#winemaking in orange nsw

[definewine]

Carillion Wines showcase Hunter Valley

Carillion Wines continue to champion the Hunter Valley with the release of three new vintage wines, the 2021 Carillion Origins ‘Old Grafts’ Semillon ($35), 2021 Carillion ‘Lovable Rogue’ Fiano ($30) and 2021 Carillion ‘Loveable Rogue’ Vermentino ($30).

Made from a single Hunter Valley vineyard, the 2021 Carillion ‘Origins’ Semillon was made to express the region and variety. The 28 hectare vineyard was established in 1994 by the Davis family from cuttings taken from the famous Braemore vineyard.

“The Tallavera vineyard is almost 30 years old, and starting to hit its straps,” said Carillion winemaker Andrew Ling. “The vines are growing in the renowned limestone soils and producing fruit that proves the quality of the site. The 2021 vintage was a standout with welcome winter and autumn rain leading into a good growing season. There were some rain events that we worked around and, with good vineyard management, harvested pristine, ripe fruit.”

The winemaking for the 2021 Carillion Origins ‘Old Grafts’ Semillon was kept fairly simple. “Once the fermentation was complete we left the wine on its primary lees, with gentle stirring on a weekly basis in order to build volume and texture. We are aiming to produce a wine that has varietal white floral and citrus aromas with a streamlined palate of mouth-watering natural acidity; a wine that has excellent longevity, which is so characteristic of the region.”

The Carillion ‘Lovable Rogue’ range is a limited release stable of wines that highlight Italian varieties such as Verduzzo, Sagrantino, Aglianico, and the newly released Fiano and Vermentino.

The new Fiano was made as a slightly ‘off-dry’ style, with five grams per litre residual sugar. “The grapes were handpicked and held at five degrees for a 12 hour cold soak in order to extract flavour. The juice was then transferred to a porcelain egg for fermentation. “We then halted fermentation when the residual sugar and acid were in harmony, resulting in an aromatic wine, with quenching acidity; perfect with food.”

The 2021 Carillion ‘Lovable Rogue’ Vermentino was cold soaked on skins for 20 hours before being pressed straight into seasoned puncheons for fermentation. Once dry, the wine was matured on lees for four months, with weekly stirring to help build texture and complexity in the finished wine.

“We’re really enjoying working with these varieties and we’re gaining valuable experience and confidence in the vineyard and the winery with every vintage,” continued Andrew, “They are eminently suited with food, and that’s the style we are looking to produce; wines with texture and balanced natural acidity.”

2021 Carillion Origins ‘Old Grafts’ Semillon (Hunter Valley, NSW)  $35.00

2021 Carillion ‘Loveable Rogue’ Fiano (Hunter Valley, NSW)  $30.00

2021 Carillion ‘Loveable Rogue’ Vermentino (Hunter Valley, NSW)  $30.00

Distribution: Carillion wines are distributed nationally by Carillion Wines and are available online at carillionwines.com.au

For further information and images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications on 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Andrew Ling, Winemaker at Carillion Wines on 0400 724 177 or andrewl@carillionwines.com.au

Carillion Wines: Established in the Hunter Valley in 2000 the Davis family’s Carillion Wines owns vineyards in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley and Orange, and South Australia’s Wrattonbully.  Carillion’s Tallavera Grove vineyard was planted in the Hunter’s Mount View region in 1994 and is home to their cellar door and boasts one of the best views across the valley.

[thenextrush]

Cool climate wines of Orange

Cool climate wines of Orange #orange360 #orange #wine #winemaking #badlandsbrewery #slowwineco #mkr #ponydining #callumccrorie #ponydining #qantas #qantaswine #winetrends

Just 1% of Australian vineyards grow their grapes in areas above 600 metres.   This and a number of geological and topographical factors are what constitute the uniqueness in winemaking in the region of Orange, New South Wales.   Newer in comparison to the old wine household names of the industry, the mineral rich hills of limestone, shales, greywhack overlain and basalt rich soils create a…

[guardiannews24]

15 Best Things to Do in Griffith (Australia)

15 Best Things to Do in Griffith (Australia)

The city of Griffith sits in the fertile plains of NSW’s Riverina region, ensconced in vineyards, rice fields and orange groves. This was a planned city, set on a curious system of circular streets and radiating avenues. Waves of Italian immigration throughout the 20th century have had a lasting effect on Griffith’s culture and identity, bringing winemaking knowhow, a wider variety of fruits and…

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Everything You Have To Know About orange nsw accommodation

