Page 4 - Wineries

Region: Adelaide Hills
Proprieter: John Edwards
Winemaker: John Edwards, Michael Schreurs
Established: 1996
Address:
Ravenswood Lane
Hahndorf
South Australia, 5245

The family dream was to make distinctive wines with the gusto of Australian grown fruit matched with Old World structure. Cool temperatures, ancient gravel/limestone and clay soils, meticulous vineyard work, and sensitive winemaking melding ‘old world’ approaches with hi-tech wizardry translate the intention into some awesome wines. Some of the equipment we saw back of house is real ‘Star Wars’ stuff. Like the grape sorting table that can separate out the tiny unripe grapes from the gooduns and get rid of dust and twigs and bugs and various other moggies (easy, easy, MOG meaning matter other than grapes) before the business of stomping, crushing and pressing begins. Clean as the whistle who's timbre is best wet.

The real contrast is in the vineyard as Marty Edwards takes a ‘tread lightly’ approach to the earth. Systemic herbicides

Region: McLaren Vale
Proprieter: Tony Parkinson
Address:
PO Box 584, Main Road
McLaren Vale
South Australia, 5171

Woop Woop Wines (Woop Woop being Australian for "in the middle of nowhere") sources grapes from the backblocks of vineyard owner Tony Parkinson's fields. This winery produces under the Woop Woop, Big Woop and Black Chook labels.

Winemaker Ben Riggs works with Tony on producing this line of red wines as part of a network of McLaren Vale wine industry friendlies (the Galvanised Wine Group). In this case, they craft New World, approchable wines at the local McLaren Vintners winery. Woop Woop sources grapes from a number of sub-regions, including the Riverland, Padthaway and Langhorne Creek in South Australia. This covers a range of soil and climate, from warm 'terra rossa' soils that produce punchy reds, to cooler riverside and maritime areas favouring excellent whites.

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How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man?...

Region: Clare Valley
Proprieter: Kevin Mitchell
Established: 1997
Address:
Penna Lane
Penwortham via Clare
South Australia, 5453

Kevin purchased Kilikanoon in 1997 after having worked for such companies as Krondorf, d'Arenberg, Kingston Estate, Orlando, BRL Hardy, Kendal Jackson, and in the USA, Willamette Valley.

With over 500 hectares of vines throughout South Australia, founder and Senior Winemaker Kevin Mitchell has a diverse range of prime harvests to draw from. This has led to a diverse range of award-winning wines for this acclaimed winery. Since their first release in 1998, the Kilikanoon red wines in Clare Valley have gained in their popularity.

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Region: Yarra Valley
Proprieter: Alex White
Established: 1995
Address:
PO Box 4123
Wishart
Victoria, 3189

The vineyard hosts Shiraz, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc vines, not uncommon in this climate, which grants cool complexity to these Australian staples. The standout is a batch of Cortese, which you rarely see in Australia. The viticulturalist notes: "Our vines at our Lost Valley and Mt Buller site are planted on 30 acres of natural amphitheaters with their own unique red clay/granitic sand soil and micro-climate."

History

Based in the cool to cold climate of Central Victoria's Upper Goulburn, Lost Valley vineyards are located on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, one hour north of Melbourne. Thought of as Victorian " High Country", the area is scattered with pink granite, and is 450 meters above sea level. Adjoining is the Tallrook Forest (Natramboolok for "Call of the Wattlebird").

Region: McLaren Vale
Proprieter: Chris Dix/Peter Belej
Established: 2002
Address:
PO Box 778
McLaren Vale
South Australia, 5171

Vincognita (the makers of Madeleine's wines, hence the logo) is based in the heart of Shiraz and Viognier country: McLaren Vale and Nangkita in the Southern Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.

The Nangkita Vineyard lies at the southern end of the Mt Lofty ranges just outside the Adelaide Hills wine region. It lies halfway between McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek, being the 'Bullseye' in the centre of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Their main focus is on Northern Rhone style wines, not only because they love them, but because the varieties suit the area so well. Shiraz and Viognier from their vineyard coupled with Shiraz from what they believe are the oldest vines in Willunga help them create flavoursome, rich and complex wines.

The red dot on the label was inspired by looking at paintings in commercial art galleries where works sold were identified with a red dot

Region: Southern Fleurieu
Proprieter: Roger Pike
Established: 2003
Address:
Edwards Road
Willunga
South Australia, 5172

Marius produces very hand-crafted wines. All fruit is hand-picked and this is done sequentially over approximately three weeks to ensure that all the grapes are as near as possible to 'perfect' when picked. Mid-rows are not cultivated or tilled, the natural grasses and weeds are slashed, no pesticides are used and their worm population is growing rapidly. The spray programme is only low-level fungicides at high-risk periods for powdery and downy mildew as they are blessed with good air circulation through the vineyard.

