We call our approach “back to the future”. It involves combining traditional, hands-on management, integrated and complemented with modern technology. We choose to propagate vines from old pre-clonal selection vineyards to benefit from stock with a history of low-yield and high quality.

The vineyard site characteristics we target have soil profiles that allow us to perfectly control soil moisture content via irrigation, maximising fruit quality and intensity. We work with the concept of “terroir”, although we do not necessarily agree with the mystery that is often attached to the word. It can be complex but it is not magic. We consider “terroir” as the interaction between a vine, its environment and the impact of man’s management with the moisture balance of the soil being possibly the major influence.

Management techniques are varied to suit variety and style. Utilisation of techniques such as shoot thinning, leaf plucking and fruit thinning are employed to attain superior quality. Targeted crop levels for Shiraz are 6 – 8 Tonnes per hectare.

We continually strive to minimise inputs and, essentially, use only sulphur and copper on our red varieties. Trialling of bio-dynamics and non-chemical weed control is ongoing.

It is impossible to develop intimate knowledge of a vineyard in one or two years which is why our commitment to optimum quality is reflected by our long term staff and management.

THE REGION

McLaren Vale is considered one of the most unique and important wine growing regions in Australia today, as well as one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world. It is renowned for the production of super premium quality wines – particularly red wines. Its history dates back to the mid 1800’s and is world renown for the production of not just Australia’s top premium wines but also some of the best wines on a global platform. This South Australian region, just 40 kilometers south of Adelaide, is known as ‘Sea & Vines’ which perfectly describes the essence of its favourable geographic location in the Gulf of St Vincent; its unique terroir soils, the winds, temperate, and mediterranean climate. All of these unique factors are at the core of why the region’s vineyards produce such high quality premium grapes.