A winery is a property or building that generates wines. orange nsw accommodation could even be a business incorporated in the wine production, for instance, a wine firm. Some wine firms might own several wineries, whilst others just buy from the vineyard holder. The ancient vineyard in the globe to date is 6000 years aged, situated in Areni area of America that till this day is yet a well known wine making area. Some of the vital aspects to know about orange nsw accommodation Purpose orange nsw accommodation generate wine from grapes, pursuing the right winemaking procedure that incorporates of the fruit fermentation, then combining it, and then aging juice. Several vineyards even provide trips to invitees and have tasting rooms where users can savour the drink prior making a buy. Places When majority individuals wonder of wineries, they instantly relate it with Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley in France, Italy and California, the legendary and large winemaking areas. But, winegrowers can be seen everywhere in the globe. Wineries don’t always have to be situated next to the vineyard as grapes can be indeed shipped all across the globe. Micro winery The micro winery is one of the small wine process that doesn’t possess its own vineyard hence they, rather, avail grapes from outside vendors. They utilise the similar wine making instrument as the commercial winery does, however on a smaller ratio. Every batch of wine typically generates 23 lit or 6 US gallons. Well one of the major distinctions amidst a typical winery and a micro winery is that the micro winery provides a wider array of wines, because of the reality that it’s not tied to grapes as it develops.   Useful tips to utilise during Wine tours orange When you’re on holiday, a fun experience is indeed going on Wine tours orange. If you have never been on these interesting treks via winery, then the experience can sense a little overwhelming. There’re few tips that you can pursue so as to ensure your visit is an ease. Get a guide A best manner to get begun is with a guide. In fact these handy works offer you a map of vineyards and the hours they’re open to public. Additionally, these guides can provide you insight on what the Wine tours orange are like. The guide will provide you info about tasting choices and facts regard vineyards in the region. Also the experienced enthusiasts frequently consult the guide to get to know where to begin. Have in mind, there’s always more to know. Call ahead Some regions have set schedules for their savouring. But, not all of them possess a schedule. That does not signify they don’t accept guests. They relish receiving guests just as much as those that with a timetable do. So it is good if you call beforehand and figure out what timings works finest for them. Wine trips are fun manners to learn regard the local wineries in region. If you’re short on period, then ask locals where the finest experience is, and begin with that one. Ensure you question your host what few of the finest food places are so you can relish a good meal afterwards.

[definewine]

Carillion Wines release flagship reds

Showcasing the best of their regional vineyards, family owned Carillion Wines have released their 2018 Carillion Origins Fenestella Shiraz ($60) and 2018 Carillion Origins Block 22 Cabernet Sauvignon ($50)

Established in the Hunter Valley in 2000 the Davis family’s Carillion Wines owns vineyards in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley and Orange and South Australia’s Wrattonbully.

Carillion’s Tallavera Grove vineyard was planted in the Hunter’s Mount View region in 1994 and is home to their cellar door and boasts one of the best views across the valley.

“Our Carillion Origins wines are all single vineyard wines from the best parcels of fruit from each of our vineyards, made with the objective of expressing the region, variety and terroir,” explained Carillion winemaker Andrew Ling.

The Carillion Origins Fenestella Shiraz was first released  in 2010 and is named for the 350-million-year-old bryozoan fossils found throughout the vineyard.

“This new 2018 vintage is made from components from across various blocks of this vineyard, ensuring we have a range of flavours and characters, adding to the depth and complexity of the final blend. A parcel of fruit was also used from the Tallawanta graft block; the grafts having been adopted in 2011 from heritage listed Tallawanta vineyard which was planted 100 years ago in 1920.”

The Hunter Valley fruit was handpicked and cold soaked for 48 hours in two tonne open fermenters prior to wild fermentation. The wine was pressed off skins and then racked to a combination of new and seasoned French puncheons for 12 months.

The newly released 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is made from grapes grown on Carillion’s Wrattonbully Stonefields Vineyard which was planted in the 1990s.

Often likened with Bordeaux’s climatic conditions, Wrattonbully lies between the famed Coonawarra and Padthaway wine growing regions and forms part of the larger Limestone Coast region. Whilst having only been designated a region in 2005, the region’s first plantings were in 1969 and comprise mostly Cabernet Sauvignon.

“This is a mature vineyard where the vines grow into a limestone reef that sits just below the famed terra rossa topsoil. This ensures the vines are growing under a healthy level of stress, leading to small crops of tiny berries which produce wines of intense flavours and fine tannins,” contained Andrew.  “We like the regional and varietal character to take centre stage with these wines, encouraging the wild, indigenous yeast at the start of fermentation and using 50 per cent seasoned French oak.

2018 Carillion Origins Fenestella Shiraz (Hunter Valley, NSW)    $60.00

2018 Carillion Origins Block 22 Cabernet Sauvignon (Wrattonbully, SA)  $50.00              

Distribution: Carillion wines are distributed nationally by Carillion Wines and are available online at carillionwines.com.au

For further information and images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications on 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Andrew Ling, Winemaker at Carillion Wines on 0400 724 177 or andrewl@carillionwines.com.au

[definewine]

Angullong accents cool Mediterranean varieties

The Orange Region’s Angullong wines have released their gold medal winning 2019 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Rosé  ($26) along with their 2019 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Vermentino ($26).