The Marius vineyard is situated on rising ground to the south-east of McLaren Vale township at an elevation of 170 metres above sea-level. It is ideally positioned to take advantage of both the maritime climatic influence and the cooling gully breezes on summer evenings. The vineyard is small, being only four and a half acres of Shiraz.

The soils range from

Region: Barossa Valley
Proprieter: Dan Standish and Jaysen Collins
Established: 1999
Address:
PO Box 643
Angaston
South Australia, 5352

With dedicated growers in the North Western Barossa areas of Greenock, Kalimna and Koonunga Hill, Massena sources fruit from dry farmed, low yielding vines up to 120 years of age. Whilst they work mostly with traditional Barossa varieties Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro from these growers, they are also trialling new varieties such as Durif, Barbera, Dolcetto, Roussanne, Saperavi and Tannat.

Region: McLaren Vale
Proprieter: Ben Riggs
Winemaker: Ben Riggs
Established: 2001
Address:
Ingleburne Main Road
McLaren Vale
South Australia, 5171

In case you haven't noticed, Mr. Riggs is prolific in winemaking like the Pacific Ocean is kinda big and wet. It is an understatement to say he is a vital part of McLaren Vale wine. He's had decades of experience in the Vale, Victoria and overseas, so he knows a thing or two about making good wine, and this label is his solo act. His Shiraz, Tempranillo and Riesling have been garnering Gold and Silver for years, so get in or miss out, as the saying goes.

Ben Riggs sources fruit from a number of McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills vineyards in South Australia. As a member of the Galvanised Wine Group, Ben's relationship with these growers and McLaren Vintners gives him a great portfolio of fruit to create with.

Region: Adelaide Hills
Proprieter: Mark Joyce and Andrew Pike
Established: 1998

The vineyard site, which was previously apple and pear orchards, is characterized by steep North and East facing slopes and possesses fantastic gravelly clay and loam soils which are ideally suited to the classic cool climate varieties that have been planted – Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The vineyard is all hand pruned and handpicked with the fruit being chilled overnight in the Joyce cool rooms, before being transported to Pike’s Clare Valley winery for vinification.

For the aficionados, here are the viticulture details:

Hectares/Acres: 25 ha (60 acres) planted in the period from 1998 - 2001.
Climate: Lenswood represents a true ‘cool climate’ Australian wine region. Average rainfall is approximately 800mm-1000mm (32-40 inches). The steep sloping terrain virtually eliminates the risk of frost.
Soils: Gravelly, clay loam soils that drain extremely well.
Orientation: Steep north and

Region: McLaren Vale
Proprieter: Susie and Tony Parkinson
Established: 1988
Address:
Ingleburne Main Road
McLaren Vale
South Australia, 5171

Penny's Hill was established by Susie and Tony Parkinson in 1988, with the purchase of 32ha of grazing land on the foothills of east of McLaren Vale. Penny's Hill Vineyard was named after the hill at the base of which it is located. In conjunction with long-time friend, David Paxton, who declared the suitability of the land for Shiraz grapes, the Parkinsons were determined to develop a vineyard which would produce the best possible fruit.

All vines on the Penny's Hill, Malpas Road and Goss Corner Vineyards are hand pruned. All wines are spur pruned to a single cordon (bar some Merlot on Malpas Road) and are trellised using vertical shoot positioning. The Semillon and Merlot on the Goss Corner are hand thinned when necessary. There is minimal use of chemicals in the vineyard.

The winemaking and viticultural team of Riggs and Bekkers work towards the

Region: Clare Valley
Proprieter: Tim Adams and Pam Goldsack
Winemaker: Tim Adams
Established: 1987
Address:
Warenda Road, between Clare and Sevenhill
Clare
South Australia, 5453

Named after the skilled proprietor, Tim Adams is known for cranking out some stellar Rieslings from the 80's in the cool terroirs of the Clare. But overlook their reds at your loss – his Shiraz is a cracker, and recently got the nod from UK wine luminary Oz Clarke as the top drop in 2011.

They focus their attention on making wines exclusively from Clare Valley grapes selected for their authentic varietal and regional characters from South Australia. These wines can be enjoyed in their youth for their vibrant fruit and fresh flavours, or be cellared for five to 15 years, depending on the wine.

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