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Brookland Valley Estate made a conspiuous impression through their stirling efforts at Cabernet Merlot when they claimed several significant trophies, including the hotly contested Qantas Best Wine of Show. Expressing fully the generous palate structure and aromatic richness of the stylish Margaret River Cab Merlot accord, beautifully perfumed, bramble flavoured wine, brimming with the quality and elegance which has earned Brookland Valley Estate a five star reputation. Brookland Valley» |
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Tim Knappstein began his apprenticeship under the family owned Stanley Wine Company. Within a decade, Tim had won more than 500 show awards, gold medals and trophies for the premium Leasingham range. Riposte» |
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Paringa Estate has established an unassailable repute over the last twenty years as one of the leading small winery vineyards in the country, named Australian Winery of the Year by James Halliday. Paringa Shiraz won a total of six trophies including Best of Show at the 2006 Royal Sydney, sweeping the field with five Gold Medals and five Trophies, including the prestigious Best of Show and Best Shiraz at the 2009 Royal Sydney, as well as Best Shiraz Trophy Royal Melbourne. Paringa Estate» |
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Grove Estate became the go to vineyard for esteemed national brands on the hunt for stellar quality Hilltops Shiraz, some very choice parcels of Grove Estate found their way into the winner of the Finest Australian Shiraz Trophy. Immediately identified by early settlers who planted vineyards and made great wine, the Hilltops are renowned for a unique confluence of superior winegrowing aspects. Grove Estate» |
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A solid Cabernet Sauvignon with profound structure and vigorous fruit, the essential Coonawarra style, exuding rich bramble, berries and cassis aromas characters over soft, elegant tannins. Extended maturation in the finest French oak contributes to the wine's overall balance and drinkability. Hollick» |
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The seemingly countless, memorable vintages of Delatite have claimed a litany of trophies, accolades and rave reviews throughout the world of wine. Her first vines were planted in 1968 on a picturesque rise overlooking the vistas of Mt Buller. Delatite» |
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Gold Medal Winner at the highly prestigious London International Wine Challenge! The taste is very sweet, smooth, pronounced and delicous, just like dried raisins or rich tawny grape juice. Serve at cool room temperature with fine desserts, pastries and cake, pour liberally over the best quality ice creams. Lustau» |
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From the home of the 2007 Jimmy Watson, prior vintages of School Block have claimed gold medals at the London International and UK Sunday Times. A deluxe assembly of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot from three Scarpantoni vineyards, each with a unique terroir and mesoclime. Scarpantoni» |
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Don Lewis spent thirty five years crafting the nation's most memorable vintages while at Mitchelton. Nowadays he travels to Spain each year where he makes wine for Merum Priorati, returning to Australia just in time for vintage. Tar Roses» |
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A Shiraz of power and elegance, Heathcote Estate claimed a significant gold medal at the prestigious London International. Inspired by the amazing depth and character of Terra Rosa Shiraz, the Bialkower and Kirby families determined the most idyllic location to propogate vines for an ultra premium Shiraz to rival Australia's finest. Heathcote Estate» |
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Stella Bella have won resounding critical acclaim and a reputation for producing artisanly crafted Margaret River wines of great expression, personality and quality. Stella Bella have established an almost peerless reputation after receiving numerous accolades at significant competitions, including coveted Gold and Mission Hill Trophy at the London International, the only southern hemisphere Chardonnay to win such a prestigious award.. Stella Bella» |
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David O'Leary really knows about things Cabernet Sauvignon, having claimed a Jimmy Watson Trophy and twice International Red Wine Maker of the Year. From low yielding vines up to fifty years of age, grown to superior sites within the Armagh Valley and Polish Hill River districts, the O'Leary Walker team create a powerful and complex, exquisitely perfumed and seamlessly layered Cabernet Sauvignon, framed by judicious oak and supported by graceful tannins, reflecting the idyllic growing climes of Valley Clare. OLeary Walker» |
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Frankland Estate
About Frankland Estate - the Winery
Frankland Estate
Frankland Estate was established in 1988 by Barrie Smith and Judi Cullam, they continue to be actively involved in every aspect of the vineyard and winery
They are assisted by a small, hardworking team who enjoy the diverse and idiosyncratic challenges associated with making wine. The Isolation Ridge vineyard lies on part of a farm where the family have run a wool growing enterprise since 1974. The decision to diversify their farming interests was inspired and informed by a tour of French vineyards Barrie and Judi undertook in 1985 and also by two vintages they worked at Chateau Senejac in Bordeaux. The winemaking philosophies at Frankland Estate reflect these influences as well as the hard earned lessons gained from some 17 vintages in the Frankland River region. Their approach to winemaking is based on the principle that the most significant characteristics of a wine come from the soil and the vineyard environment. They aim to make wines that reflect nature rather than the hand of the winemaker.
This is the basis of Frankland Estate's commitment to sustainable farming and to working the land in accord with the cycles of nature. The team carefully nurtures the health of the soil in the vineyard and only take from the vineyards as much as can be replaced by natural processes. The use of sustainable viticultural practices have won organic certification. It is already evident in the complexity, depth and intensity of flavour in the wines. Like many winemakers Frankland Estate subscribe to the view that great wines are made in the vineyard not the winery. They look to the soils in the vineyards to provide the foundation for healthy vines, intensely flavoured fruit and wines that articulate the distinctive features of the environment in which they are grown.
Frankland River is the coolest and most isolated winegrowing region in Western Australia. Over millions of years the Frankland River has cut through the region’s ancient surface rocks to create gravelloam soils of moderate fertility that are ideal for growing grapes. The river valley also has a crucial influence on the region’s climate.
In winter and spring it sucks cold air down to the Southern Ocean (about 40 kms south of the vineyard) during the night creating air circulation between land and sea that minimises the danger of vine damaging frosts. In summer it funnels cool and humid air north from the ocean moderating the afternoon heat to provide a long, slow ripening period for grapes.
Frankland Estate draws on two different sources of fruit for its wines. Fruit for Isolation Ridge Vineyard is grown in the evocatively named vineyard surrounding the winery. This vineyard is managed by the Frankland Estate team using organic grape growing principles. Fruit for the estate's single vineyard rieslings and for the Rocky Gully range of wines is sourced from other growers in the Frankland River region who share a commitment to sustainable agriculture and high quality fruit.
The Isolation Ridge vineyard sits high on an ironstone ridge with ancient duplex soils of gravel and loam over a clay subsoil. The first vines were planted in 1988 and the vineyard has been progressively expanded to the current 30 hectares. Organic grape growing principles prohibit the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, fungicides and plant growth hormones. Instead, reliance is placed on midrow cultivation, recycled winery waste, animal manures and a range of composting and mulching techniques to increase soil fertility and encourage biodiversity within the vineyard. Fungal diseases are kept under control with sulphur and copper sprays and the resident flock of guinea fowl keep a diligent watch over insect, aphid and mite activity.
The ultimate goal for Frankland Estate, to the extent it can be done, is to allow the wines to make themselves in as natural a process as possible. Hence the entire team tends to avoid titles such as winemakers, prefering to consider themselves as facilitators or interested observers of the means whereby grapes become wine. Similarly, as a small family operated winemaking estate, there is no hierarchy, just two somewhat older and wiser bumps in the middle of what is essentially a flat management structure.
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