There a number of Sangiovese clones planted in the vineyard, however the 2019 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Rosé is made from the ‘Grosso’ Sangiovese clone, planted 20  years ago. “Sangiovese ‘Grosso’ has proven to be a great clone for our rosé style; responding particularly well to Orange’s cooler region,” commented owner Ben Crossing.

“We’re aiming to make a lively, textural and sophisticated rosé style, promoting the primary fruit flavours. The volumes were lower than average this vintage due to the ongoing dry conditions, however the flavours are vibrant and fresh.”

The Sangiovese was harvested and crushed and left in contact with the skins for a few hours to achieve the desired colour. The juice was then fermented in stainless steel and bottled early to retain its freshness.

The new vintage Rosé is joined by the 2019 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Vermentino.  Vermentino is widely planted in Liguria in north-west Italy as well as Sardinia and Piemonte. It is also grown in southern France and on the island of Corse.

In Australia there was a little under 2,000 tonnes of Vermentino crushed in 2018. “It is slowly increasing in popularity, with over 100 wineries now producing a Vermentino. While it is a variety that has been linked to warmer climates, it is thriving in Orange, with the cooler ripening highlighting the variety’s natural acidity.”

“We grafted our Vermentino onto existing vines in 2012, with the 2019 vintage our fifth release. It has been encouraging to see the wine find its niche as a light to medium bodied wine with an attractive combination of fruit intensity and gracefulness.”

2019 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Vermentino (Orange Region)  $26.00

2019 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Rosé  (Orange / Central Ranges)  $26.00

Gold Medal, 2019 Orange Wine Show

Distribution: The Angullong range of wines are distributed in NSW by Fisher Fine Wines, and in Victoria, QLD, SA and WA by Angullong. The wines can be purchased directly from the Cellar Door in Millthorpe and via their website at www.angullong.com.au.    

For further information and images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Ben Crossing, General Manager at Angullong Wines: 0428 586 802 or ben@angullong.com.au

Angullong Wines is located in the picturesque foothills of Orange’s Mount Canobolas in NSW. The property has been in the Crossing family since 1950 and has been run as a successful sheep and cattle station prior to diversifying into grape growing and winemaking in 1998.  The Angullong cellar door is located in the historic bluestone stables in the village of Millthorpe.

[definewine]

Angullong celebrates is 21st

Angullong Wines will celebrate 21 years of winegrowing in the Orange region with the release of their popular 2018 Angullong Sauvignon Blanc ($20) and its partnering 2018 Angullong Pinot Grigio ($20).

The Angullong property has been in the Crossing family for close to 70 years, with the vineyards planted 21 years ago, in 1998. The vines sit on the 600-metre boundary of the Orange region.

“The sauvignon blanc continues to improve as the vines mature,” explained owner Ben Crossing. “These are some of the original plantings which are now 20 years old.”

“Orange is a unique region, being delineated by the 600 metre contour around Mount Canobolas. Ranging from 600 metres to over 1000 metres, the region is distinctly cool climate.”

Every 100 meters in elevation the temperature decreases roughly one degree. “The Angullong vineyard produces sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio that shows regional cool climate finesse with a balanced ripeness.

“Our vineyard sits within the undulating hills above the Belubula River. The contours and slopes allow for the cooler air to drain away from the vines, giving us protection from frost and allowing excellent sunlight exposure for ripening.”

“These wines are all about fruit purity with attractive, balanced natural acidity for which Orange is renowned. Both the grapes for these wines were harvested at night to retain this freshness, fermented in stainless steel and bottled.

“The vintage was near perfect, the third in a row for the region, allowing us to let the fruit ripen and harvested on our terms.”

2018 Angullong Sauvignon Blanc (Orange Region)  $20.00

2018 Angullong Pinot Grigio (Orange Region)  $20.00

Distribution: The Angullong range of wines are distributed by Angullong and can also be purchased directly from the Cellar Door in Millthorpe and via their website at www.angullong.com.au.      

For further information and images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Ben Crossing, General Manager at Angullong Wines: 0428 586 802 or ben@angullong.com.au

Angullong Wines is located in the picturesque foothills of Orange’s Mount Canobolas in NSW. The property has been in the Crossing family since 1950 and has been run as a successful sheep and cattle station prior to diversifying into grape growing and winemaking in 1998.  In 2009 Angullong opened their cellar door in the historic bluestone stables in the village of Millthorpe.

