Vineyards

The vineyards Jean-Baptiste is working with have been selected over the last 7 years for their unique growing conditions, grape varieties and soil profiles. The emphasis is on organic farming, a sustainable approach to the land management which respect fauna and flora surrounding each plot of vines which allow the vines to reach only the highest quality to make fine quality wines. Yields are controlled and kept on the lower side, the sprays are spread out wisely and with strategy to keep the fungus pressure to its lowest, the soils are work at key moment of the year and all the vineyards carry an organic certification. Here are their stories.

Lansdowne Vineyard

Located 30 minutes north of the winery on the town of Forreston, on the slope of Mount Gould, the vineyards farmed by Brendan Cameron is divided in two distinct sites and are both certified organic.

Home Block

Located at 350m OSL, the home block sits on a dark silt top soil on shist and clay subsoils, the vines are roughly around 40-50 years old and this site benefit from exceptional diurnal temperature & a cooling airflow in the valley during the nights.

From this site we selected the Chardonnay I10V1; Pinot Noir MV6, 115, 777; Pinot Gris D1V7; Sauvignon Blanc F4V6.

Lansdowne Valley Block

at 450m OSL, the Valley block sits further up the road, past the Forreston town, deeper in the valley and higher altitude which make temperature cooler overall. The soil profile is similar with more Shist slates over clay and some quartz rocks scattered. From this site we selected the Gamay 222, BGW19.

Mount Bera Vineyards

Located 25 minutes north of the winery just before the town of Gumeracha, in the valley system alongside Cuddlee Creek, the vineyards are farmed by Greg Horner and certified Biodynamic / Organic. The two blocks we been sourcing fruits from sits at an altitude between 250-400m OSL & are truly unique. The Tempranillo is on gentle slope facing North-East, 45 years old vines on Red reductive clay and quartz & been dry grown for the past 3 years.

The Pinot Noir MV6 is on a much steeper portion of the hill where the rows of 45 years old vines run straight up the top on Red clay and a rare vein of limestone, we selected the mid slope which is high drainage & produced the finest Pinot Noir in the Adelaide Hills. Dry grown for the past 3 years.

Traeger Vineyard

Located on Light Pass Road, Vine Vale in the Barossa Valley, this stunning property has been farmed relentlessly with organic practices by Jeff and his wife Petita Traeger for the past 40 years and its the home of some of the oldest vines on this planet. The soil profile consist of deep sand sitting on yellow clay deep under. The climate is warm during the day and fresh at night and benefit from the cooling airflow coming from the Menglers Hill ridge.

From this unique site we selected Semillon, 110 years Old vines; Grenache, 150 years old vines; Cinsault, 70 years old vines; Mourvedre, 70 years old vines; Merlot, 80 years old vines; Grenache Blanc and Gris, 80 years old vines.

Small Fry Vineyards

Also called the Schlieb's garden as a reference to its ancient ward and carer, this vineyard got purchased by Wayne Ahrens and Sue Hilder in 2007 which continued the Biodynamic effort and replanted, maintained & re generated this historic patch of old vines. Located in Vine Vale just off Vine Vale Road not far from Menglers Hill, benefiting from the cool airflow coming down from it, these Old vines are growing on a few meters of deep sands on yellow and red clay.

From this historic vineyard we selected the Trousseau, 16 years old vines planted from cutting taken from 150 years old mother vines scattered around the vineyard.