Barossa Valley
Cooper Burns – Barossa Valley, SA
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Cooper Burns is a winemaking partnership between Mark Cooper and Russell Burns, dedicated to producing tiny amounts of handcrafted, small batch, artisan wines from the Barossa Valley. They aim to make wines with soul, individuality and personality that express the qualities of the vineyard, vintage and passion that went in to making the wines. Their specialties are riesling, chardonnay, grenache, shiraz and mataro.
cooperburns.com.au | Halliday profile
Grant Burge – Barossa Valley, SA
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The Burges have always been devoted vignerons. For five generations they spent their days toiling the land, understanding the soil and growing grapes that would become the most luxurious wines. In 1865, Meshach Burge installed fermenting tanks in one of his sheds with the intent to share wine with his friends and family. Out of his generosity came the Grant Burge brand, built on this foundation of devotion and sharing and wanting to consistently overdeliver, with each tier continuously exceeding expectations. They use their intrinsic knowledge of the land and winemaking to produce a progressive and varied portfolio of wines.
5 ★ winery | grantburgewines.com.au | Halliday profile
Pine Drive – Barossa Valley, SA
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Pine Drive Vineyards is a fledgling wine label established by Matthew Grayson and Bernadette Stewart, a Queenslander and a Canadian, who met in Qatar and whose mutual love of wine saw them relocate to the Barossa Valley, to a property in between the northern subregions of Moppa and Ebenezer. Their 8.5ha of shiraz vines, some planted in 1964, lie on the famous rolling Moppa sand dunes that Max Schubert was fond of when he crafted the early vintages of Grange Hermitage. This is a young winery, with only a single shiraz offering to date, but it’s an impressive wine and will soon be joined by their 2021 shiraz, released next month.
4.5 ★ winery | pinedrivevineyards.com | Halliday profile
Sons of Eden – Barossa Valley, SA
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Sons of Eden has taken its name from its two partners, Corey Ryan and Simon Cowham, who both learnt and refined their crafts over years in the vineyards and cellars of Eden Valley, the Barossa’s high country. Corey and Simon established Sons of Eden in 2000 and take great pride in being intimately involved in all aspects of the winemaking process from vineyard to bottle. They passionately combine their skills in winemaking and viticulture, accumulated across their entire working life, to craft wines of unquestionable quality from the grapes of some of the Barossa’s most treasured vineyards.
5 ★ winery | sonsofeden.com | Halliday profile
Soul Growers – Barossa Valley, SA
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Soul Growers stands for everything that is great about the Barossa: shared wisdom, new ideas, mateship and a passion for making and enjoying great wine. Owners Paul Heinicke, Tom Fotheringham and Stuart Bourne see the grape growers of the Barossa Valley as being the very soul of the region, hence their name. Their goal is to let the vineyards they work with show through in their wines: “Where nature provides, we only guide”. The essence of what they strive for is to ensure a lifestyle that is good for the soul: wine, food, family, music, mates and fun.
5 ★ winery | soulgrowers.com | Halliday profile
St Hallett – Barossa Valley, SA
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St Hallett was established by the Lindner family in 1944 who have since established themselves as masters of Barossa shiraz. From the beginning, St Hallett has understood the importance of saving old vines and focusing on varieties that thrive in the Barossa region. The team has built up a deep understanding of the rich tapestry of vineyard sites and climates in the Barossa, and with this, an appreciation for and understanding of local growers and the highest quality parcels of fruit the Barossa can offer. By tailoring fermentation and maturation to each parcel, the St Hallett winemaking team reveal the rich textures, depth and diversity of Barossa wine.
5 ★ winery | sthallett.com.au | Halliday profile
Turkey Flat – Barossa Valley, SA
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Turkey Flat is a family business that forms a vital part of the region’s rich cultural history and heritage. It was here, on the banks of Tanunda Creek, that a Silesian settler planted the first shiraz vines in 1847, which were subsequently bought in 1865 by butcher Gottlieb Ernst Schulz. The family have transformed the historic bluestone butcher's shop into the cellar door and made sure that the vines planted so long ago, now gnarled and twisted, are still a vital part of the process. The concentrated fruit from these ancient vines has set Turkey Flat wines apart and has made them sought after the world over.