[definewine]

Gartelmann Wines celebrate their 21st with the release of 2018 whites

In 1999 vignerons Jorg and Jan Gartelmann built a new cellar door on their vineyard in the Hunter Valley and opened their doors to the public and released the Gartelmann brand.

21 years later they are following a winemaking philosophy of producing wines from the best regions of New South Wales.  Two of these wines are the new 2018 Gartelmann ‘ Stephanie’ Pinot Gris ($27) from the highlands of Orange, and their 2018 Gartelmann ‘Jessica’ Verdelho ($22) from the fabled Hunter Valley.

The 2018 vintage in Australia’s oldest winegrowing region, the Hunter Valley, was one of the earliest and quickest on record. “There were winemakers harvesting during the first week of January,” commented Jorg Gartelmann, “with some finished before February.”

“Our Verdelho, named in honour of Jan’s mother, was picked on the 17thJanuary with the grapes showing lovely ripe varietal flavours. It was a vintage of lower yields, but standout quality, especially for Chardonnay, Semillon, Shiraz and Verdelho.”

Verdelho is a variety that has found a home in the Hunter Valley.  Traditionally this Portuguese native was made into a fortified wine, however the Hunter Valley produces Verdelho that is light and fruit driven. “Our Verdelho is a firm favourite at the cellar door. As an early drinking style, without oak maturation, we are finding that customers are looking toward it as an alternative to Sauvignon Blanc

“With vintage complete in the Hunter, we were able to give the later ripening region of Orange our full attention.

“The Pinot Gris, ‘Stephanie’, named after my daughter, has become a best seller at the Cellar Door. We continue to fine-tune it each year as we build experience with this variety.

“The 18-year-old Orange vineyard produces some of the best Pinot Gris in the region. We harvested on the 12th February after a dry season. Supplementary watering ensured a quality crop, albeit slightly lower than usual.

“After 21 years we still love building relationships with our grape growers and our customers. We spend a lot of our time in the Hunter Valley as well Orange, Rylstone and Mudgee. Our relationships with these growers is crucial; it ensures that the grapes are grown to the quality we require, with the growers knowing how much we value their commitment to growing the best fruit they can.”

2018 Gartelmann ‘Stephanie’ Pinot Gris (Orange, NSW)  $27.00

2018 Gartelmann ‘Jessica’ Verdelho (Hunter Valley, NSW)  $22.00

Distribution: Gartelmann Wines are available from their Hunter Valley cellar door, select restaurants and independent bottle shops and via the Gartelmann website at www.gartelmann.com.au.

For further information, samples or images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications:                0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Jorg Gartelmann, Owner at Gartelmann Wines:                                                    02 4930 7113 or wines@gartelmann.com.au

GartelmannWines: Located in the idyllic Hunter Valley, Gartelmann Wines was established at Lovedale by Jorg and Jan Gartelmann in 1996, with their cellar door opening in 1999. Gartelmann produces wines from NSW’s premium wine regions including Orange, Mudgee, Rylstone and their home region, Hunter Valley. The welcoming cellar door extends to the adjoining Deck Café overlooking the picturesque bush setting.

[definewine]

New Chardonnay 12 years in the making

Angullong has released its maiden Fossil Hill Chardonnay, the 2017 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Chardonnay ($26) in partnership with its 2017 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Riesling ($24).

With the Orange Wine Region defined by the 600-metre contour around Mount Canobolas, the white wines grown tend to be elegant expressions of this cool climate, with Chardonnay proving to be a hero variety.

“This is our first release chardonnay under our ‘Fossil Hill’ range,” explained Angullong’s Ben Crossing. 

“The grapes are from vines grown at around 800 metres in elevation which is significantly higher than the grapes used in our 600 metre elevation Angullong Chardonnay.

“With less than one per cent of Australian vineyards planted above 800 metres it certainly makes these Orange wines unique; higher natural acid, restraint, freshness and purity of flavour.”

The 2017 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Chardonnay was fermented in a combination of new (25 per cent) and seasoned (one to three-year-old) oak. It was further matured with lees stirring for 11 months prior to bottling in February 2018.

The Riesling is also a relatively new addition to the Angullong portfolio, with the 2017 being the third vintage. 

“We have had Riesling planted for 20 years and have historically sold the fruit. However we have seen a lift in demand for the variety and made a small parcel in 2015. The response is very promising across both our wholesale and cellar door customers.

“Our Riesling is cropped around eight tonnes to the hectare to ensure a good flavour profile; it is all about letting the cold climate vineyard express itself in the finished wine.”

2017 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Chardonnay (Orange Region, 800m) $26.00

 2017 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Riesling (Orange Region, 650m) $24.00

Distribution: Angullong is distributed widely in NSW, QLD and VIC. The full Angullong range can be purchased directly from the Cellar Door in Millthorpe and via their website at www.angullong.com.au.

