Dune Wines: The Future of McLaren Vale is in Good Hands
In a region known for legacy winemaking families, Duncan and Peter Lloyd are carving their own space – and doing it with quiet confidence and effortless style.
The Lloyd name is synonymous with McLaren Vale. As sons of Coriole’s Mark Lloyd, Duncan and Peter have grown up with the rhythms of vineyards and vintage. But Dune, the boys' personal project, feels less like a family offshoot and more like the start of something new for McLaren Vale – a signpost for where the region could be headed.
At the heart of Dune is their Blewitt Springs vineyard, an elevated, sun-drenched site known for producing fresher, more perfumed expressions of McLaren Vale’s classics. It’s here that the brothers have quietly reimagined the varietal landscape. Grenache, Shiraz, and Cinsault still anchor their wines, but you’ll also find Grenache Blanc, Picpoul (or Piquepoul - we're still not sure which is correct!), Nero d’Avola, Negroamaro and Montepulciano – varieties that speak to the future of Australian wine.
Their approach is organic, thoughtful, and refreshingly unpretentious. Blends are prioritised over single varietals, and the wines are crafted with drinkability at the forefront. In 2024 we saw a plethora of brightly-packaged Dune wines that effortlessly balanced serious quality with accessibility – wines that invite you to pour another glass, not lock them away for years.
Why did Dune take home Best Value Producer this year?
Simply, because as far as we can see, no one else is delivering wines of this calibre, at these price points. The 2023 Blewitt Springs Shiraz is one of the most exciting (and affordable) examples of McLaren Vale Shiraz we’ve seen in years. The Empty Quarter GSM, with its splash of Nero, drinks well above its price. And then there’s the El Beyda white blend – an offbeat, textural delight that earned a spot in Halliday’s Top 100 Wines of the Year.
And honestly, this was the number 1 'staffied' brand last year here at DDHQ, which probably says it all.
If you’re new to Dune, start with these three:
• 2023 Empty Quarter GSM – Bright, juicy, and just enough spice. A blend that’s as versatile as it is delicious.
• 2023 Blewitt Springs Shiraz – Classic Vale richness with a lift that only Blewitt Springs can provide. One of the region’s best value Shirazes.
• 2022 El Beyda – Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, and friends. Layered, textural, and distinctly McLaren Vale.
These wines move quickly, and with good reason. The final stocks of El Beyda are already running low. Grab a few bottles now and taste the new face of McLaren Vale.