The O'Connell winery, recently named Dark Horse Winery of the Year by the prestigious 2022 Halliday Wine Companion, has commissioned leading artist Luke Sciberras to create a series of wine labels for its newest range which feature threatened species of the Central West.

The wines, made for the adventurous drinker, are titled "di Renzo", a name derived from the Renzaglia family nickname "Renzo" and the flagship wine "Porto di Guido" from the family's winery in Carbondale, Southern Illinois in the USA.

Second generation vigneron Sam Renzaglia says the vision for the di Renzo range was defined by fruit purchased from local growers and a minimalistic wine maker imprint.

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The di Renzo wines focus on maintaining freshness and balancing fruit purity with savoury notes.

Preferences for vinification include larger format, inert vessels such as concrete and foudre.

The wines are made with grapes purchased from local growers around the Central West and explore unique styles through innovative and creative winemaking techniques.

Mr Renzaglia says the wines have been produced to meet the demands of millennials who are seeking authentic, good value products from sustainable sources.

"The di Renzo labels also present a series of artworks by renowned Hill End artist Luke Sciberras, featuring a range of plant, animal, and insect species that they hope will all thrive on our property as time passes," he said.

Labels created for the di Renzo range so far have featured the short beaked echidna, blue banded bee, female eastern wallaroo, grass tree, koala, sacred kingfisher and the yam daisy.

The current di Renzo release includes chardonnay, nuovo (a light red blend); murnang white (a textural white blend), riesling, rose and the rural method - a sparkling rose carbonated by bottling prior to the completion of the primary fermentation.

The wines will be available through the Renzaglia Wines website and cellar door; throughout the Central West and Sydney from the vineyard and are also being distributed by The Virtuous Vine.

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