For further information and images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications:  0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Angullong Wines is located in the picturesque foothills of Orange’s Mount Canobolas in NSW. The property has been in the Crossing family since 1950 and has been run as a successful sheep and cattle station prior to diversifying into grape growing and winemaking in 1998.  The Angullong cellar door is located in the historic bluestone stables in the village of Millthorpe.

[definewine]

Gartelmann releases their Orange Region Flagship wines

Gartelmann Wines has released two of their flagship wines, the highly awarded 2015 Gartelmann ‘Diedrich’ Shiraz ($50) and the inaugural 2017 Gartelmann ‘Lisa’ Chardonnay ($40).

“These two Orange Region wines are the pinnacle of our winemaking and have been made in keeping with our philosophy of producing the best wines from the regions in which these particular varieties respond so well,” explained owner Jorg Gartelmann.

“Orange is developing a reputation for its cool climate Chardonnay and Shiraz and complements what we are making in the Hunter. The regions produce distinctive styles and it’s exciting to compare the differences.”

The Gartelmann ‘Diedrich’ Shiraz, named in honour of owner Jorg’s grandfather, is a single vineyard wine from a small vineyard block just north of Orange at an elevation of 630 metres. The wine was matured for 18 months in a combination of new and one to three year old American and French puncheons and hogsheads.

The 2017 Gartelmann ‘Lisa’ Chardonnay (with its new label) shows the characters derived from the higher climes of Orange. The 19 year old vineyard, sitting at an elevation of 930 meters, experienced a dry lead up to vintage with slightly warmer than average conditions allowing an ideal vintage.

Upon harvest, the wine was barrel fermented in new and one year old French oak puncheons and hogsheads. The wine was matured for ten months with monthly lees stirring in order to build complexity. Inhibiting malolatic fermentation preserved the freshness of the cool climate fruit.

2015 Gartelmann ‘Diedrich’ Shiraz (Orange)  $50.00

Trophy, Red Wine of the Show, Orange Wine Show 2017

Trophy, Best Shiraz of the Show, Orange Wine Show 2017

Trophy, Red Wine of the Show, Orange Wine Show 2016

Trophy, Best Shiraz of the Show, Orange Wine Show 2016

Top Gold Medal, Orange Wine Show 2017

Top Gold Medal, Orange Wine Show 2016

2017 Gartelmann ‘Lisa’ Chardonnay (Orange)  $40.00

Gold Medal, Orange Wine Show 2018

Distribution: Gartelmann Wines are available from their Hunter Valley cellar door, ‘Ferment. The Orange Wine Centre’, select restaurants and via the Gartelmann website at www.gartelmann.com.au.

For further information, samples or images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications on 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Jorg Gartelmann, Owner at Gartelmann Wines on 02 4930 7113 or wines@ gartelmann.com.au

GartelmannWines: Located in the idyllic Hunter Valley, Gartelmann Wines was established at Lovedale by Jorg and Jan Gartelmann in 1996. Gartelmann produces wines from NSW’s premium wine regions including Orange, Mudgee, Rylstone and their home region, Hunter Valley. The welcoming cellar door extends to the adjoining Deck Café overlooking the picturesque bush setting.

[definewine]

Angullong releases Italian reds

The increasing recognition of the quality of emerging varieties continues to embolden Orange’s preeminent grape grower, Angullong Wines, with the winery releasing two new vintages in time for the 2018 Orange Wine Festival.

The new releases comprise the 2017 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Barbera ($26) and 2017 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Sangiovese ($26).

“2017 is our 14th vintage of these wines,” said owner Ben Crossing. “The vineyard was planted in the late 1990s, with the winemaking overseen by veteran winemaker Jon Reynolds since these early days”.

“We want to preserve the unique varietal definition with these wines. Both the Barbera and Sangiovese only see a small amount of new oak maturation; about 10 percent for both wines.”

“This, along with careful management of the cap during fermentation, ensures balance with the tannins and the vibrant fruit.”

The new vintage Angullong Fossil Hill wines will be released at the annual ‘Outstanding in the Vines’ lunch during Orange’s Wine Festival.

“This is an opportunity for our customers to enjoy the wines in the vineyard where they were grown.”

The Angullong vineyard sits in the southern foothills of the Orange Region. “The lunch will be a showcase of the vineyard with a selection of wines matched to shared plates of local food.”

2017 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Sangiovese (Orange Region)  $26.00

2017 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Tempranillo (Orange Region)  $26.00

Distribution: Angullong is distributed widely in NSW, QLD and VIC. The full Angullong range can be purchased directly from the Cellar Door in Millthorpe and via their website at www.angullong.com.au.

