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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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| The enthusiastic maritime climes of Martinborough are heaven sent for a style and quality of Sauvignon Blanc to rival the world's finest. Mother nature sets the stage, but ultimately it is the thoughtful viticultural practices of the Palliser Estate team, which ensures a harvest of ripe and intensely flavoured Sauvignon Blanc at every vintage. Palliser Estate» |
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| A vigorous diction of new world Chardonnay, framed within a tasteful veneer of judicious oak, crafted by an artisanal winery that's claimed best white and best red wine trophies, as judged amongst peers at the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association. Willow Creek offers a stylishly proportioned palate, finishing as crisp as the maritime winds which enthuse the Peninsula. Willow Creek» |
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| Whole bunches and oak barrel ferments, the costly extravagance of three years tirage on sedimentery yeast lees, each bottle individually riddled by hand, disgorged and sent to cellar for the ultimate indulgence of extra age before release, Pamela is the zenith of the sparkling winemaker's art. Her luxurious effervescence exudes brioche, tarte tatin and French boulangere, her creamy textural mousse unravelling ribbons of rich yeasty autolysis, crème caramel and baked fruits. Wicks» |
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| The top cut, off a mere four hectares Pinot Noir, eighteen different rootstock and clone, all picked by hand and separately fermented. Parcels are treated to minimalist vinification and the extravagance of a Vaslin Bucher basket press, followed by a year in the finest French oak barriques and three years cellaring before release. Pressing Matters» |
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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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| Elizabeth is a classic Hunter Valley white which has established itself as one of Australia's benchmark Semillon. Named in commemoration of the first ever visit to Australia by a reigning monarch in 1954, Elizabeth has claimed over fifty trophies and multi gold throughout it's long and illustrious history. Mount Pleasant» |
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| The uncompromising pursuit of excellence brings the Yealands team to the extreme viticultural climes of Gibbston Valley in Central Otago. It is here under the frigid cloudless night skies that Pinot Noir vines, planted to undulating granite schist soils, struggle to yield harvests of parched grapes, redolent with cherry berry perfumes, bursting with an intensity of flavour and wrapped in a muslin of seamless, velvet tannins. Yealands Estate» |
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| Classically structured with a well established estate styling, Hunter's have won more than 100 gold at international wine competitions, including Marquis de Goulaine Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc in the World at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Jane Hunter is a highly qualified viticulturist with a long family history of wine growing, she worked closely with eminent Australian oenologist Dr Tony Jordan to achieve the quality of harvests which are benchmarks in the world of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.. Hunters» |
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| Elderton Cabernet was winner of the prestigious Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy in 1993, the following years it claimed back to back Gold and Trophy at the Barossa Wine Show. The 1994 vintage gave Elderton its first international Gold medal in London, an unbroken tradition of remarkable vintages have embossed the Elderton Estate name as a national champion, being chosen by Qantas for service in first class. Elderton» |
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| Charles Cimicky was inspired by his father to take over the reins at the family estate, that's when the good wines started turning into awesome wines. Today, Cimicky is one of the most meticulous winemakers in South Australia. Charles Cimicky» |
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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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About Greenstone - the Winery
Greenstone
The initial excitement of three wine enthusiasts upon discovering Greenstone Vineyard remains undiminished, vindicated by the quality of wines to come off the precious site
Alberto Antonini and David Gleave have known each other since meeting in Montalcino in 1989. Both make their living from Italian wine - Alberto as a winemaker, consultant and grapegrower, David as the UK importer of some of Italy's top producers - yet they have often discussed over the years the great allure of Australia and Australian wine. The styles of wine, and the freedom to plant and develop whatever variety you believe is going to work in your piece of land, is of great appeal to them both. So when Mark Walpole took Alberto Antonini, whom he knew through their shared interest in Italian grape varieties in Australia, to visit the Greenstone site, Alberto wasted no time in ringing David in London. Alberto was struck by the quality of the soil and site. “I’m standing on a hill in Heathcote that would make a great vineyard,” he said to David. That was all it took to set the Greenstone Vineyard in motion.
The 40 hectare Greenstone Vineyard is situated north of Heathcote at Colbinabbin. Heathcote lies just north of the Great Dividing range in the Central Highlands region of Victoria at an altitude of around 400 metres. The region, while warmer and more continental than districts south of the Great Dividing Range, still enjoys some cooler temperatures due to the prevailing cool south to southeast winds that sweep over the Tooborac hills that stretch the whole length of the Mt Camel Range. These winds occur during the period from October to March, which coincides with the vines’ growing period.
The Greenstone Vineyard is on the ridge of old Cambrian soil that runs through the eastern side of the Camel ranges. The 500 million year old Cambrian soils are unique in Australia in that they are volcanic in origin yet contain high levels of calcium. They are low in vigour, so ideally suited to the production of quality wine.
The name ‘Greenstone’ comes from the greenish rocks that are so plentiful in the vineyard. The colour of these rocks is derived from oxidised iron. The high level of iron in the soil is responsible for the red earth for which Heathcote is famous. This soil, one of the oldest in Australia, is rich in calcium with a high pH (over 7), a combination that results in wines of great elegance.
Mark Walpole was first attracted to the red soil of Heathcote when, as a ten year old, he travelled with his family over the Camel ranges and was struck by the red wool on the sheep that grazed on the Cambrian soils. Years later, as chief viticulturalist for Brown Brothers, he was one of the first people to recognise the great potential that existed in Heathcote for quality red wine when he developed their Patricia vineyard, which is five kilometres north of the Greenstone site.
The first 10 hectares of Shiraz were planted in 2003, while the following year saw the planting of one hectare each of Tempranillo and Monastrell as well as a further 8 hectares of Shiraz. Mark chose four different Shiraz clones for the vineyard, three from the Barossa (1654, 2626 and 1127) and one from Coonawarra (R6WV28). Mark and Alberto met through their shared passion for Italian varieties, so it is only fitting that Sangiovese should have been planted. The clones were selected by Alberto in Italy, and are the best of the new Tuscan clones selected and propagated by the Rauscheder nursery in Italy. Both are convinced that Tempranillo and Monastrell will perform as well in Heathcote as they do in their native Spain. The vine density is 4,500 vines per hectare, about twice the average in the rest of Heathcote. This high density reduces the vines’ vigour, and gives a lower yield per vine which, results in better quality grapes.
Another innovation introduced by Mark and Alberto was to plant the rows in an east-west rather than north-south direction. The orientation of the rows protects the grapes against the fierce summer sun, ensuring a more gradual ripening process and resulting in livelier and more elegant fruit in the wines. The grapes are hand harvested in mid March and then transported to the Kooyong winery in the Mornington Peninsula. Sandro Mosele, the winemaker at Kooyong, works in conjunction with Alberto Antonini to make the Greenstone wines.
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