The effect of Noble Rot or Botrytis cinerea is to make the skin of grapes porous, and given the correct weather, shrivel. The wrinkled grapes are intensely sweet and full of character, producing wine with a wide array of fruit characters. Ever the prankster, Chester Osborn has stepped outside the usual sticky suspects of Riesling and Semillon to make a Chardonnay Semillon blend. It may look like a normal sticky, but look again, sticky Chardonnay can be majestic, often difficult to achieve in the cool climate of Adelaide Hills.

D'Arenberg planted McLaren Vale's first Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. The first crop was found to be covered in a sea of tiny Money Spiders Erigoninae. Popular belief is that kindness to these active little creatures will bring good luck, hopefully in the form of money. Being nature lovers and slightly superstitious, the staff refrained from sending spiders to their death. Hence the first Roussanne was not released until the following year, by which time Money Spiders had learned their lesson and moved to bushland surrounding the vines.

The vineyards and bushland which surround d'Arenberg winery are home to the native black and white kookaburra, famous for its distinctive laughing call. Much to the amusement of the winemaker's family, Chester Osborn's daughters, Alicia and Ruby, named their two wild pet kookaburras the laughing magpies. A good branding for McLaren Vale's first ever combination of the black Shiraz grape with the sweetly perfumed white Viognier. Declassified parcels of the icon Dead Arm Shiraz are assembled into the final Magpie mix.

d'Arenberg's love affair with Grenache reaches its pinnacle with Ironstone Pressings. The original block planted in 1918, on the lower side of the winery, has a plentiful amount of ironstone throughout the soil structures, which enhances the body and tannin structure of the wine. As the finished wine is a cepage of three grapes it is a matter of selecting and screening the very best Grenache barrels. They complement the Dead Arm Shiraz component which likewise complements the 28 Rd Mourvedre portion to a point where the Grenache is beautifully framed.

The High Trellis paddock has been yielding the most splendid vintages of wine since the late 19th century, so nicknamed as the vines were the first to be trained above knee height following acquisition of the property by dArenberg. For decades, High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon has been released to unanimous critical acclaim by the wine industry press and international cognoscente. Indeed, the inaugural 1968 vintage earned a place in history when it claimed Australia's most prestigious accolade, the highly coveted Jimmy Watson Trophy.

The close proximity of d'Arenberg's vineyards to Gulf St. Vincent means the grapes can be stimulated by gently cooling maritime breezes. Much of McLaren Vale is planted to free draining soils underlaid by limestone, formed by the calcareous remains of local marine fauna. One such creature was the Hermit Crab, a reclusive little crustacean that to this day inhabits the cast off shells of others. McLaren Vale's first ever Marsanne Viognier is named Hermit as a reference to the region in France where the Marsanne grape dominates white wines.

The Garagists are bespoke Bordeaux winemakers who work in their garage, outside of the Appellation Controlee system. Grapes are vinified in the shed or garage of boutique winemakers dedicated to making small volume wines of the highest quality. These limited editions are unclassified by the governing wine authorities, yet are often the most sought after, highly priced collectibles in the world. d'Arenberg make their wines in the very same small batch manner, processing fruit by hand in an old galvanised garage shed winery. Grab a Galvo and serve to gigot of goat.

Previously known as the Old Vines Shiraz, a portion of the fruit comes off vines purchased by Joseph Rowe Osborn almost a century ago. Joseph was one of the most successful racehorse owners in South Australia until 1912, when he sold his stable to buy the d'Arenberg property. Footbolt was one of Joseph's champion horses. A very approachable wine in its youth, the soft rich middle palate, terrific texture and long rolling finish, can last for decades, as a half century of exquisite vintages have shown. Always decant The Footbolt before service.

Joseph Rowe Osborn was born in 1852, he was a lay preacher, mining speculator, public servant, teetotaler and local politician. Osborn joined Thomas Hardy & Sons in 1881, eventually becoming a partner and director. He invested in a chestnut colt which won a fortune at the races and changed his life forever. Footbolt was the first wine in McLaren Vale to be labelled as Old Vine. When the moniker became common practice it was altered to commemorate the racehorse which played a pivotal role in the establishment of d'Arenberg.

Darenberg's neighbours built a dam in 1992 which collected little water throughout the first dry winter. Rains arrived the following year but the dam was still unable to do its job, bad news for McLaren Vale farmers but perfect conditions for Darenberg's low yielding vines. Dry grown Riesling makes the most engaging wine, you'll enjoy the heady yet delicate personality, it promises an even greater range of refined characters as you sip and savour alongside the freshest fishes or sophisticated gourmandise.