For further information and images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications:  0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Ben Crossing, General Manager at Angullong Wines:  0428 586 802 or ben@angullong.com.au

Angullong Wines is located in the picturesque foothills of Orange’s Mount Canobolas in NSW. The property has been in the Crossing family since 1950 and has been run as a successful sheep and cattle station prior to diversifying into grape growing and winemaking in 1998.  The Angullong cellar door is located in the historic bluestone stables in the village of Millthorpe.

[definewine]

The evolution of Bloodwood Riesling, Orange NSW

As Orange’s founding winegrower approaches four decades of winemaking, they have released their new 2018 Bloodwood Riesling.

The Bloodwood vineyard was planted in 1983 with winemaker and owner Stephen Doyle admitting that it took ten to 15 years to really understand the vineyard in order to get the style right. “The Bloodwood style moved around a bit in the early years as we gained experience and a better understanding of our site.

“Ideally, Riesling, regardless of residual, should sit on a knife’s edge between fruit and acidity with the taster constantly questioning that fine line.

“Over the years I’ve been working a little more on the mid-palate in order to build texture. The current style works best with the grapes from our unique site. We concentrate on a clean, efficient ferment minimising volatile acidity and extended ferment character. We’ve been building texture on the mid-palate since 2008, giving the wine at least six months on fine lees.”

The Scott Henry trellised Riesling vineyard sits on the higher reaches of the property. “The soil is very low-vigour, calcareous laminated silt stone and shale, the vines are all hand-pruned and hand-picked, and grown using organic principles, only ever using copper and sulphur sprays, and only if we have to,” explained Stephen.

“It’s a variable site, so each vine is pruned according to its vigour, with the aim to produce around 4000 litres from the 0.8-hectare block. The deep, free draining warm gravels of Bloodwood give Riesling an austerity and fruit density which remains rare in Australian styles.

“The Orange region is in its infancy and is still working out how to grow the traditional varieties; this needs time.”

Stephen’s foray into winemaking and brewing started early. One would think that being born in Clare*, making Riesling was inevitable, however the journey begun with the brewing of mango liqueur as a schoolboy. From these entrepreneurial exploits, Stephen made wine from many areas including Mudgee, Wellington, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and Yenda.

After being schooled in the arts and science of selecting the best sites for wine production the Doyles’ attention turned to Orange. “The region held exciting prospects which continue to unfold.”

Pricing & distribution: The Bloodwood wines are distributed directly from the winery via Bloodwood’s website www.bloodwood.biz

2018 Bloodwood Riesling   $32.00

Photo: Bloodwood Riesling block soil - calcareous laminated silt stone and shale

For further information, samples or images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

BLOODWOOD WINES was established on the outskirts of Orange by Rhonda and Stephen Doyle in the Spring of 1983 after extensive research of various potential vineyard sites throughout NSW, Western Australia and Victoria. The first wine, a few litres of co-fermented Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Noir and Malbec was made in 1984, instilling hope and promising a bright future. Today, Bloodwood comprises 21,274 vinifera vines planted on their own roots and covering 8.072 hectares of the best wine growing site in the Orange region.                                                                            

*Clare, Queensland

[definewine]

High elevation lifts quality for cool climate chardonnay

The Orange region’s Patina Wines has released their benchmark Chardonnays comprising the 2019 Patina Chardonnay ($40) and 2018 Patina Reserve Chardonnay ($60).

The Patina vineyard was planted 22 years ago on the eastern foothills of Mount Canobolas. The maturing vines continue to yield outstanding quality, confirming Patina’s founder Gerald Naef belief in the site. “ It’s not something you can change readily; choosing where to plant your vines is the foundation for your entire winegrowing.

“An axiom, with perhaps European origins, is ‘a grape variety won’t ripen every year if it is the right variety for the site.’ I think the jury is still out for white varieties, but it carries weight with red wine,” continued Gerald.

“Grapes tend to hold their acid and fruit character better when ripening occurs in cool weather. Fine tuning and narrowing the varieties down to the best for a particular site or even for a few rows is quite precise and can take a bit of trial and error.

“The high elevation (from 600 metres to 1100 metres) in Orange gives us an edge in grape growing as many varieties do well here. However certain varieties, such as Chardonnay, do particularly well.”

Another benefit of high elevation vineyards is the high difference in day-night temperature. During the day the grape accrues carbohydrates via photosynthesis in the leaves, then at night during respiration the vine borrows back from the berry some of these stores.

The lower the nighttime temperature the less the vine needs to borrow during respiration resulting in more intensity in the grapes.

During ripening stages the temperatures in Orange are quite cool slowing down the photosynthetic carbohydrate pump resulting in grapes maturing to full flavour ripeness without becoming over sweet which produces full spectrum, complex wines without high alcohol.

“As I’ve said previously, I don’t believe there is another region in the world that necessarily produces better Chardonnay than Orange, there are just stylistic differences,” concluded Gerald.

