Grape Varieties

Chardonnay

Chardonnay has a reputation as the finest white grape variety in the world.

French winemakers use Chardonnay to produce the great White Burgundy wines France is so well known for. Australia has taken Chardonnay to new heights producing the full flavoured 'sunshine in a glass' wines that the Brits have taken to their heart. Chardonnay is arguably the most popular white variety the world over.

Chardonnay is a highly complex, aromatic grape, complete and balanced enough in flavour to stand beautifully on its own. Nevertheless, Chardonnay is commonly blended with other white varieties to produce wine with flavours to suit all palates. The contemporary winemaker is able with skill to bring forth an intriguing variety of delicate aromas and flavours in Chardonnay wines.

Chardonnay shows hints of green apple, lemon or citrus, all pointing to fruity flavour and acidity. Wines made from ripe grapes, common in Australia, bear the distinctly softer Chardonnay flavours of figs, pineapples, ripe apples, melons and honey.

Chardonnay is always dry and no other wine benefits more from the oak aging process. Earthy, toasty, vanilla, caramel, buttery flavours are all descriptives of a Chardonnay aged in oak.

Verdelho

Verdelho is a white grape, originating in Portugal as the variety from which Madeira was made. In Australia, Verdelho is made as a dry white wine that is served young and fresh as either an aperitif, or with spicy (Asian) foods.

Verdelho is an alternative to Riesling and more commonly, Sauvignon Blanc. All have distinctive aromas and fruit flavours that tend to be more intense than Chardonnay and Semillon. The best examples of Sauvignon Blanc emanate from the more southern latitudes of Marlborough in New Zealand. Their fruit flavours reflect fruits common to the climate i.e. gooseberry, strawberry. Grassy is a term commonly associated with this variety.

Our Verdelho is grown in a much warmer climate and the fruit flavours suggest more tropical flavours such as guava, pineapple, melon, and fruit salad.

Riesling is common in the Eden Valley and Clare Valley. Flavours show lots of citrus lemon/lime flavours with a flowery/honey aroma and a dry finish.

Merlot

Soft and luscious with blackberry fruit flavours. Merlot is the principle red variety of Bordeaux.

 Merlot presents the palate with an abundance of fruit flavours. Moderate silky tannins further compliment this versatile variety that is often blended with cabernet sauvignon. Merlot "oaks" well and is gaining popularity as a varietal wine that offers a fresh exciting mouth feel.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Full-bodied wines with a primarily blackcurrant fruit flavour and peppery aroma. Often regarded as the world's premium red variety as it is able to grow under a large variety of conditions and still retain its varietal characteristics.

Grown extensively in Medoc, the heart of Bordeaux, and all winegrowing regions of the world. Cabernet sauvignon is often blended with cabernet franc and merlot.

Ageing and oak treatment will generally see the primary fruit qualities change to that of preserved fruits. Tannins are firm and gripping when young and can provide a strong puckering sensation that diminishes with age to give a fine grain full mouth feel.