidity, texture and fruit concentration that makes bottle development an interesting prospect.

The Wine Front suggests a drinking window of 2027–2032.

That is particularly impressive for a white wine at this price.

While the wine should provide considerable pleasure in its youth, it would also be fascinating to put a few bottles away and follow its development over the next several years.

A $30 Australian Fiano with the structure and potential to develop beautifully through 2032 – that is outstanding value.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are constantly searching for wines that deliver extraordinary quality without an extraordinary price tag.

And the 2026 J&S Fielke Onkaparinga Valley Fiano is exactly the kind of wine we love discovering.

First, there is the producer.

Jemma and Steve Fielke are two of the most exciting emerging talents in the Adelaide Hills, with a genuine commitment to vineyard quality and thoughtful winemaking.

Then there is the vineyard.

The Deanery Vineyard at Balhannah is an excellent source of fruit, and the exceptionally cool 2026 vintage has provided ideal conditions for producing a beautifully balanced Fiano.

And then there is the wine itself.

94 points from The Wine Front.

93 points from Halliday Wine Companion.

Beautifully fragrant, wonderfully textured and full of the citrus, stone fruit, fresh herbs and savoury complexity that makes Fiano so fascinating.

And the price?

Just $30 a bottle.

There are plenty of white wines at $40, $50 and considerably more that do not offer this combination of complexity, texture and sheer drinking pleasure.

For anyone who loves great Italian white wines, beautifully textured Chardonnay or exciting alternative varieties from the Adelaide Hills, this is a wine that deserves serious attention.

A first-release Fiano from one of the Adelaide Hills' most exciting young producers. Two excellent critical ratings. Outstanding vineyard pedigree. Just $30.

The 2026 J&S Fielke Onkaparinga Valley Fiano is one of the most exciting value white wines we have discovered this year.

Wine Details

• Producer: J&S Fielke

• Winemakers: Jemma and Steve Fielke

• Wine: Onkaparinga Valley Fiano

• Vintage: 2026

• Region: Onkaparinga Valley, Adelaide Hills, South Australia

• Variety: 100% Fiano

• Vineyard: Deanery Vineyard, Balhannah

• Release: First vintage of J&S Fielke Fiano

• Harvest: Exceptionally late, cool vintage

• Skin Contact: Three parcels – zero, three and six hours

• Pressing: Gentle basket pressing

• Fermentation: Wild fermentation in small-format stainless steel

• Malolactic Fermentation: Full

• Alcohol: 12.5%

• Closure: DIAM cork

• Critic Ratings: 94 Points – The Wine Front | 93 Points – Halliday Wine Companion

• Drinking Window: 2027–2032, according to The Wine Front

• Style: Textural, vibrant, aromatic and savoury dry white

• RRP: $30 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Grilled prawns, scallops, seafood linguine, roast chicken, Mediterranean cuisine and antipasti

• Serving Temperature: 10–12°C