Photo: Patina Wines Cellar Door & Residence

Pricing & distribution: The Patina wines are distributed in Sydney, Queensland and Canberra. The wines are available nationally, direct from the winery via Patina’s website www.patinawines.com.au

2019 Patina Chardonnay                                              $40.00

2018 Patina Reserve Chardonnay                                 $60.00

For further information, samples or images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Gerald Naef at Patina Wines: 0429 457 575 or gerald@patinawines.com.au

Patina Wines was established in 1999 when Gerald and Angie Naef planted a small vineyard in Orange, NSW. Gerald’s interest in winemaking stemmed from his formative years growing up in the Central Valley of California. Having moved to Australia in 1981, Gerald and his family purchased an irrigation property in North West NSW. However, the interest in winemaking continued and in 1999 the Patina Vineyard was established.

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Gartelmann annual Shiraz release

Gartelmann Wines has ushered in their new vintage Shiraz to coincide with the reopening of their Hunter Valley Cellar door as Covid restrictions ease for winemakers in NSW.

The new wines comprise their recently repackaged red wine flagship, the 2016 Gartelmann ‘Diedrich’ Shiraz ($50) , which partners the 2017 Gartelmann ‘Wilhelm’ Shiraz ($28).

For many years Jorg and Jan Gartelmann have built relationships with a number of grape growers across the Hunter Valley, Orange, Rylstone and Mudgee regions. 

The best shiraz from each vintage is earmarked for their icon wine, the Gartelmann ‘Diedrich’. This wine is named in honour of Jorg’s much loved Grandfather.

In 2016 the vintage in the Orange region proved ideal. Rain in January ensured good soil moisture leading into vintage, with the dry February and March allowing the fruit to ripen fully in the cool climate. The grapes were picked on the 10th March.

This single vineyard wine was matured for 16 months in a combination of new and one to three-year-old puncheons and hogsheads (both American and French) in order to build complexity and balance with the aromatic and elegant fruit. The wine further matured in the bottle for three years prior to release.

“The ‘Diedrich’ release exemplifies the best that we can make each vintage,” explained owner and vigneron Jorg Gartelmann.  “My Grandfather was a kind man, and a true patriarch and so I want each wine to live up to his character. We have recently updated the label on our reserve wines and the 2016 Gartelmann ‘Diedrich’ is the first red wine to see this new label. We believe it better communicates the quality of this special wine.”

The partnering Shiraz is the 2017 Gartelmann ‘Wilhelm’ Shiraz. After Jorg’s father passed away, his uncle Wilhelm was very supportive of the young family. With this in mind, Jorg wanted the eponymous wine to be a classical Hunter Shiraz, with refinement and longevity.

The wine is made from grapes grown in the Broke Fordwich sub-region of the Hunter Valley. Harvested in mid-February, 20 percent of the blend was matured in a combination French and American oak while the remaining component was matured in one to three-year-old  puncheons and hogsheads for 14 months prior to another two years in the bottle.

2016 Gartelmann ‘Diedrich’ Shiraz (Orange , NSW)  $50.00 Production 980 dozen  |  Residual Sugar: 0.74 g/L  |  pH: 3.49  |   TA: 6.5 g/L Click here  for High res bottle shot

2017 Gartelmann ‘Wilhelm’ Shiraz (Hunter Valley, NSW)  $28.00 Production 443 dozen  |  Residual Sugar: 2.54 g/L  |  pH: 3.42  |   TA: 7.5 g/L Click here  for High res bottle shot

Distribution: Gartelmann Wines are available from their Hunter Valley cellar door, select restaurants and independent bottle shops and via the Gartelmann website at www.gartelmann.com.au.

For further information, samples or images please contact:

David Cumming, Define Wine Marketing & Communications:  0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Jorg Gartelmann, Gartelmann Wines:  02 4930 7113 or wines@gartelmann.com.au

Gartelmann Wines: Located in the idyllic Hunter Valley, Gartelmann Wines was established at Lovedale by Jorg and Jan Gartelmann in 1996. Gartelmann produces wines from NSW’s premium wine regions including Orange, Mudgee, Rylstone and their home region, Hunter Valley.  The welcoming cellar door extends to the adjoining Deck Café overlooking the picturesque bush setting.

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The colourful history of Angullong

Orange’s Angullong Wines has released their 2019 Angullong Shiraz and 2018 Angullong Merlot to partner their 2016 Angullong Cabernet Sauvignon ($22).

Angullong Wines was established in 1998 with Shiraz one of the first varieties to be planted. Today, Angullong has one of the largest holdings of Shiraz vines in the region.

Angullong is a well-known, historic property that has been instrumental in wool and lamb production since the early 1900s. Angullong prime sheep were recorded to top the Homebush markets from the turn of the century and later, in the 1920s, the property was shearing 30,000 sheep.