McLaren Vale was planted to Grenache long ago, when pioneers established plots of vine on their homestead farms. Grenache became rather unfashionable towards the middle of the twentieth century, Chester Osborn had the vision to acquire many of these overgrown and abandoned bush vineyards. To the layman's eye, they still look like derelict old sites, but they yield precious harvests of the most outstanding fruit. A concentrated wine with depth and complexity, oozing lozenges of winegum and prettily perfumed purple fruits.

Excellent Langtons Classification & Gold Medal 2008 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Dead Arm is a vine disease caused by the fungus Eutypa Lata that randomly affects vineyards all over the world. Often vines affected are severely pruned or replanted. One half, or an arm of the vine slowly becomes reduced to dead wood. That side may be lifeless and brittle, but the grapes on the other side, while low yielding, display amazing intensity.

One of Australia's most celebrated reds, renowned globally as much for the struggle of the diseased vines to produce the vigorous berries, as for it's spellbinding palate, and peculiar name. An excellent vintage that ripened without interruptions.

The Dead Arm Shiraz is the very best Shiraz from one of the oldest producers, in arguably the best Shiraz producing region in the world. After time in bottle the d'Arenberg Dead Arm gains a biscuity, cinnamon, caramel and eucalyptus based bouquet on top of rich blackberry pie smells. The accent is on powerful full-bodied berry fruit flavour, with a little sweet English toffee- like oak evident on the juicy, rolling finish.

Outstanding Langtons Classification, one of Australia's most revered red wines, highly sought by enthusiasts around the globe. Named after a notorious vine blight which strikes fear into the heart of viticulturalists around the world, Darenberg's construct of Dead Arm Shiraz is an aberration of ancient, truncated, gap toothed vines which date back to 1912. A powerful red wine, vinified from the most intensely flavoured hand picked fruit, renowned by enthusiasts throughout the world, it remains one of Australia's most accessible, great icon wines.

Crafted from choice parcels of Shiraz and Grenache, picked off d'Arenberg's low yielding 19th century vineyards, very much a traditional style of wine. d'Arry's Original is named in honour of principal, d'Arry Osborn, a Winemakers Federation of Australia Patron and recipient Medal of the Order of Australia. One of d'Arenberg's most enduring labels, originally called d'Arry's Burgundy in the 1960s, when medium bodied red wines with a soft finish were always called Burgundy.

d'Arenberg own and manage nearly a third of all the old Grenache bush vines in McLaren Vale. The very first instalment by d'Arenberg to display the famous red stripe was a Grenache wine, it has been a variety central to the estate portfolio ever since. During the 1980s, d'Arenberg resisted taking part in the great government sanctioned vine pull out scheme which proved to be disastrously short sighted and an assault on national treasure. Their faith in the wizzened old vines of McLaren Vale has bestowed upon d'Arenberg the accolade of Custodian.

Coppermine Road is named after an avenue, very near the d'Arenberg property which runs parallel to the finest block of Cabernet Sauvignon vines to be found anywhere in McLaren Vale. The precious grapes are descended largely from a curious and near extinct unnamed clone which yields no more than a single tonne per acre because of its very poor setting ability and tiny berries. The quality of the fruit however is far superior, with wonderful violet and blackcurrant aromas, great acidity and long but intense, finely grained tannins.

Eden Valley is Dandelion's Riesling wonderland, a unique fusion of terroir and vine, season and grower. Wonderland of the Eden Valley is made entirely from vines planted in 1912 which still thrive to this day. Vigneron Colin Kroehn is the custodian of these precious old vines and has tended them for sixty six of his eighty eight years. With a bit of bottle age, Wonderland will evolve exciting toast and custard characters. Nothing short of exquisite as aperitif, superb with seafood, a sensation alongside sultry soufflés.

Dandelion are proven plantings of worldly vines which have stood the test of time. The Lionheart of Dandelion is a very old Barossa site, named for seminal Barossa grower Carl Lindner. Within this ancient parcel, gnarled vines, many over a hundred years of age, are not only surviving but thriving on their own roots, planted to some of the oldest soils on the planet. The hand picked grapes of this noble garden are crafted into a powerful yet approachable wine, which articulates beautifully, the dignity, generosity and grace of old vines Barossa Shiraz.

