Parley
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Parley
When you meet winemakers who are talented, charming and charismatic, you just hope their wines have comparable attributes. Every drop of Parley wine is brimming with those qualities, and more!
15 Jul 2025
by The Blackhearts Crew
Parley
Mel and Sarah met and bonded over cocktails not wine, but it was a common desire to make wine that solidified their partnership. A Viticulture and Oenology degree, combined with time at several amazing wineries across Australia and Europe, helped make it all seem possible, and after buying ten tonnes of SA fruit, Parley was off and fermenting.
Today, we get to taste their partnership and experience in the wines. Mel & Sarah’s bottles encourage adventure but carry an undeniable level of deliciousness, which naturally, makes their wines very approachable.
Mel
What’s a variety/style of beverage that always brings you comfort?
Big 'Burg'esque or mineral and fresh - It doesn't matter what itch you're trying to scratch, it's always going to be Chardonnay.
Where are you heading when you want comfort but don’t feel like hosting?
If I'm in a group, Julie's Restaurant always makes me feel at home. When I'm solo, a bar seat at Bar Liberty is my go-to for cheeky half serves of the entire menu.
Sarah
What’s your go-to dish when you want to impress your guests?
My partner and I have a go-to winter dish we love pulling out for friends and family: the legendary Fettuccine al Tartufo from Buon Ricordo in Sydney. When truffle season hits, we pick up a good-sized one and pop it in a jar with some eggs. After a few days, the eggs take on that amazing aroma and we’re ready to go. We make fresh fettuccine and toss it through a rich sauce of cream, butter, and Parmigiano, then finish it at the table with raw truffled eggs and plenty of shaved truffle. To drink, we usually reach for something earthy and elegant like Burgundy or Beaujolais.
What album are you putting on when you need to set the mood?
I just invested in a killer stereo and it brings me so much joy. Right now, Roxy Music’s Flesh and Blood is on heavy rotation at dinner time but if I’m getting the house ready for guests it’s First Issue by PiL. It’s curiously cathartic.