Pinot Gris|Chardonnay|Sauvignon Blanc|Pinot Noir|Shiraz

OUR STORY

Grape Varieties

Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio

Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same variety. In France, it is called Pinot Gris while in Italy, it is called Pinot Grigio.

Growing in most types of well-drained soils and with a tolerance to drought, Pinot Gris is an early ripening white grape.

It is a mutation of Pinot Noir, differing in that it has much less pigment in the skins. Sometimes it produces dark blue berries, rather than the usual greyish-blue.

The grape retains low-to-fair acidity and high sugar levels and produces a dry white wine with a yellowish colour, sometimes described as coppery.

Wines labelled Pinot Gris are likely to be richer, viscous and fuller bodied styles, while those labelled Pinot Grigio are more austere, higher in acidity and medium to full bodied.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay (or Pinot Chardonnay) is a premium grape variety that has been grown traditionally in the Champagne and Burgundy districts of France and other regions of Central Europe.

The grape is yellow-green in colour and the vines prefer well drained, fertile soils.

Chardonnay can be used to produce a wide variety of wine styles. Wines from vines grown in warm and warm-to-hot climates exhibit peach and tropical fruit characters. In cooler climates the vines produce wines with apple, quince, grapefruit and lime characters.

Often wine makers will produce different batches of wines in various ways, and then blend these to produce the desired style.

Sauvignon Blanc

Suavignon Blanc is a premium white grape grown in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley, and elsewhere in Central Europe.

Sauvignon Blanc is capable of producing wines of fine quality (dry or sweet) and with considerable depth and complexity.

The grape ripens late with fair acidity, sometimes with quite high sugar content, fine aroma and flavour. It performs optimally in cool regions.

Most of the wine is made in a way that expresses the zesty character and tangy acidity of the grapes.

Wines are normally light to medium bodied, and have depth of fruit and fullness in the middle palate, coupled with a lingering and refreshing finish.

Pinot Noir

A premium quality black grape, Pinot Noir is one of the world's most ancient varieties. It is also one of the most fickle of grape varieties, being extraordinarily sensitive to variations in climate and soil.

When grown in 'just the right' place, Pinot Noir can produce wines with considerable softness, depth and elegance.

Perhaps more than with any other variety, the philosophy and passion of the winemaker is reflected in the style and taste of Pinot Noir wines.

Generally Pinot Noir wines are low in tannins and the mouth sensations are fresh, silky, velvety and soft.

In the better wines, flavour, acid, and tannins provide length, freshness and light astringency.

Shiraz

Cool climate Shiraz is often described as being elegant and textured, with distinctive cracked pepper characters.

The tannins are usually dusty, grainy and drying, and the mouth-feel, velvety.

In good years, wines from cooler climates are taut, multi-flavoured and finely textured.

With age, the astringency decreases, the mouthfeel becomes more mellow and satin-like; savoury, forest-floor characters evolve and the graininess of the tannins is more readily perceived.

The cooler the site, the more intense the raspberry, minty and pepper characteristics, while in warm sites and seasons,
wines express more blackberry, licorice, spice and cinnamon tones.

Learn about our handcrafted wines.

Read the tasting notes.

Here's how you can purchase our wines.