Ahead of the 2026 Cabin Fever food and wine festival, Marinela Antonic, director of Dunsborough bistro Lady Lola shares five unsung heroes of the wine world to consider pouring this winter.

Although Lady Lola’s Greatest Hits event is sold out, there are plenty of other enticing events taking place across the 10-day festival, from Pork & Pinot at Borrello Vineyards in Witchcliffe to Ransack The Cellar at Cape Grace Wines in Cowaramup.

See cabinfeverfest.com.au.

1. 2025 Marq gros manseng, Yallingup, $35

Vibrant, aromatic ripe peach.

A delicious reminder that winter is just as much a season for character-filled whites as it is for bold reds.

2. 2024 Walsh & Sons Burnside chardonnay, Wilyabrup, $54.99,

Long lunches, roast chook and a good conversation are all that’s needed for this wine.

Juicy white fruit and creamy oak that gives everyone a hug at the end.

3. 2024 Cloudburst chardonnay, Wilyabrup, $400

Made from a pristine vineyard with a remarkable commitment to natural farming, this highly sought-after chardonnay has a purity and a sense of place.

Savour every sip. It’s not just a wine; it’s a life-changing experience.

4. 2024 Bacchus Family Wine, malbec, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, Cowaramup, $75

A standout Bordeaux-style blend perfectly balanced with layers of dark fruit and silky tannins.

Enjoy alongside your next slow-cooked winter braise.

5. 2019 Cape Grace Reserve Basket Press cabernet sauvignon, $90, Wilyabrup, MR, WA

The kind of bottle that takes an ordinary winter evening and turns it into something worth remembering.

Bold, graceful and quietly confident.

The case for amaro

Ischia Sapori Rucolino amaro, Ischia, Campania, Italy, $100

With wild rucola (rocket) from the mountainous islands of Ischia and Procida as its main ingredient, this velvety amaro is smooth in texture with a gentle bitterness that warms your heart at the end of the meal.

Cabin Fever is on from July 17-26. See cabinfeverfest.com.au.