From Australia’s Godfather of Pinot Grigio, Kevin McCarthy, comes MDI (Murray Darling Italy), his passion project with a mission to change perceptions about how good wines from Mildura can really be.

As most wine bods know, Kevin McCarthy has a reputation for fine winemaking with a splash of rebellion. He’s constantly pushing boundaries and defying expectations – MDI is no different. It’s a collaboration with visionary grower Denis Pasut, a native Friulian and salt of the earth farmer who has been growing grapes in the Mildura region for more than two decades.

Kevin, Dennis and their mates and colab crew at Chalmers passionately believe that the region is untapped and brimming with potential, a place to allow your imagination to run wild. It’s a blank canvas of sunshine, cool nights and limestone, the perfect place to challenge the norm and pay homage to their Italian inspirations.

McCarthy’s solid reputation, born from his pioneering work with field blends and skin contact, lends serious weight and kudos to a place not often synonymous with greatness. His enthusiasm for the project and the region is infectious; never one to shy away from a challenge, he is committed to transmitting his Mildura message. The MDI wines offer great value, experimental and slightly wild wines; the talent with aromatic whites is on full display with special limited-edition releases from varietals we’re pretty sure no-one has heard of.