Alexi Christidis
Chalari
Alexi Christidis named his label Chalari, meaning ‘relaxed’ in Greek, as part homage to his father and part mission statement for making unforced wines unbound by convention. From the origins of a ‘garage-like’ setup in the Perth Hills, Christidis now has a micro winery in Mount Barker, in the Great Southern, sourcing fruit from the Swan Valley and Frankland River, amongst other regions – with the range now spanning quite the gamut: from pinot noir, tempranillo and mataro, to riesling, to a lightly sparkling rosé, a pét-nat made from chenin blanc and skin-contact expressions of vermentino and viognier, while the tribute to his father continues with a take on Retsina made from Swan Valley chenin blanc resinated with Greek pine sap.