5 ★ winery | turkeyflat.com.au | Halliday profile
Clare Valley
Claymore – Clare Valley, SA
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Claymore Wines, situated in South Australia's beautiful Clare Valley, began in 1997 with small volumes of grenache and riesling, and has now grown to over 35,000 cases per year across a highly awarded range of 15 wines. Gentle, intuitive winemaking from winemaker Rebekah Richardson results in wines of elegance and structure, but when it comes to enjoying a glass they don't take themselves too seriously. The songs, albums and artists that have inspired many of their labels are those that resonate beyond their time, across generations, and have become something of modern classics. So turn up the volume, crack open a bottle and enjoy with friends.
4.5 ★ winery | claymorewines.com.au | Halliday profile
Kirrihill – Clare Valley, SA
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Kirrihill was founded in 1998 by long-time friends and locals, Sean Edwards and Rob Stanway, with Matthew Lawson joining the company in 2017 as CEO and Commercial and Export Director. They specialise in riesling, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon that capture the terroir of South Australia’s Clare Valley, and pride themselves on cultivating fine wines of outstanding quality and internationally recognised distinction. Their focus is the pursuit of growing the best quality fruit, while managing the vineyards sustainably and respecting the individual sites. When next in Clare, grab some friends for a bespoke tour through the winery, take a riesling and shiraz masterclass, or enjoy a Squire platter.
4 ★ winery | kirrihill.com.au | Halliday profile
Coonawarra
Bowen Estate – Coonawarra, SA
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Bowen Estate is a family owned and run business, nearing its 50th vintage. Regional veteran Doug Bowen presides over one of Coonawarra’s landmarks, but he has handed over responsibility of winemaking to daughter Emma, ‘retiring’ to the position of viticulturist. In May 2015, Bowen Estate celebrated its 40th vintage with a tasting of 24 wines (shiraz and cabernet sauvignon) from 1975 to 2014. Exports to the UK, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Japan and NZ.
4 ★ winery | bowenestate.com.au | Halliday profile
Brand & Sons – Coonawarra, SA
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Brand & Sons is a boutique wine producer based in Coonawarra, South Australia, focused on producing small batch wines that highlight the flavours of Coonawarra. Since 1852, the Brand family have distinguished themselves with their authenticity, ingenuity and determination. These characteristics are the foundation of a legacy which has endured for six generations, from pioneering bushman to an Australian winemaking dynasty. Brand & Sons is owned and managed by fourth generation vigneron, Sam Brand and family.
3.5 ★ winery | brandandsons.com.au | Halliday profile
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Zema Estate is a true Coonawarra family winery, forged in Australia but based on the undeniable passions and traditions of its Italian heritage. Over four decades it has developed a reputation for producing premium quality Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, with a consistency that defies vintage and seasonal fluctuations. It has achieved this through attention to detail – hand pruning, careful fruit selection, meticulous viticulture, passionate winemaking, diligent bottle ageing and a deep respect for the place and provenance of Coonawarra. Their cellar door is open seven days. Taste their current releases or book a private tasting, and make sure you take home some of Mrs Zema's chilli paste and olive oil.
zema.com.au | Halliday profile
Eden Valley
Mountadam Vineyards – Eden Valley, SA
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Established in 1972, Mountadam Vineyards was founded by the late David Wynn who was the first to recognise the potential of a cool, elevated site to produce Australian wines of great elegance and structure. David and Jenni Brown purchased the Mountadam property, including the winery and 80 hectares of vineyards, in 2005. In 2007, David and Jenni purchased Mountadam farm and in 2015 purchased the TWE High Eden vineyard, thus re-assembling the original Mountadam property of over 1000 hectares. Mountadam wines are crafted entirely from the Estate's vineyards and are released in three tiers – Five-Fifty, Eden Valley and High Eden.
4 ★ winery | mountadam.com.au | Halliday profile
Yalumba – Eden Valley, SA
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Fiercely independent, family owned winemakers showcasing the best of the Barossa since 1849. For six generations, Yalumba has embraced the magnificent unknown, letting the land lead the way and growing vines with as little interference as possible. The Hill-Smith Family has a long commitment to quality and great vision in its selection of vineyard sites and new varieties. Yalumba’s longevity and success is a result of patience, collaboration and progressive thinking. There is foresight to embrace the natural terroir to craft wines with individual character and a sense of purpose, and a spirit to reinvest in the land upon which it operates and knowledge to behave as a leader in the industry.
