CASCABEL
Cascabel - McLaren Vale, SA
Duncan Ferguson & Susana Fernandez established Cascabel in 1997, selecting the southern end of McLaren Vale for planting predominantly the Spanish varieties of Monastrell (aka Mourvedre), Graciano & Tempranillo, and also some classic Rhone varieties, such as Grenache & Roussanne. Also known as the ‘Dynamic Duo’, Duncan & Susana are highly committed to ‘in house’ production – accordingly, all wines bearing the Cascabel label are produced, bottled & labeled on site. The combination of traditional European wine making techniques, high-quality low-yielding fruit and a high degree of skill enable the unique Cascabel range to really stand out from the crowd.
Winemakers: Susana Fernandez & Duncan Ferguson www.cascabelwinery.com.au
DEVIATION ROAD
Deviation Road – Adelaide Hills, SA
Hamish Laurie, the Great-Great Grandson of South Australia’s first female winemaker Mary Laurie, created deviation Road in 1998. Hamish’s wife Kate joined the company in 2001 after studying winemaking and viticulture in Champagne, France at the Lycee Viticole d’Avize and helping her father establish WA winery, Stone Bridge.
Deviation Road wines – so named after the road the vineyard is located on near Mt Lofty –sources 95% of its fruit from the family vineyard. Planted in 1983, at an altitude of approximately 550m, (on near-impossible slopes!), the varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have produced consistently excellent wines. Exciting results are coming from some newer plantings (1995) of Pinot Gris, as well as Merlot in good years.
Winemakers: Hamish and Kate Laurie www.deviationroad.com
DOMINIQUE PORTET
Dominique Portet – Yarra Valley, VIC
Dominique Portet is the ninth generation of his family to be involved in winemaking, and the first to establish a winery and label bearing the family name. The winery was established in 2000 in the Yarra Valley. The region was chosen for the likeness of its fruit to that of Portet’s native Bordeaux. Whilst Dominique is no newcomer to the Australian wine industry (after spending his first 20 years in Australia as MD of Taltarni), this eclectic range of wines is rapidly developing a cult following for their structure, complexity & elegance.
Winemaker: Dominique Portet www.dominiqueportet.com
FOX CREEK
Fox Creek – McLaren Vale, SA
From the very first release of their legendary 1994 Reserve Shiraz, Fox Creek has continued to win countless medals and awards for wines across their entire range. They are well known for their intensity of flavour, complexity and longevity. From the vineyard right through to the winemaking process, quality control is paramount and in keeping with their attention to detail.
Winemakers: Scott Zrna www.foxcreekwines.com.au
GLAETZER
Glaetzer – Barossa Valley, SA
Winemaking patriarch Colin Glaetzer established his own label to create wines he’s passionate about – limited quantities of benchmark Barossa Valley old vine shiraz.
Colin and winemaker son Ben have a shared philosophy. Both firmly believe that great wines are made in the vineyard. Their belief in ‘terroir’ and an understanding of the ancient dry-grown vineyards in the renowned Ebenezer district of the Barossa is evident. Exceptional fruit from a loyal group of third and fourth generation Barossa grape growers is the backbone of Glaetzer wines. With minimal intervention, Colin and Ben make the unique, elegant wines which are regarded as classics and unmistakably Barossa Valley.
Winemakers: Colin & Ben Glaetzer www.glaetzer.com
HEARTLAND WINES
Heartland Wines – Langhorne Creek/Limestone Coast, SA
Heartland Wines is the creation of a group of leading South Australian wine industry identities including winemaker Ben Glaetzer, fifth generation viticulturist Geoff Hardy, winemaker Scott Collett and wine industry professionals Vicki Arnold and Grant Tilbrook. All Heartland Wines fruit is taken from their own vineyards in Langhorne Creek and Limestone Coast. This gives them control over style and quality from grape to glass.
Winemaker: Ben Glaetzer www.heartlandwines.com.au
JASPER HILL
Jasper Hill – Heathcote VIC
Jasper Hill’s aim is to make great wine, with the preservation of nature’s flavours, complexities and balance. The approach to winemaking is for minimal intervention in the vineyards and in the cellar - to allow the individual vineyard’s ‘terroir’ or sense of place to express itself.
Jasper Hill wines are produced entirely on the estate using organic/biodynamic principles. Jasper Hill produces their own organic compost and has never used synthetic chemicals on either the vines or the soils, since the original vineyards were planted in 1975.
The viticultural practices employed are as close to nature as humanly possible. The vines are planted on their own roots with no irrigation whatsoever, minimal tillage, natural inter-row mulching leading to broad bio-diversity, in turn giving depth and intensity to the wines. Only hand pruning of the vines and hand harvesting.
Winemaker: Ron Laughton www.jasperhill.com
KILIKANOON
Kilikanoon – Clare Valley, SA
Kilikanoon is a boutique winery with an International reputation for award winning wines located in the heart of South Australia’s stunning Clare Valley. Winemaker Kevin Mitchell purchased the Kilikanoon property in late 1997 with a vision of creating his own brand. After months of extensive renovation the cellar door opened in April 1998 coinciding with the release of the 1997 vintage.
