Pecorino wine in Australia

Pecorino is a white wine variety, originally from the Adriatic coast of Italy. It is now used by a few Australian winemakers.

The name derives from the Italian word for sheep, hence it shares its name with a popular ewe's milk cheese. 

Pecorino the wine variety has its home in the Marche region of Italy and was not appreciated by most of the wine world until recently.  Now it has become more popular and is now attracting the attention of a growing number of growers, producers and consumers in Australia.

Pecorino wines are often crisp and dry with pronounced herbal aromatics.  Occasionally it is used in blends, but it is more often used as a straight varietal.

In 2019 there were only a few Australian producers, hence it was included in the Rare Ozzies book. Now there are over 20.

Hint: You can lean more about rare varieties by using the #rareozzies hashtag in search engines and social media.

This variety is one of the 190 grown in Australia. They are featured in the new book Beyond Shiraz. The book is avalable in Kindle format, for your phone) or as a papeback

Details Here

Australian Producers of Pecorino

There are just a few Australian winemakers using Pecorino so far but the quality of the wines being produced is such that there is sure to be more in the near future. 

• Alpha Box and Dice McLaren Vale
• Amadio Adelaide Hills
• Bassham Wines Riverland
• Beresford Estate McLaren Vale
• Bike and Barrel Alpine Valleys
• Billy Button Alpine Valleys
• Brash Higgins McLaren Vale
• Brycefield Estate Hunter Valley
• Chalmers Heathcote
• David Hook Wines Hunter Valley
• Defialy Macedon Ranges
• Fox Creek Wines McLaren Vale
• De Iuliis Hunter Valley
• Jamsheed Yarra Valley
• Lake Breeze Langhorne Creek
• Matriarch and Rogue Clare Valley
• Mitolo McLaren Vale
• Mount Broke Wines Hunter Valley
• Paracombe Wines Adelaide Hills
• Primo Estate McLaren Vale
• Sirromet Granite Belt
• Somos McLaren Vale
• Ricca Terra Riverland
• The Little Wine Company Hunter Valley
• Trimboli Riverina
• Zilotto Hunter Valley
• Zonzo Yarra Valley

Some award wining Pecorino wines

Lake Breeze 2024 Pecorino (Langhorne Creek): Awarded the Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine, White Wine or Rosé at the 2025 Langhorne Creek Wine Show. It received a Top Gold medal in its class with a score of 96.

Alpha Box and Dice 2025 X Pecorino (Adelaide Hills) 2025 AAVWS Gold Medal (Score 95.0)

Chalmers 2024 Pecorino (Heathcote) 2025 AAVWS Gold Medal (Score 96.0)

Chalmers 2023 Pecorino (Heathcote) 2024 AAVWS Gold Medal (Score 95.0)

David Hook Wines 2025 Pecorino (Hunter Valley) 2025 Hunter Valley Wine Show Silver Medal (Score 90)

David Hook Wines 2025 Pecorino (Hunter Valley) 2025 AAVWS Bronze Medal (Score 88.5)

De Iuliis Wines 2024 SV Steven Pecorino 2025 NSW Wine AwardsBronze Medal (Score 86)

Lake Breeze 2024 Pecorino (Langhorne Creek) 2024 AAVWS Bronze Medal (Score 86.0)

Lake Breeze 2025 Pecorino (Langhorne Creek) 2025 AAVWS Bronze Medal (Score 85.0)

Mitolo Wines 2024 Perduto Pecorino2025 McLaren Vale Wine Show Bronze Medal (Score 87)

Ricca Terra Roots Winemaking Project 2024 Pecorino (Riverland) 2025 AAVWS Silver Medal (Score 90.0)

The Little Wine Co 2025 Little Gem Pecorino 2025 AAVWS Bronze Medal (Score 88.0)

The Little Wine Co 2025 Pecorino (Hunter Valley) 2025 AAVWS Bronze Medal (Score 86.0)

The Little Wine Co 2025 Pecorino (Hunter Valley) 2025 NSW Wine Awards Bronze Medal (Score 86)

The Little Wine Co 2025 Little Gem Pecorino 2025 NSW Wine Awards Bronze Medal (Score 86)

The Little Wine Co 2024 Pecorino (Hunter Valley) 2024 AAVWS Bronze Medal (Score 89.0)

Trimboli Family Wines 2025 Saverio Pecorino 2025 Riverina GI Show Bronze Medal (Score 87)

Ziliotto Wines 2025 Pecorino (Hunter Valley) 2025 Hunter Valley Wine Show Silver Medal (Score 91)

Ziliotto Wines 2025 Pecorino (Hunter Valley) 2025 AAVWS Bronze Medal (Score 86.0)

Pecorino at Primo Estate in the McLaren Vale Region

Other Italian white Wine varieties in Australia

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