Rating the Wines in the Qantas Lounge

One of the best things about having a fiancé who travels a lot for work is that every time we travel together I can enjoy the perks of the Qantas airport Lounge. He is a Qantas Club gold member which means when accessing the domestic lounges, he may bring one guest (and up to two children aged 4-17 years) into the lounge with him.

On one particular Sunday trip from Sydney home to Brisbane, we arrived at the airport 2 hours early for our flight which meant plenty of time to relax in the lounge. I thought that while I had so much time, I’d take it upon myself to try out all complimentary wines available and put them in order of my personal preference.

I am going to note that in the lounge there’s no way to know how long the bottles have been open, and the temperature isn’t controlled so these could vary based on how quickly new bottles were opened as well as the temperature in the lounge.

1. Levantine Hill Glen Garvald GSM 2021

   • Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria

   • Cost: $25.00 per bottle

   • Rating: 3.5/5 - This GSM had a aromatic nose, a decent body and the finish was medium. Of all the reds, we enjoyed this the most and would happily have had a 2nd glass.

2. Fat bird Rosé 2020

   • Region: Adelaide Hills, South Australia

   • Cost: $17.99 per bottle

   • Rating: 3.3/5 - This rosé was dry with a hint of red fruit like strawberry. Often I expect the complimentary rosé to be too fruit forward for me but this left a nice finish in my mouth without being too much.

3. Swanning Around Pinot Noir 2021

   • Region: Riverland, South Australia

   • Cost: $22.99 per bottle

   • Rating: 3.2/5 - This pinot noir was really too light for me to give a higher score to. Hints of strawberry and cherry on the nose, light body, short finish.

4. Taylors Estate Pinot Noir Chardonnay Brut Cuvée NV

   • Region: Clare Valley, South Australia

   • Cost: $19.00 per bottle

   • Rating: 3.1/5 - This sparkling wine for me was just in the middle, as there was nothing bad but also nothing great about it. It had a touch of green apple, a hint of toasty notes, and a quick finish.

5. Lindeman’s Gentleman’s Collection (Batch No.5) Shiraz 2020

   • Region: South Eastern Australia

   • Cost: $17.99 per bottle

   • Rating: 3/5 - This shiraz was not it for me. I felt it was too sweet for a shiraz, where my palate tends to favor a bolder, more tannic, dryer version of this grape. On the palate, you get black fruits like plum and blackberry

6. Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2022

   • Region: South Australia

   • Cost: $13.99 per bottle

   • Rating: 2.9/5 - I appreciated that this Chardonnay had very few oak notes which is my preference, but they were definitely still present. Had strong citrus notes, was quite dry and had medium to high acid.

7. Grant Burge GB19 Sauvignon Blanc 2022

   • Region: South Australia

   • Cost: $11.99 per bottle

   • Rating: 2.5/5 - It had the aromas of a sauvignon blanc, but on the palate I was expecting a more vibrant taste. It’s quite soft in comparison to some of the higher-acid Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs.

8. T’Gallant Pinot Grigio 2021

   • Region: Mornington Peninsula

   • Cost: $19.99 per bottle

   • Rating: 1/5 - This tasted like water. I got no aromas, no taste. For some people that may be a great thing. I wanted more. So much more.

Let me know if you found this helpful, disagree or agree with my notes, and cheers to wherever you are flying to!

Chelsey—The Wino on the Budget