Dandelion are a sacred accord of grower and precious vines, treating the fruit from heirloom vineyards to the finest traditions of artisanal winemaking. Carl Lindner is a dedicated custodian of old Pedro Ximénez vines, himself a true Legacy of the Barossa and lifelong paladin of fortified wine. Traditionally grown and vinified, the very rare Pedro Ximinez was first fortified by his family in 1944 and now averages thirty years of age. This wine is assembled by hand and bottled without fining or filtration. Legacy Pedro Ximenez is best enjoyed within a week of opening.

Poistioned just southeast of McLaren Vale, Currency Creek was officially recognized as a delineated winegrowing region in 2000. Stimulated by the temperate influences of Lake Alexandrina and the balmy maritime breezes of Southern Ocean, Currency Creek's vines are encouraged by the subtle climes, continuous temperatures and elongated growing seasons to ripen grapes until they reach their full potential. Pinot Chardonnay Reserve is lively with stonefruit and strawberry flavours on the palate, highlighted by a soft pink blush from the Pinot skin contact.

Hand picked bunches of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are crushed into a selection of predominantly seasoned French oak barriques for vinification by Petaluma's own strains of yeast. Upon completion, batches are inoculated to a bacteria isolate for malolactic, adding complexity to the wine while softening the high natural acid. Components are then assembled and treated to a secondary fermentation in bottle. The finished Croser is aged on yeast lees for a minimum of three years before disgorgement, liqueur dosage and reseal.

The propitiously brisk climes in Piccadilly Valley encourage a complete ripening of grapes, even during the coolest growing seasons. A confluence of myriad aspects and varied soil types over some of the oldest rock formations, it yields a subtle diversity of flavours from each parcel of vine within the one valley. Defined by the chiselled elegance of Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir, pomegranate, wild strawberry and cherry aromas burst form the glass and flood the palate, gorgeous biscuit notes adding complexity and style. Creamy and delicious after eighteen long months on yeast lees.

A solidly structured, mostly Pinot Noir wine with a slightly lesser proportion of Chardonnay, an assemblage of the current Croser vintage with components of reserve wines from several earlier years, each contributing distinctive qualities to the final Cuvee. A stylistic evolution after many semi annual releases, the aim being to refine and advance the unique flair while remaining true to the magnificent aperitif style of classic Croser.

Croser is only disgorged after ten years repose in bottle under the Petaluma wineworks, ensuring extended contact on yeast lees, which contributes to the extravagance and luxurious palate weight. Fashioned from elite parcels of fruit grown to the finest vineyards in Piccadilly Valley, Croser is at once bigger in colour and more intense in flavour, dominated by the ripe jonathon apple of Pinot Noir. Grapes grown to the cooler south and west facing slopes contribute impressive natural fruit acids which infuse the wine with exquisite flavours and dazzling aromas.

Crabtree is quite small, very much a boutique operation so far as production is concerned. The annual crush is a mere hundred tonnes, the tiny winery is at full capacity every vintage, and the wines are very limited in production. The cellar door is heritage listed and dates back to 1849 when the Clare Valley was first settled. Adolf Glaetzer was largely responsible for the planting of the vineyards as they exist today. Best known for his fresh fruit and vegetables, his descendants have made the Glaetzer name synonymous with Australian winemaking.

Valley Clare is internationally renowned for Riesling, many of the region's finest vineyards are at Watervale. This distinguished hamlet has a population of only two hundred and fifty, a single shop and one garage, a pub and a school, a library, two churches and five distinguished wineries. Like many of the world's great wine growing appellations, Watervale has a name and global reach that belies its tiny size. Crabtree is an exquisitely balanced Riesling with an intensity of complex varietal characters, fine mineral acidity and lovely persistence of fruit.

Some would say that if you've not yet acquired a taste for Sangiovese, that you need a holiday in the Italian countryside, preferably Tuscany or Umbria! The Sangiovese grape was pioneered in Australia by Coriole Vineyards. It was first planted in 1985 with the aim of creating a wine which would be the stylistic contrast to Shiraz. With several different clones from which to select, off fully mature vines up to thirty years of age, the Coriole team can produce a profound varietal expression of this audacious and engaging Italian grape.

Coriole release several different bottlings of Shiraz each year, Redstone takes its name from the prominently red coloured ironstones, common to the vineyards and buildings of McLaren Vale. Concentrated and highly aromatic, a savoury rather than sweet palate, the maturity of fruit character reflects the quality of older vineyards. Redstone is fashioned to the popular drink now McLaren Vale style, match to roast meats or a length of flame grilled, gourmandise snags.