Not quite a wine. Not quite a spirit. Mistelle is something rare, quieter, more intriguing. A unique aperitif unlike anything you’ve tasted before.
It’s the kind of drink that doesn’t shout for attention - it simply arrives, smooth and confident and suddenly the whole mood changes. One sip and you’ll know why the French have been keeping it to themselves for centuries. Pure fruit captured at its ripest, fortified with fine spirit, layered with warmth and depth.
Think of it as velvet in a glass: rich, silky, and irresistibly smooth. Complex without complication. Elegant without effort. A drink that feels both timeless and unexpected, the kind of secret you can’t help but share.
What is Mistelle, Exactly?
At its heart, Mistelle is all about restraint. Before fermentation can even begin, freshly pressed grape juice is blended with fine grape spirit, creating a fortified wine alternative that’s smooth and layered. This simple yet deliberate act locks in the natural sweetness of the fruit, capturing it at its most vivid and expressive.
Where wine transforms grape sugars into alcohol, Mistelle preserves them, delivering a liquid that bursts with pure fruit character while gaining depth and complexity from the spirit. The result is smooth, layered, and captivating: a drink that lives in the space between categories. Not wine. Not spirit. Something uniquely its own.
For centuries, the French have cherished aperitif wines such as Pineau des Charentes and Floc de Gascogne. Now, Bass & Flinders Distillery's Mistelle brings that heritage to the Mornington Peninsula. That’s what makes Bass & Flinders’ take so exciting: we’re crafting an old-world tradition for a new-world palate, distilled through our hand crafted Australian spirit.
White Mistelle – The Bright, Floral Classic
If Mistelle Rouge is velvet, then white Mistelle is silk. Light, golden, and effortless.
Crafted from hand-picked white grapes, fortified with fine grape spirit, it’s alive with fresh citrus, honeyed florals, and a gentle whisper of spice. On the palate it’s delicate yet expressive; crisp, floral, and endlessly elegant.
This is the kind of bottle that makes you look quietly ahead of the curve. Serve it neat or over ice for effortless sipping, or let it shine in cocktails. A White Mistelle Spritz with Champagne and fresh citrus is light, refreshing, and garden-party ready. Add it to a French 75 and suddenly a classic sparkler feels brighter, fresher, more intriguing.
White Mistelle is the brighter side of the Australian aperitif wine story; graceful, floral, refined and perfect for a summer spritz cocktail. The perfect balance of old-world charm and modern playfulness.
Mistelle Rouge – Darker, Moodier, Unforgettable
If White Mistelle is silk at sunrise, Mistelle Rouge is velvet at midnight. Deep, plush, and irresistibly smooth.
Meet Mistelle Rouge - not quite a liqueur, not quite a fortified. Just pure, velvety seduction in a glass. A small-batch aperitif from the Mornington Peninsula, crafted for those who want something bold yet smooth. Our latest small-batch obsession, and a dangerously delicious new player in your home bar lineup.
Think dark cherry, black plum, warm spice. The perfect balance of fruit purity and layered complexity. Crafted from cool-climate red grapes and our own fine grape spirit, Mistelle Rouge is rich, silky and layered like a late-night jazz track. Bold without shouting. Complex without trying too hard. It’s about being undeniably interesting.
This is what happens when centuries-old French tradition is reimagined through a modern, small-batch Australian lens. Smooth, elegant, but with a quiet confidence that says: you know your drinks.
Serve it neat to show off its depth, splash it over ice for an indulgent aperitif, or let it surprise your bartender mates when you swap it into a Negroni. Better still, pair it with dark chocolate or a blue cheese board, and let the night do the rest.
Mistelle in Cocktails – Your Secret Ingredient
Mistelle Cocktail Recipes – Spritz, Sangria & More...
Mistelle isn’t just for sipping, it slips beautifully into the cocktails you already love. Swap it in for vermouth or fortified wine, and watch a familiar favourite transform.
Pink Pineau Sangria
A vibrant, crowd-pleasing twist where Mistelle Rouge meets rosé and grapefruit. The ultimate summer sangria recipe with a dark fruit edge.
- 60ml Bass & Flinders Distillery Mistelle Rouge
- 20ml grapefruit juice
- 20ml rosé
- 10m white vermouth
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20ml rosé
Shake with ice, double-strain, and garnish with grapefruit slices and mint.
See the full recipe here.
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Pineau Spritz
Mistelle Rouge brings lush dark fruit and subtle spice, lifted by lemon, fizz and soda, a refreshing aperitif cocktail perfect for long afternoons.
- 60ml Bass & Flinders Distillery Mistelle Rouge
- 30ml Prosecco
- Top with soda water
Serve in a large wine glass over ice, garnished with lemon and thyme.
See the full recipe here.
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White Mistelle Spritz
Bright, floral, citrus-driven refreshment. An easy aperitif spritz recipe to impress your friends.
- 60 ml White Mistelle
- 90ml sparkling water or Champagne
- Slice of fresh citrus
Serve in a wine glass over ice, garnished with herbs or citrus.
Perfect Pairings
Mistelle was made for company. The right foods bring out its most expressive layers:
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White Mistelle: Mistelle was made for company - the perfect aperitif with food. Pair White Mistelle with seafood or citrus tarts.
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Mistelle Rouge: Perfect with blue cheese, quince paste, rich terrines, or dark chocolate.
These aren’t rules, but invitations. Mistelle is versatile enough to adapt, the star of a cheeseboard, a surprise in your cocktail lineup, or a quiet companion after dinner.
Why Mistelle Belongs in Your Glass
Mistelle is a rare find in Australia, but that’s part of its charm. It’s a drink that doesn’t follow the rules, that slips between categories and redefines them. It’s smooth, layered, and effortlessly sophisticated — the kind of bottle that sparks curiosity and starts conversations.
White Mistelle is light and floral, perfect for bright moments and playful cocktails. Mistelle Rouge is darker, moodier, and unforgettable, made for depth, firelight, and indulgence. Together, they offer two sides of the same intriguing story.
The Invitation
Mistelle isn’t about being loud. It’s about being unforgettable. It’s the rare bottle that feels like a well-kept secret, waiting to be discovered and shared.
At Bass & Flinders, we’ve crafted Mistelle to be just that: smooth, intriguing, and undeniably premium. Limited release, small-batch, and ready to reframe what you thought you knew about drinks.
Not quite a wine. Not quite a spirit. Mistelle is something rare, a craft aperitif wine from Australia, smooth, layered, and ready for you to discover.
