Description
In this pack, you can sample a bottle each of Sam's new releases, including the 2023 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay along with the red blend, Rieslings and Tupelo.
Stargazer is the pint-sized Tasmanian passion project of the talented Samantha Connew. Sam is one of the country's most respected wine judges and a greatly influential voice in the Australian wine industry. Stargazer is her one-woman show, focused around Sam's small, beautiful vineyard works in the Coal River Valley.
She only makes tiny parcels of a few wines. Riesling (and Riesling Blends), Chardonnay & Pinot Noir are her chosen varieties. The quality is outstanding across each and every wine and they rightfully sell out in next to no time each year.
The Stargazer range is a set of beautiful, ethereal representations of the Apple Isle.
- 2023 Stargazer Pinot Noir
- 2023 Stargazer Chardonnay
- 2023 Stargazer Kura Shiraz Pinot Noir
- 2023 Stargazer Palisander Riesling
- 2024 Stargazer Riesling
- 2024 Stargazer Tupelo
2023 Stargazer Pinot Noir
Sam Connew’s love affair with Pinot Noir first ignited while working the vineyards in Oregon. That passion eventually pulled her back to Tasmania, where she now nurtures her own fruit on a small, sun-kissed block in the Coal River Valley. It’s here, under the cool southern skies, that she crafts her signature Pinot Noir.
The 2023 Stargazer Pinot Noir is all about the beauty of restraint. It opens with a burst of crunchy red fruits—wild strawberries, red cherries, and cranberries—backed by layers of earthy spice and a hint of dried herbs. It’s a slow burner, gradually revealing more complexity as it breathes and evolves in the glass.
On the palate, the wine is light on its feet yet deeply expressive, with fine, silky tannins and a spine of fresh acidity that keeps everything in perfect balance. It’s nuanced and delicate, making it the kind of Pinot you want to savour over a long evening.
Produced in limited quantities from Sam’s treasured vines, this is one of our favourite Tassie Pinot Noirs that always sells out all too quickly.
2023 Stargazer Chardonnay
Sam Connew is one of the hardest working people in Australian wine, so it's been wonderful to see her Stargazer brand take flight.
Harvested from a single vineyard in the Coal River Valley, this Chardonnay is a pristine example of what Tassie can offer—a wine of intensity, freshness, and breathtaking clarity.
Picked on the earlier side to lock in those high, mouth-watering acid levels, this is a tight, racy number that’ll make your palate sit up and pay attention. Citrus, green apple, and a whisper of nectarine are the stars of the show here, but it’s the subtle complexities beneath the surface that keep you coming back for another sip. Think a touch of flinty minerality and a judicious application of high-quality oak—just enough to provide structure and depth without overpowering the fruit’s natural expression.
This Chardonnay is beautifully crafted for longevity—there’s no doubt it’ll evolve in the cellar over the next decade, gaining richness and complexity as it ages.
With just a limited amount made each vintage, this is one to snap up before it’s gone. Sam’s finely tuned winemaking touch is on full display here, balancing precision with power in a way that’s becoming synonymous with premium Tasmanian Chardonnay.
2023 Stargazer Kura Shiraz Pinot Noir
A new wine from the hands of Sam Connew!
The Kura is an elegant, spicy Tasmanian blend of Pinot Noir & Syrah from two vineyards; one in Tamar Valley and the other in the Coal River Valley.
The fruit was all picked on the same day, with the Shiraz fully destemmed and the Pinot Noir left as whole bunches to ferment. As Sam would have no doubt seen during her time making wine in the Hunter Valley, medium-weight red wines blended from these two varieties can produce extraordinary wines.
The spice, the floral lift from the Pinot Noir, the sumptuous shapely tannin from the Shiraz - it all just works a treat. What a great new addition to the Stargazer range!
2023 Stargazer Palisander Riesling
Sam Connew’s deep understanding of her fruit shines once again in the 2023 Stargazer Palisander Riesling. Perched high on a slope in the Tea Tree sub-region of the Coal River Valley, Sam’s Palisander vineyard has been sustainably farmed since 2017. Every vine is a labour of love, producing fruit with incredible purity and aromatic finesse.
This is no ordinary Riesling. Fermented in a ceramic egg and aged on its lees for several months, it’s a wine with a unique texture that sets it apart from the typical Tassie Riesling offerings. It's a more rounded and supple expression, with subtle grip and a slightly creamy core that makes each sip an absolute pleasure.
On the nose, it bursts with fresh citrus zest, white blossoms, and a touch of spice. But it’s the palate where things get really interesting. That gentle time on the lees gives the wine an added layer of complexity and depth, creating a supple texture that wraps around a backbone of zippy, mouth-watering acidity. There’s a hint of minerality woven throughout, adding an extra dimension that draws you in for another taste.
Whether you’re pairing it with fresh seafood or simply sipping it on a sunny afternoon, this is a Riesling that’ll win you over from day one. It’s immediately drinkable, but there’s enough complexity and structure here to suggest it could age beautifully over the next few years if you’ve got the patience to wait.
