DelinquenteWild Child Wines
Small batch, minimal intervention wines from Southern Italian grape varieties grown in the Riverland. Organically grown, wild yeast fermented, hand-made. "Sometimes you've got to heed the call of the wild child within."
QUENTE
From Melbourne advertising agency back to Riverland red dirt—Con-Greg Grigoriou's delinquent journey.
Con-Greg Grigoriou was born and raised in the Riverland, surrounded by vineyards and the mighty Murray River. His father managed wineries in the region for over 35 years, but Con-Greg initially walked away from the family business, pursuing a commerce degree and working in advertising in Melbourne [^25^][^35^].
The lightbulb moment came in a Melbourne office. After tasting his first truly interesting Riverland wine, he asked: "Why weren't people producing high-quality wines in my home region?" In 2013, with a tonne each of Vermentino and Montepulciano, Delinquente Wine Co was born in a corner of a 20,000-tonne winery [^40^][^42^].
"The Riverland is where I grew up, so to me it's incredibly special. The hugely open, bright blue sky. The heat rising up off the road and the red dirt. But then, the lush, calming, cooling Murray River, giving life and sustenance to the people, plants and animals that live near it," Con-Greg explains [^40^].
Today, Delinquente operates from Oddio, a winery-bar-events-space in Adelaide shared with Frederick Stevenson Wines, while sourcing grapes from certified organic vineyards in the Riverland [^40^].
"Smashable wines that represent the sun, the red dirt and uniquely Australian terroir."
The Riverland can be brutally hot and dry during the growing season. Con-Greg's solution? Southern Italian grape varieties—Nero d'Avola, Montepulciano, Vermentino, Negroamaro—that are naturally drought tolerant, late ripening, and retain acidity in heat. They're more environmentally sustainable and allow for lower alcohol levels with heaps of freshness [^25^][^40^].
All wines are small batch, single vineyard, fermented in stainless steel with wild yeast. Con-Greg is "pretty much hands-off in the winery"—native ferments, no oak intrusion, minimal intervention [^35^][^40^].
The result is wines that are "fun, fruit forward, approachable, super smashy" at price points that are easy for people to swallow. As Con-Greg puts it: "pure, drinkable and delicious—or as he would put it, 'smashable'" [^35^][^40^].
"Delinquente" means delinquent in Italian—speaking to the desire to always buck the trend, break rules, and do things their way [^25^].
Red Dirt
Rebel
Murray River red dirt meets Mediterranean climate—Riverland's brutal beauty.
Brutal Climate
The Riverland is hot and dry, particularly through the vines' growing season. Temperatures regularly soar, creating challenging conditions for traditional varieties. But this harsh landscape is perfect for hardy Southern Italian grapes that thrive on struggle [^25^][^40^].
Red Dirt
Iconic Riverland red dirt—iron-rich soils that impart a distinctive terroir. The heat rising off the roads, the bright blue sky, and the stark beauty of this landscape defines Delinquente's wines. It's unapologetically Australian [^25^][^40^].
Murray River
The mighty Murray River gives life and sustenance to the region. Constant, slow and steady flow creating a cooling influence in an otherwise harsh landscape. It's the artery that makes agriculture possible in this sun-baked country [^40^].
Family Growers
Fruit sourced from two small family growers who own Certified Organic vineyards. The Bassham family in Barmera and the Proud family in Loxton North provide grapes that are sustainably grown, healthy, and full of character [^35^][^56^].
Smashable, wild, and dripping with personality—each bottle a piece of art.
Tuff Nutt
The flagship wine—Bianco d'Alessano from the Proud family's Sherwood Estate in Loxton North (the only planting in Australia). "Boozy Schweppes bitter lemon" vibes—golden delicious apple skin, tart pear, salty spritzy lemonade icepole format. The ultimate crushable pet-nat [^46^][^57^].
Weeping Juan
Pure, unadulterated chuggability. Blush salmon in the glass. Vermentino and Nero d'Avola from Bassham family's organic vineyard in Barmera. Citrus fruits, orange blossom, orange sherbet and mandarin peel oil. "Toes in the water, very good vibes only" [^47^][^56^].
Screaming Betty
Vermentino that screams for sunshine. Citrus and salty with well-balanced oak. Fresh, vibrant, and utterly smashable—this is the wine that converted Con-Greg back to Riverland. Aromatic and textural while remaining crisp [^38^][^50^].
Pretty Boy
Nero d'Avola—the native Sicilian variety perfectly suited to Riverland's climate. Wild fermented in stainless steel. "Pretty Boy" brings bright cherry fruit, herbal notes, and that signature Italian variety charm to Australian terroir [^50^][^67^].
