They were among 14 new varieties tasted at the Clare Valley Vine Improvement Society’s free alternative night and barbecue at the Sevenhill cutting shed on Thursday night.

However Riverland Vine Improvement Committee manager David Nitschke said a couple of the varieties were already being trialled in the cellar door of the Constellation Wines-owned Banrock Station.

He said Banrock Station had completed three vintages of Montepulciano, starting with grapes supplied by the committee before moving onto its own fruit and marketing the wine as part of its Mediterranean Collection.

Banrock Station was going down a similar path with Fiano while other wines in the Mediterranean Collection are Pinot Grigio, Savagnin, Tempranillo and Vermentino.

Mr Nitschke said the committee’s alternative varieties work was supported by the industry, with Angoves providing the winemaking services and Berri Estates the laboratory support.

“We use a couple of hundred kilograms of fruit for each variety and make about 100 bottles,” he said.

“It’s a fantastic story of cooperation and industry support.”

The Clare Valley Vine Improvement Society has about 30 different source blocks throught the region.

“Most of ours are superior clones of traditional varieties,” Mr Crabb said.

The CVVIS’s source blocks of alternative varieties include Carmenere, Primitivo, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Petite Verdot, Traminer, Touriga and Petite Menseng.

The society also has a large trial block of Carmenere as they believe it will become a premium variety of Clare, along with Riesling and Shiraz.