With only small quantities available, the 2023 Stargazer Palisander Riesling is a stunning showcase of Sam Connew’s talent and the incredible potential of Tasmanian Riesling.
2024 Stargazer Riesling
Sam Connew continues to prove why she’s one of the most talented winemakers in Australia with her 2024 Stargazer Riesling. Sourced from the Tea Tree sub-region of the Coal River Valley, this Riesling embodies the best of Tasmanian terroir.
What sets this Riesling apart is Sam’s careful crafting of texture and balance. She brings a touch of skin contact and lees stirring into the winemaking process, giving the wine a subtle yet satisfying complexity. There’s even a hint of residual sweetness, perfectly judged to round out the juicy acidity and make the wine more approachable early on, without sacrificing its potential for future development.
On the nose, expect classic citrus and floral notes, with a burst of lime zest and jasmine. The palate is where this wine really shines, offering a juicy, mouth-watering profile of ripe lemon, green apple, and just a kiss of tropical fruit. It’s generous, with a silky mouthfeel that wraps around a core of refreshing acidity.
Classy, crystalline, and approachable now, the 2024 Stargazer Riesling is ready to enjoy now. With its beautiful balance of texture, brightness, and subtle sweetness, this is a Riesling that promises to be a crowd-pleaser. Snap it up while you can—it’s the kind of wine that won’t stay on shelves for long.
2024 Stargazer Tupelo
Sam Connew’s 2024 Stargazer Tupelo is a masterclass in aromatic blending. Inspired by the classic Alsatian style, this wine brings together Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and a splash of Gewurztraminer. It’s an expressive, aromatic explosion in a glass that showcases the best of these varietals with a harmonious balance that’s nothing short of delightful.
With each sip, you’ll experience layers of stone fruits—think pear, white peach, and apricot—alongside the lifted floral notes that Gewurztraminer brings to the party. Sam has worked her magic here with just the right touch of acidity and a bit of textural grip, creating a wine that’s refreshing, but with enough backbone to keep things interesting. That perfect balance of fruit and structure makes it incredibly versatile, whether you’re sipping it solo or pairing it with food.
Tupelo is tailor-made for spicy dishes. Whether it’s Thai curries or Vietnamese salads, this wine has the freshness and complexity to elevate the meal without being overwhelmed. It’s zippy, fragrant, and fun, with just enough fruit sweetness to complement those spicier flavours while the acidity keeps everything in check.
Made in small quantities, as always with Sam’s wines, the 2024 Stargazer Tupelo is one to snap up quickly. For value and versatility, this aromatic blend hits all the right notes.
| Price Bracket | $41 to $50 |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Tasmania |
| Australian State | TAS |
| Feature |
Women in Wine |
| Size | 9 |
Others also liked
Recently viewed
Shipping
Delivery is free on orders of $150 or more!
For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.
We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.
Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.
Sydney (Our Vans): If no one is home and there are no special delivery instructions our driver will try to call for instructions. If the driver believes there is a safe space to leave your wine they will do so if not, they will return the item to us and hold your order until further instruction from you.
Melbourne (Anonymous Wine Freight): If no one is home and there are no special delivery instructions, the courier will try to call for instructions. If the driver believes there is a safe space to leave your wine they will do so. if not, they will return the item to their dispatch centre and hold until further instruction from you.
Australia Post: Australia Post will leave the parcel if they have been given authority to leave and it is deemed safe to do so. To give your Authority to Leave, please enter this in the 'SPECIAL REQUEST' box at checkout.
Ordering
We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. If you see a lower price elsewhere, just get in touch and we will sort it out for you. We handle all our price-matching on a case by case basis.
Some things to keep in mind:
- Retrospective price-matching is available for 30 days after you have purchased from us.
- The price match cannot be used in conjunction with a coupon or one-off deal we are offering. The idea is for you to get the best price in the market so if that is already achieved through a coupon then we won't price match on top of that.
- We don't price match clearance or fire sales.
- We’ll match the listed price as long as it is a legitimate offer and the competing store is actually able to fulfil the order (they have stock or more stock is en route). Essentially we won't price match cheeky vendors listing wines they have no hope of actually getting for you...
- It must be a publicly listed price. We won't match a price that has been achieved through a coupon/cash-back arrangement, or through a non-advertised offer over the phone or otherwise.
- It is limited to a reasonable retail quantity.
We'll treat each price match request on its merit and reserve the right to refuse where we deem fit. For example, particularly rare wines, from non-trust-worthy vendors, in circumstances we deem illegitimate or if we feel our policy is being unfairly taken advantage of.
At the end of the day, we'll look after you and use common sense to ensure you're getting the best price, please just don't take the p%$$!
No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.
We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.
To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you.
If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.
If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.
Just want to talk to someone?
Please don't ever hesitate - we would love to help! Whether it's a problem we can fix, a wine you're not 100% sure on or if you simply want to talk about wine, food and the meaning of life, we are here for you.