5 ★ winery | yalumba.com | Halliday profile
McLaren Vale
Hugo Wines – McLaren Vale, SA
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The Hugo family vineyards were first established in the foothills above McLaren Vale in 1951. The Hugo vineyard is one of the highest in the region, situated 180m above sea level. Conditions are markedly cooler, with gully breezes from the Mount Lofty Ranges. The climate is ideal for premium grape production with lengthened ripening periods resulting in fine, balanced and elegant wines. At their cellar door, enjoy a guided tasting of the Hugo Estate Wines and award-winning extra virgin olive oil with their passionate family and staff.
3.5 ★ winery | hugowines.com.au | Halliday profile
Oliver's Taranga Vineyards – McLaren Vale, SA
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Six generations of stubborn, competitive growers and one equally spirited winemaker – that’s the Oliver family. Living smack-bang in the middle of McLaren Vale, they flourish on producing perfect parcels of fruit on their 100 hectare ‘Taranga’ property. Their collection of small batch, handcrafted wines speak of both the variety and vintage, capturing a time and place, while continuing to document the family’s ongoing 180 year relationship with the land. With a newly renovated cellar door and a number of incredible hosted experiences on offer, Oliver’s Taranga cellar door is a must visit next time you are in McLaren Vale.
5 ★ winery | oliverstaranga.com | Halliday profile
Sister's Run – McLaren Vale, SA
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Sister’s Run is serious fun. Its talented young winemaker, Elena, wears steel-cap work boots every day, but carries a pair of high heels in back of the ute. The stiletto and boot are Sister’s Run: an independently owned and operated winery with a fierce commitment to making the best wines they can from family vineyards. As they say: “We don’t take ourselves as seriously as we take our wines. The best wine is the wine you like.”
4 ★ winery | sistersrun.com.au | Halliday profile
Zerella Wines – McLaren Vale, SA
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Zerella Wines is an artisan producer that specialises in small batch production, utilising only the best parcels from its own vineyard holdings. Their cellar door has a contemporary but rustic vibe delivering an intimate yet informative experience. Highlights include a range of Italian varietals that speak of typicity and region, and a selection of single vineyard releases that evoke a true 'sense of place'.
4.5 ★ winery | zerellawines.com.au | Halliday profile
Other
Bleasdale – Langhorne Creek, SA
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Having celebrated its 170th anniversary in 2020, Bleasdale is one of the most historic wineries in Australia. Bleasdale was established on the floodplains of the Bremer River in Langhorne Creek by the extraordinary Frank Potts. For the first hundred years Bleasdale made exclusively fortified wines, while these days red, white and sparkling wines make up most of the portfolio. You can visit Bleasdale in Langhorne Creek to see the history of the winery for yourself – including the 1892-built Red Gum Press with a lever arm weighing 3.5 tonnes – while also tasting their range of award-winning wines.
5 ★ winery | bleasdale.com.au | Halliday profile
Farmer's Leap Wines – Padthaway, SA
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They are often asked, where did the name come from? They are farmers from Padthaway who had the foresight to take the leap into viticulture and winemaking and have not looked back since. The Longbottom family have been farming in Padthaway, South Australia since 1938. Onions, sheep and cattle have long been their main stay. In 1993 the first vines were planted. Now over 400 ha are dedicated to wine grape production with six varieties being produced. Outstanding fruit quality across all of their grape varieties, combined with their uncontrived winemaking style, see’s Farmer’s Leap deliver a quality bottle of wine you can trust.
4 ★ winery | farmersleap.com | Halliday profile
Ricca Terra – Riverland, SA
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In 2003, Ashley and Holly Ratcliff purchased a small vineyard in the Riverland and established Ricca Terra (Italian for 'Rich Earth'). The soils found throughout the vineyard are red earth over limestone, and were planted to chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, ruby cabernet and sultana. Ashley and Holly’s primary intent after purchasing the vineyard was the following: to plant grape varieties appropriately suited to Australia’s warming and drying climatic conditions, to manage their vineyards in a manner that would produce high quality wines, and to establish vineyards that are sustainable. Today, Ricca Terra’s spread of vineyards is in excess of 80ha and grows over forty different grape varieties, making it one of the largest and most diverse producers of climate adaptive grape varieties in Australia.
4.5 ★ winery | riccaterra.com.au | Halliday profile
