With nearly fifty Grüner Veltliner growers in Australia, over forty are based in the Adelaide Hills. Here, says Greg Horner, who owns Mt Bera Vineyards with his wife Katrina, the Austrian variety does very well, producing even fuller, longer flavours than some of Austria’s own ‘Gru’ wines.
The K1 Adelaide Hills 2019 Gruner Veltliner (RRP $25) recently won a trophy for ‘best other varietal white’ at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show, Australia’s most prestigious wine show. The Wines by Geoff Hardy features exciting varietals, expanding options for Australian consumers hung over on French varietals.
Certified organic in 2011, Baileys has adopted organic farming practices, well ahead of the Australian pack. Its wine are made without synthetic chemicals, sprays, fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides, or any other products that are not naturally occurring. And the wines are a small price to pay for locally-produced organic wines, especially given the Shiraz was produced in 2016, bucking the Australian trend to release heavy red wines well before they are ready.
WOW for these wines! Hahndorf Hill Winery owners Larry Jacobs and Marc Dobson have won loads of medals and their dedicated team at the cool climate Adelaide Hills winery know how to make sophisticated wines – and offer customers value for money.
Shaw & Smith has released its 2020 Sauvignon Blanc (RRP$29), a wine that has become a benchmark for the cool climate Adelaide Hills region and Australian Sauvignon Blanc. The 2019 Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay is also a watermark for Adelaide Hills Chardonnay.
November 12 marks the inaugural annual vintage release for celebrated Barossa winery St Hallett and get ready for some new labels. St Hallett will unveil two new vintage wines, the 2016 Old Block Shiraz (RRP $159), 2018 Blackwell Shiraz ($54.99), and three new releases.
Henschke has released its 2016 The Rose Grower Nebbiolo (RRP$50) sourced from the Eden Valley just above the Barossa. Nebbiolo is a fickle variety and Henschke have devoted many years of trial and experimentation to get the wine to this level of quality. The Nebbiolo, an Italian grape named after nebbia which abounds in the northern part of Italy Piemonte from where the grape originates, will last well 10+ years (from vintage)
These new releases from the charming winery Ashton Hills could help make your day, featuring a 2019 Chardonnay ($35), 2019 Pinot Noir ($35), Estate 2019 Pinot Noir ($55) and 2017 Vintage Rosé ($40). The wines are perfect examples of length and flavour, made with grapes grown in the Piccadilly Valley, one of the coolest areas in South Australia. You tend to hear ‘cool climate’ a bit too much in Australian winemaking. But it really is cold here, especially at night, but also in the day
House of Arras has unveiled the first new wine to its portfolio in over six years, House of Arras Blanc de Blancs NV ($34.99). Also released are the House of Arras Brut Elite Cuvee No. 1501 ($60.99), Rosé 2008 ($121.99), Grand Vintage 2009 ($108.99), Museum Release Blanc de Blancs 2004 ($349.99), E.J. Carr Late Disgorged Magnum 2004 (1.5L) ($399.00). House of Arras was born in 1995 as a project to create an Australian sparkling wine on parity with the world’s finest champagnes. Today, House of Arras is Australia’s most awarded sparkling wine brand with over 95 trophies and 242 gold medals.
