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Take a lesson from the well versed Rosé rectors on the Cotes du Rhône and you'll be adding a measure of the arcadian Cinsault grape into your Grenache ferments, conceiving an animate and engaging ochre pink wine. There's a real affinity between the balmy maritime climes of McLaren Vale and the swarthy, effusive varietals that hail from the French south. Bondar» |
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The quality of Shiraz grown to parched vineyards in Victoria's rugged western districts, has been well known throughout the world of wine since the days of gold rush and early settlement. Taltarni have since established an enviable reputation for vintages of powerfully structured, statuesque red wines, fully exploiting the soft spoken majesty and graceful intensity of Pyrenees Shiraz comes naturally. Taltarni» |
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Campbell's Topaque is the most wickedly intense, lusciously rich elixir, laden with candied peel flavours, honeycombed fruit and amber complexities. Painstakingly crafted to the old world Solera system, a bespoke tradition of fractional blending and elevage, achieving the most indulgent concentration of flavour through a laborious racking of barrels as the angels take their share. Campbells» |
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This enduring flagship wine can boast twenty trophys and over seventy gold medals throughout its illustrious history. Penley Steyning captures and enhances the excellence in first growth Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, highlighted by rich berry tones, superior length and layers of intense flavour, a wine which achieves perfect harmony between massive intensity of fruit, mouth filling grape tannins and elegant acids. Penley Estate» |
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A passionate, family owned and operated winery who've been rewarded with highly coveted Royal Melbourne Gold for their impressive Langhorne Creek reds. Temple Bruer have been waving the magic wand with their brilliant efforts at Merlot, scoring further medals at the Small Winemakers and Rutherglen Wine Shows. Temple Bruer» |
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Stephen Pannell is one of Australia's most decorated winemakers, Jimmy Watson and twice Max Schubert Trophy winner, London International Winemaker of Year and Chairman National Wine Show. He found time in between tours of duty at Wirra Wirra, Tintara and BRL Hardy, to do vintage in Burgundy, at the illustrious Mouton Rothschild and amongst the grand old vines of Barolo. SC Pannell» |
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Lenton Brae can justifiably claim to be one of Margaret River's leading proponents of the ebullient fusion between Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, having claimed multi trophies and gold medals for the style at regional, state and national competitions. The site was chosen after a chance conversation with the owner of Moss Wood who mentioned that the soils were uniformly excellent and equal to those of the eminent vineyard nearby. Lenton Brae» |
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The first and final word in world class Barossa Cabernet, aged in a luxurious selection of completely new French oak hogsheads. The Ashmead block is so low yielding that it was almost gutted and re established to more productive plantings. Elderton» |
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By one of the most consequential winemakers in the greater Canberra GUI, crafted from Shiraz grown to mature vines at Kyeema, on an elevated granite saddle near Murrumbateman. Reserve Shiraz has enjoyed a series of compelling national trophy wins, including Best Red Sydney Royal Wine Show. Collector» |
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Streicker's Bridgeland property yields harvests of the finest Shiraz. Crafted to traditional winemaking techniques, a regimen of old fashioned plungings and open ferments, into a pure, single vineyard Rhone style Syrah. Streicker» |
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The term Terra rossa means red earth, a rich, free draining soil that is considered by many as the viticultural equivalent of discovering gold. Beneath the strata of red earth at Wrattonbully sits a layer of ancient limestone, a winegrower's dream as it allows free drainage of water, yet ensures vine roots stay close to the surface, putting natural stress on the vine and limiting its vigor and yield. Smith Hooper» |
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The marvelous S1 block is a sheltered, relatively warm site within the splendid vistas of Seaview Vineyard, on a north facing plateau at 160m above sea level, refreshed by maritime winds that blow in from the Cludy Bay coast. Fruit is crushed and destemmed, chilled and gently pressed, the clearest juices are racked off for a long, cool ferment to capture the full opulence of S1 vineyard grapes on the vine. Yealands Estate» |
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Giesen
About Giesen - the Winery
Giesen
When the Giesen brothers, Theo, Alex and Marcel, planted their first grape vines on bare land at Burnham, near Christchurch, there were those who questioned the practicality of their venture
After all, theirs was the southern-most vineyard in the world at that time and Canterbury was not then known as a wine-producing region. This was 1981 and the Giesens were, quite literally, breaking new ground for the fledgling New Zealand wine industry. Ignoring the scornful words of those who doubted Burnham's suitability for wine production, the brothers tended their plantings of Chardonnay, Riesling and Gewurztraminer and were rewarded in 1984 with their first vintage.
The Giesens further emphasised their foresight by supplementing the vintage with Sauvignon Blanc grapes from Marlborough, a region which would become one of the finest producers in the world. The path they would travel would not always be smooth but their perseverance and the belief in what they were doing was to reward the brothers handsomely. In 1988, Giesen Wines gained its first export order, sending Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to Margaret Harvey in the United Kingdom.
As it became increasingly obvious that Marlborough would evolve into one of the premium grape-growing regions of New Zealand, the Giesens widened their vineyard interests, purchasing the original Dillon's Point property in 1993. A year later, they had broken into the highly competitive Australian market, appointing Negociants Australia as their exclusive distributors. As the reputation of their wines spread, greater overseas interest in their label flourished, and in 1997, Giesen Wines were represented in the United States for the first time. Two years on, Giesen was in expansion mode, purchasing four separate vineyard blocks in Marlborough and building a new winery in Vernon St, Blenheim.
In 1999, sales of Giesen Wines in Australia topped 3000 cases per annum. A year later, total case sales had soared to 23,000, and increasing volumes were heading to the United States, encouraging Giesen Wines to appoint Dreyfus Ashby and Co as its exclusive distributor there. Success bred even more success when in 2001, Giesens' Marlborough operation was broadened with the development of a 300-acre vineyard at Dillon's Point, Blenheim, sales had doubled to more than 50,000 cases.
As its property portfolio expanded, so too did production, until in 2004, sales exceeded 100,000 cases per annum for the first time. With the growing demand for its wines, particularly in the Australian market, the company moved to larger premises and invested in a bottling and packaging facility at Christchurch, whilst expanding its winery and tank capacity in Blenheim.
Low yielding vines grown to a cool climate is what makes Giesen's wines so unique. Complex fruit aromas make them enjoyable whilst young, refreshing acidity gives the wines backbone for long aging in the bottle. Giesen produces a range of estate wines which aim for consistency of character and quality from vintage to vintage. This range includes a luscious, intensely flavoured Riesling, a vibrant, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, a complex yet elegant Chardonnay and a succulent, fruit driven Pinot Noir. Most vintages produce parcels of fruit or batches of wine of superior quality. These are bottled under a Reserve or Single Vineyard selection label. This range also includes a Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The style may vary from one vintage to the next as determined by the season, however they will all display individuality and quality.
Twenty-six years have passed since the first Giesen vines were planted in the stony ground of Burnham and the doubters have long ago had to swallow their words. Theo, Alex and Marcel have etched their names in the legend of New Zealand winemaking. Ignoring all detractors, they have been steadfast pioneers of a now booming industry in which they continue to be leaders and innovators.
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