Kevin was born & raised in the Clare Valley spending most of his free time in the vineyard with his father Mort Mitchell. Mort has always enjoyed a reputation as one of the Clare Valley’s more meticulous and experienced grape growers. This dedication has resulted in premium quality signature brands such as the ‘Mort’s Block’ Riesling, ‘Blocks Road’ Cabernet Sauvignon, the ‘Oracle’ and ‘Covenant’ Shiraz.
Winemaker: Kevin Mitchell www.kilikanoon.com.au
PIZZINI
Pizzini – King Valley, VIC
Alfred and Katrina’s vision is to entrench themselves as Australia’s premium producer of fine Italian style wines. With twenty five years of “hands on” viticultural experience with both international and Italian varietals and experimentation with making wine, they are heading in the right direction.
Alfred knows his vineyard back-to-front, this, he says is one of the most important aspects to making a good wine. Being able to grow and select the right fruit to make a particular wine style is as important as the winemaking itself. Over the past couple of years Alfred has enlisted the services of Alberto Antonini, a world travelling consultant winemaker and viticulturist specialising in the making of Italian style wines. Alberto guides Alfred and Joel with viticultural advice and blending to help make the style of wines Alfred wants to produce.
Winemakers: Alfred & Joel Pizzini www.pizzini.com.au
STEFANO LUBIANA
Stefano Lubiana – Granton, TAS
Stefano Lubiana’s highly sought after wines are the result of a passionate quest for perfection, detail and uniqueness. The approach focuses on organic principles, with innovative use of wild yeasts, barrel and whole bunch fermentation to handcraft a distinct range of wines.
Located at Granton, in the Derwent Valley, 20 km north of Hobart, overlooking the spectacular tidal estuary of the Derwent River, Stefano Lubiana Wines remains a family owned and operated business, focused on producing small quantities of hand crafted, cool climate, Tasmanian wines.
Winemaker: Steve Lubiana www.slw.com.au
CULLEN WINES
Cullen Wines was one of the founding vineyards in Western Australia’s premium winegrowing area and are still pioneers in setting the quality agenda.The maritime climate and old soils of Margaret River provide a near perfect environment for the growing of the finest quality grapes; intensely flavoured if farmed using no irrigation and employing techniques to ensure low yields and keeping healthy vines through biodynamic farming techniques. This is the philosophy of Cullen Wines.
Winemaker: Vanya Cullen www.cullenwines.com.au
HENRY’S DRIVE
Henry’s Drive - Padthaway, SA
Named after the proprietor of the 19th century mail coach service which once rang through their property in Padthaway, Henry’s Drive Vignerons was established by Kim Longbottom and her late husband, Mark. The first vines were planted in 1992, on selected sites of both terra-rossa soils over limestone and sandy loamy soils over limestone, to provide choice and complexity. The operation now has extensive vineyards throughout the region and the wines are testament to their dedication and the growing stature of Padthaway as one of the world’s great wine growing regions.
Winemaker: Renae Hirsch www.henrysdrive.com
S.C. PANNELL
Stephen grew up in the winemaking tradition as part of the family which founded Moss Wood in 1969. Stephen’s extensive knowledge and experience has been garnered over many years working with some of Australia’s iconic wineries including Wirra Wirra, Hardy’s Tintara and BRL Hardy where he was Chief Red Winemaker from 1999 to 2003 alongside numerous overseas vintages at Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Burgundy, Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux and G.D. Vajra in Barolo. Other highlights in Stephen’s career include winning the title of International Red Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge in London, winning the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show, twice winning the Max Schubert Trophy at the Adelaide Wine Show as well as being listed as one of the 50 most influential contributors to the world of wine by Decanter Magazine.
Winemaker: Stephen Pannell www.pannell.com.au
LONGVIEW
Since its first vintage in 2001 Longview Vineyard has become one of the Adelaide Hills’ most awarded wine producers. Set on undulating slopes reminiscent of classic old world estates, this family owned single vineyard has a unique micro-climate suited to growing cool climate white and red varietals equally well. Shiraz, Cabernet, and Nebbiolo sit on north facing slopes ensuring maximum radiation and Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc thrive on the more sheltered southern aspect. Pushing the envelope by planting other “alternative” varietals such as Gruner Veltliner and Barbera, Longview is establishing itself as producer that will be around for decades to come.
Winemaker: Ben Glaetzer - contract www.longviewvineyard.com.au
Winemakers: Garry &Nick www.byfarr.com.au
BY FARR
By Farr - Geelong, Vic
Gary Farr planted the first vines on his Bannockburn property in 1994. The interaction between the terroir of the north-facing hillsides and clonal selection is pivotal to the quality of their wines. Nick has taken the next step as a winemaker with wines which truly reflect the individual vineyard site from which the grapes are picked. His third vintage from these vines shows fruit, flavour and finesse. Gary, on the other hand, has moved on not only from his previous job but to working full-time with Nick. He is working on a new plane with his winemaking and producing a mere 2000 cases (this year) of the better, best By Farr! Gary’s uncompromising attitude towards his vineyard and winemaking enables him to make the style of wines he likes to drink. They have attitude and a great depth of character with understated finesse.