As with all stories of the Australian bush, resilience, innovation and determination come to the fore. During 1932 the property was razed by fire, with 4000 acres of grassland burnt.  In 1934 the Station Manager, a returned serviceman who had seen action at Passchendale and the Somme, was found dead with his revolver by his side. Only three years later, in 1937, a young Angullong station cook and laundress was murdered by a young farmhand on the property.

Since 1950 the history of Angullong has been more sedate. Under the ownership of the Crossing family, the Angullong property has farmed cattle and, for the last 22 years, grown grapes and made wine.

Under the innovative guidance of the Crossing family the vineyards were planted with a range of traditional varieties along with emerging varieties. While Angullong has built a reputation with its emerging varieties, its shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot are very suited to the lower reaches of Orange’s high elevation vines.

With a number of excellent vintages Angullong has battled the dire effects of drought. While the quality of fruit has remained high, the volume has been affected. The recent rains have built confidence for a good 2021 vintage, with full dams and soil moisture.

“These varieties grow well at a 600-metre elevation,” said owner and General Manager Ben Crossing. “The 600-metre boundary around Orange’s Mount Canobolas is slightly warmer than the higher vineyards at 1000 metres.

“Whilst still very much cool climate, and higher than most vineyards in Australia, these reds are able to fully ripen. They produce cool climate characters, finesse and elegance. The wines are medium bodied, with the slow ripening and extended sunshine hours increasing phenolic levels which build flavour, colour and texture of the wine.”

2019 Angullong Shiraz  (Orange Region)  $22.00

2016 Angullong Cabernet Sauvignon (Orange Region)  $22.00

2018 Angullong Merlot (Orange Region)  $22.00

Distribution: The Angullong range of wines are distributed in NSW by Fisher Fine Wines, and in Victoria, QLD, SA and WA by Angullong. The wines can be purchased directly from the Cellar Door and via angullong.com.au.    

For further information and images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications:             0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Ben Crossing, General Manager at Angullong Wines:                                0428 586 802 or ben@angullong.com.au

Angullong Wines is located in the picturesque foothills of Orange’s Mount Canobolas in NSW. The property has been in the Crossing family since 1950 and has been run as a successful sheep and cattle station prior to diversifying into grape growing and winemaking in 1998.  In 2009 Angullong opened their cellar door in the historic bluestone stables in the village of Millthorpe.

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Orange continues to build its case as the home of emerging varieties

Angullong Wines have released three new vintage wines from their ‘Fossil Hill’ range. This range of wines primarily comprises emerging varieties. The new wines are the 2018 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Barbera, 2018 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Sangiovese and 2018 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Tempranillo.

The Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ range of wines has steadily evolved over the past 15 years for Angullong.  “The initial range comprised Sangiovese and Tempranillo,’ said Angullong’s Ben Crossing. “More recently we have added Barbera, Vermentino and Sagrantino and are looking at other varieties that could suit our region.”

The 2018 vintage was good for the Angullong. Although still dry, this 21st vintage for Angullong was near perfect, allowing the vineyard team to let the fruit ripen fully and then harvest on their terms.

The new 2018 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Tempranillo was fermented in open fermenters followed by maturation in French oak puncheons (20 percent new, with the remaining in two and three-year-old) for 12 months. “We still describe Tempranillo as an emerging variety however it is the tenth most crushed red variety in Australia with 13% growth from 2018 to 2019.”

The Barbera was also fermented in open fermenters, with 20 percent of the grapes left as whole berries, pumped over twice daily in order to increase colour and build flavour. Maturation comprised 12 months in French oak, of which 20 percent was new.

The Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Sangiovese was made from a number of clones that are grown in the vineyard. “We’re finding that it is responding very well to the cooler climate of Orange, particularly as the vines mature.  

“With a growing number of Sangiovese producers in Australia it is a variety that is starting to find its feet.  We’re very confident of its future in Orange.”

2018 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Barbera  $28.00 GOLD MEDAL, Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show 2019

2018 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Tempranillo  $28.00

2018 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Sangiovese  $28.00

Distribution: The Angullong range of wines are distributed in NSW by Fisher Fine Wines, and in Victoria, QLD, SA and WA by Angullong. The wines can be purchased directly from the Cellar Door in Millthorpe and via their website at www.angullong.com.au.    

For further information and images please contact:

David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications:  0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au

Ben Crossing, General Manager at Angullong Wines:  0428 586 802 or ben@angullong.com.au

Angullong Wines is located in the picturesque foothills of Orange’s Mount Canobolas in NSW. The property has been in the Crossing family since 1950 and has been run as a successful sheep and cattle station prior to diversifying into grape growing and winemaking in 1998.  The Angullong cellar door is located in the historic bluestone stables in the village of Millthorpe.