Roko
Montepulciano from the Riverland, delivering beautiful bright blackberry, juicy plum, and fresh red fruit notes. A variety that feels at home in the hot, dry climate—structured but smashable [^41^][^50^].
Jaybird
Bianco Macerato—skin contact white wine with texture and grip. Part of the core range exploration of Italian varieties. Wild fermented with time on skins to develop that amber hue and tannic structure [^50^].
Amaya
Negroamaro Pét-Nat—southern Italian variety meets ancestral method. Aromatic, wild, and completely unique. Part of the experimental lineup pushing boundaries of what Riverland grapes can do [^50^].
Hell Series
Where caution is thrown to the wind. Touriga, Negroamaro, Vermentino, Malvasia—picked early, treated differently (red wine style, rosé, skin contact, pressed straight). "Super splashy, chillable and thirst quenching red-ish wine" [^49^][^59^].
Hell Nero d'Avola
The serious side of delinquency. Dense, pungent mixed berry on the nose, carob and mossy earth with white pepper spice. Big flavor and acid on the palate—proving Riverland can do depth and complexity [^28^][^66^].
Bizzaro Aperitivo
The artisan Australian aperitif. Part of the extended universe of Delinquente—taking the Italian tradition and twisting it with local botanicals. Perfect for spritzes before smashing a bottle of Tuff Nutt [^30^].
Art by Ankles
AKA "Ankles"
🎨 Adelaide Street Artist
Label Art
✊ Tattoos & Characters
Resistance & Justice
🔥 Rebel Stories
"Delinquente is his passion project, evident in the intensity of his hand drawn labels which pop from across the room, and the deeply important and personal themes that they speak of."
Each wine has associated delinquent characters with unique tattoos and peculiar backstories—daring to represent the spirit of the delinquent, the story of the rebel.
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Delinquente Wine Co. Official Shop: Offers direct shipping within Australia. For international inquiries, it's best to check their "Distributors" page or contact them directly.
RAW WINE Online Shop: Lists Delinquente Wine Co and may link to international stockists.
Wine-Searcher.com: Excellent global tool to find specific wines and see which retailers worldwide have them in stock. Search for "Delinquente Wine Co." + the specific wine name (e.g., "Screaming Betty," "Roxanne the Razor," "Tuff Nutt").
Notable Retailers/Distributors by Region (Excluding Switzerland):
Australia (Primary Market):
Lo-Fi Wines (NSW & VIC Distributor): sales@lofiwines.com
Naked Bunch (QLD Distributor): peter@nakedbunch.com.au
Vinify Wine Co. (SA Distributor): chris@vinifywineco.com.au
Vinous Matters (WA Distributor): kris@vinousmatters.com.au
Swallow Liquor Merchants (TAS Distributor): sales@swallowliquormerchants.com.au
Many independent bottle shops and natural wine bars across Australia.
United States:
Delinquente lists a very extensive network of retailers primarily in California (e.g., Alkali Rye, Altadena Beverage and Market, Birba x, Blum Wine & Flowers, Bottlecraft North Park, Campo Bar + Bottle, COVELL, Dija Mara, Flask & Field, Hi-lo Liquor and Mart, MYSA Natural Wine - online, Primal Wine CO), but also mentions distributors in:
Minnesota: Bourget Imports (https://www.bourgetimports.com/project/delinquente-australia/)
Colorado: Anvil Wine Company (http://www.anvilwinecompany.com/delinquente)
New York (NYC): Numerous retailers, including Dolores Deluxe, Foragers City Grocer, Leon & Son, Little Mo Wine, Natural Wine Co.
Check Delinquente's "Retailers in the USA" page for a comprehensive list: https://delinquentewineco.com/pages/retailers-in-the-usa
Many independent, natural wine-focused shops across major US cities.
United Kingdom:
Indigo Wine (UK Importer/Distributor): https://www.indigowine.com/producer/delinquente-wine-co/
drop (Online UK retailer): https://dropbylocal.com/wine-producers/delinquente-wine-co
Forest Wines (Online UK retailer): https://www.forestwines.com/collections/all/delinquente-wine-co
Specialized UK natural wine retailers.
Canada:
Manitoba: Neige Wine Imports (shan@neigewineimports.com)
British Columbia: Koruku Wine Merchant (jessica@koruku.ca)
Alberta: Garneau Block (info@garneaublock.co)
Specialized wine shops in these provinces.
