Strange Company Fremantle: Great Southern Wine Pairings with Singlefile

Fremantle in Western Australia is known for its relaxed, generous and produce-driven dining culture. At Strange Company, that spirit comes naturally. The Fremantle wine bar has become a favourite for considered dining, warm hospitality and the kind of wine-friendly dishes that invite conversation.

For Singlefile, a family-owned wine producer based in Denmark in Western Australia’s Great Southern wine region, Strange Company offers a fitting setting for exploring how cool-climate wines work with food at the table. These Great Southern wine pairings bring together regional character, texture, freshness and flavour in a way that feels distinctly Western Australian.

From rosé with tuna crudo, to tempranillo with steak and chardonnay with pork belly, each pairing shows a different side of Singlefile’s food-friendly style.

Why Great Southern Wines Work So Well with Food

The Great Southern is one of Western Australia’s most distinctive wine regions, known for its scale, diversity and cool-climate influence. For wine pairing, that matters. Wines from the region typically offer freshness, clarity and structure, making them versatile partners for dishes that balance richness, spice, acidity and texture.

Singlefile’s approach is shaped by provenance and restraint. Rather than overwhelming a dish, the wines are well suited to food because they bring lift, detail and balance.

For a venue such as Strange Company, where dishes can be layered and full of flavour, Great Southern wines offer a thoughtful way to connect the plate and the glass.

A Fremantle Favourite for Food, Wine and Good Company

Strange Company has the kind of atmosphere that feels immediately at home in Fremantle: creative, low-lit, confident and relaxed. It is polished without feeling formal, lively without losing warmth, and versatile enough for a casual drink, a lingering meal or a late evening conversation over a glass of something interesting.

Singlefile’s team has partnered with the venue for considered wine dinners and tasting experiences, where the food, wine and hospitality have highlighted the natural connection between Fremantle dining culture and Great Southern winemaking.

For Singlefile Wine Club Manager Megan Belcher, Strange Company remains a favourite Fremantle venue. "The food and drinks offering is thoughtful, the team is welcoming, and the atmosphere makes it easy to settle in," she says. "It is the kind of place where locals like me return often, and visitors quickly understand the appeal."

Great Southern Rosé with Tuna Crudo

The Singlefile Great Southern Rosé was paired with tuna crudo, mandarin kosho, pearl barley, sunflower and kombu.

While rosé is sometimes viewed as a more 'playful' wine, it is actually one of the most versatile food pairing wines, offering freshness, texture and savoury detail. Tuna is a classic pairing with a quality dry rosé. In this dish, the wine’s red-fruit brightness provides lift for the richness of the tuna, while mandarin kosho echoes the citrus and spice elements of the rosé. Pearl barley and sunflower contribute nuttiness, and kombu adds a subtle umami note, complemented by the texture and gentle complexity of the wine.

Great Southern Tempranillo with a Steak Sandwich

The Singlefile Great Southern Tempranillo was paired with Strange Company’s steak sandwich, served with shallot jam, provolone, hot mustard and relish.

This was a generous and deeply satisfying pairing. Tempranillo is a natural partner for beef, with dark fruit, spice and supple structure complementing the richness of the steak. The shallot jam adds sweetness and acidity, while provolone brings savoury depth and a melting texture which is offset by the tannin profile of the wine. Hot mustard gives the pairing energy, cutting through richness and drawing out the wine’s spice character.

Great Southern Chardonnay with Pork Belly

A standout pairing was the Singlefile Great Southern Chardonnay with pork belly, chilli caramel, pickled green mango and kaffir lime.

The dish is rich, sticky, sweet and spicy, with the chardonnay offering a beautiful counterpoint. Its texture worked alongside the richness of the meat, while cool-climate freshness brought lift and balance. Citrusy natural acidity and spiced savoury notes from oak treatment complement the pickled green mango and kaffir lime. The chilli caramel adds depth, sweetness and heat, giving the chardonnay room to show both generosity and restraint.

What These Pairings Say About Singlefile Wines

These pairings show the versatility of cool-climate wines at the table, where they are naturally suited to fine food. The wines generally show restraint and elegance, with bright natural acidity and smooth tannins that complement and balance dishes without dominating the pairing. 

Together, they reflect what makes Great Southern wines so useful for dining: provenance, balance and clarity. Each wine can stand on its own, but becomes even more expressive when placed beside the right dish.

Visit Strange Company or Explore Singlefile at Home

For those in Fremantle, Strange Company offers a distinctly local dining experience: warm, creative and a little unexpected. For those planning a Great Southern visit, Singlefile’s Cellar Door in Denmark offers another way to explore the region through its wines, vineyard stories and guided tasting experiences.

To recreate the pairings at home, explore Singlefile’s Great Southern Rosé, Tempranillo and Chardonnay online, or discover a curated selection through the Singlefile Wine Club.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Great Southern wine good for food pairing?

Great Southern wines are often valued for freshness, structure and clarity, with a true sense of place. These qualities can make them versatile with food, particularly dishes that balance richness, spice, acidity and texture.

Which Singlefile wines pair best with seafood?

For delicate seafood, crudo and dishes with citrus or savoury detail, rosé is a natural choice. Dry Great Southern rieslings, with their bright, citrusy acidity, are also an ideal match. For richer seafood or dishes with butter, cream or spice, a more textural wine such as chardonnay or fiano would work well.

Why does tempranillo pair with steak?

Tempranillo is well suited to steak because its savoury character, notes of spice and mouthfilling structure meet the richness of beef, without overwhelming the dish.

Can chardonnay pair with spicy food?

Yes, especially when the chardonnay has freshness and texture. It can work well with dishes that combine spice, richness and notes of citrus, which echo the same qualities in the wine.