Introduction: Bleasdale is one of Australia's great historic wineries — founded in 1850 by former Royal Navy sailor Frank Potts on the fertile floodplains of the Bremer River in Langhorne Creek, making it the founding winery of the entire region and Australia's second oldest continuously family-owned producer. Named Halliday Winery of the Year in 2024, the estate is still run by direct Potts family descendants, now in their fifth and sixth generations. The Wild Pear takes its name from three ancient pear trees growing alongside the oldest vines on the estate — the 1930-planted Verdelho block — and draws its character from the interplay between those heritage vines, the rich alluvial floodplain soils, and the cooling maritime influence of nearby Lake Alexandrina.

Terroir: Langhorne Creek occupies a unique niche in South Australian viticulture — a flat, fertile floodplain where the Bremer River's seasonal floods historically deposited silt and nutrients across the vineyards, creating some of Australia's most naturally vigorous and generously bearing soils. The Verdelho vines, planted in 1930, sit on deep alluvial loams that retain moisture and contribute richness and texture to the wine. Afternoon cooling breezes off Lake Alexandrina are a defining feature of the microclimate, keeping temperatures considerably lower than the Barossa or McLaren Vale and preserving acidity and freshness through the growing season. The 2022 vintage benefited from La Niña-driven cool conditions, with extended cool ripening from mid-February through mid-April delivering outstanding natural acidity and flavor complexity.

Appearance: Pale straw with bright, clean clarity — light and inviting in the glass with a light viscosity that hints at the wine's freshness-forward style.

Nose: A vibrant fruit salad bouquet opens with pear, lime, gooseberry, and tropical fruit — pineapple and melon threading through beneath the citrus — with a hay-like freshness and subtle floral lift. The old-vine Verdelho contributes the tropical richness, while the Sauvignon Blanc adds a green, zesty edge and the Riesling adds a clean, mineral brightness.

Palate: Dry and refreshing, with zippy, high acidity and a clean, fruit-driven palate of lime zest, fresh pineapple, grapefruit, and melon. The richness from the 90-year-old Verdelho vines gives the wine more texture and mid-palate weight than its crisp style might suggest — lively but not thin, with layers of fruity character carried through by the variety's naturally bracing acidity. The Riesling component adds a final "zip" to the finish that keeps things clean and persistent.

Finish: Refreshingly clean and crisp, with citrus and tropical fruit fading into a dry, zesty mineral close. Medium in length and thirst-quenching throughout.

Food Pairings:
🥩 Meat: Grilled prawns with lime butter, fish and chips by the beach, or Thai green curry with jasmine rice
🥦 Vegetarian: Zucchini and feta fritters, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, or a watermelon and feta salad with fresh mint
🧀 Charcuterie Board: Mild brie, fresh mozzarella, sliced green apple, prosciutto, and marinated olives

Overall Impression: The 2022 Wild Pear is a textbook expression of what Bleasdale does best at an everyday price point — generous, honest, and built entirely for the table and immediate enjoyment. The old-vine Verdelho gives it more character than most blends in its category, and the 2022 vintage's cool ripening conditions make this one of the better recent releases. A reliably crowd-pleasing bottle with genuine regional identity. Serve well-chilled at 46–50°F; drink now.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): 11% 
Farming Practices: Conventional viticulture; flood-irrigated alluvial floodplains; estate and contract grower fruit; Verdelho from 1930-planted estate vines; Sauvignon Blanc sourced from Adelaide Hills
Producer Name: Bleasdale Vineyards (Potts family)
Old World / New World: New World
Country of Origin: Australia
Region: Langhorne Creek, South Australia (with Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc)
Grape Varietals: Verdelho 71%, Sauvignon Blanc 16%, Riesling 13%
Vintage: 2022
Wine Style: Dry White — Light-bodied, unoaked, and fruit-forward with a vivid citrus and tropical fruit profile. Approachable and crowd-pleasing; built entirely for immediate enjoyment. 
Winemaking Techniques: Minimal intervention; temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation to preserve aromatics and primary fruit; no oak contact; attentive but restrained approach retaining varietal freshness and fruit integrity
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle
Closure Style: Screwcap