Described by the London Observer as Australia's finest pink wine, Rose of Virginia is distinctively perfumed thanks to the inclusion of a choice Grenache component, followed by the brooding characters of noble red grapes. At a time when growers were pulling out their vines to plant more fashionable varieties, Charlie was convincing farmers to keep their historic parcels of Grenache. Just ever so slightly away from the cloying, rich styles, Rose of Virginia is crisp and balanced to match the wide range of cuisines which have been her partners.

What's Barossa Rosé without a vital inclusion of old vines Grenache? Charlie Melton prunes his old vines harder so that they produce lower yields, concentrating more of the vigor into fewer berries. The bright effusiveness of a lusciously ripe harvest is assembled with barrels of aged Grenache wines for a remarkably complex, blush hued Cuvée. Evocative and engaging, richer than most any other Rosé, her heady perfumes of rhubarb and ripe strawberry, cherry blossoms and turkish delight, precede a delightfully complex palate of jellied fruit, plum pastels and pretty, purple cassis.

Charles Melton's life long passion for Grenache began during a working tour of the Rhone Valley in the 1980s. At the time, Australian Grenache was being used mainly for cheap, high alcohol, fortified wines, Charlie however, started experimenting in the vineyard, pruning the old vines harder so they would produce lower yields of better berries. All Melton's vineyards are unirrigated and dry grown, some are in excess of 130 years old, yielding fruit of the most intense natural sweetness, even when fermented to bone dry, a quality of Grenache that's without peer anywhere in the world.

Melton was christened Graeme but given the nickname Charlie by his long term mentor, the legendary Peter Lehmann. It was during a tour of duty amongst the illustrious vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape that Charlie acquired his deep passion for the sublime grace of old vines Grenache. The Reformation is crafted from precious parcels, hand picked off distinguished Barossa plantings, seventy to a hundred years of age. A mix of destemmed and whole bunch grapes are vinified on skins and pressed into a selection of French and American oak for twenty to thirty months before the final assemblage.

Distinguished Langtons Classification. Based on the wines of Chateauneuf du Pape, or home of new popes, alternate papacy of the 13th century. Drawing fruit from the only other classic Grenache growing area in the world, Melton has given this evocative grape a little Aussie twist, assembling the inspiring varietal with parcels of old vines Barossa Mourvedre and Shiraz. Litigation by the French was avoided, but problem remains, Melton's French skills were a tad light when he named the wine, assuming Chateauneuf du Pape was a reference to the nine popes.

A collation of choice parcels Shiraz from the Krondorf Village districts in Barossa. All grapes are dry grown and great emphasis is placed on the quality of fruit. Yields are extremely low, often only one or two tonne per acre. Parcels are vinified and assembled to contruct the most complete wine, in terms of balance between pure fruit flavours and earthy/ gamey qualities. A style which has a kiss of sweet oak, allowing the rich fragrance and flavours of old dry grown vines to remain at the fore, a Shiraz of intense flavours and richness by a Barossa master.

Charles Melton was road tripping across Australia when his broken down EH Holden forced him to grab the first job. It was Krondorf and he wound up working with Peter Lehmann. Melton travelled to France and developed the beginnings of what would become a life long passion for the wines of vallée du Rhône, in particular Shiraz. Darkly scented plum pudding lift, fine sweet oak in support of generous mouthfilling palate, rich but exquisitely balanced, lovely complex length of flavour, all that we love about the affable, big hearted Barossa style.

The Father in Law is a single block of elite vine, originally acquired to keep Mrs Melton's dad busy after retirement. This superior parcel of Shiraz from Syd Weckert's the father in law site, is enhanced by a backbone of choice Melton fruit. Solidly structured, generously proportioned yet highly elegant, its minty, blueberry perfumes, supported by the dark chocolate and merry spice that's so eloquent of all things Barossa. Whole bunches, stemmed but uncrushed fruit, daily pumpovers and seasoned oak barriques for an extended term of twenty months on lees to infuse flavour and richness.

At Charles Melton vineyards, great emphasis is placed on the quality of fruit, completely dry grown on the estate’s fifty acres of prime Barossa viticulture, ocassionally calling on a distinguished group of devoted local growers for extravagantly priced parcels of the most exceptional fruit. Cabernet grapes must must be fully ripe without passing the softness stage into wrinkled, affording richness while retaining structure. Berries are gently destemmed for vinification, followed by transfer into an extravagant selection of completely new French oak barriques for a minimum two years maturion on gross lees.

Charlie Melton was one of the first to appreciate the overlooked value in Barossa's old vineyard Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre. At a time when others were pulling out such vineyards to plant more fashionable varieties, Charlie was convincing farmers to keep their historic plantings. He was one of a small group of winemakers who helped retain the viticultural heritage of Barossa Valley. A soft, plump palate of traditional Barossa ripeness and plummy, festive cake spice, currants and dark fruit, a finish of luscious, rounded tannins underpinning soily Barossa goodness.

Charles Cimicky wineworks and vineyard run a kilometre along the picturesque Hermann Thumm Drive at Lyndoch, on the very floor of the Valley, surrounded by beautiful Barossa Ranges. Charles Cimicky, the man, is held in great esteem by his peers, for his gentle nature and exceptional quality of his wines. His eponymous is a perennial favourite of bespoke Barossa Shiraz enthusiasts, named after a group of local pioneers who would famously retreat to an old vineyard cottage for the relaxing indulgence of claret and cards.

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. Cimicky makes cult wine with a recognizable wow factor, a tiny production and always very limited in availability. Judged first amongst peers, Charles Cimicky won the Barossa Wine Grape Council Trophy for the best wine from a small producer twice in succession, as well as the Vinpac International Trophy for Best Shiraz.

Verdelho originated in Portugal and has acclimatized itself well to the McLaren Vale's maritime climes. One of the very first varietals planted in McLaren Vale circa 1825, Verdelho is a beguiling variety, its generous and vibrant characters evoke an array of stylistic influences, making it a highly fashionable wine with wide versatility. Chapel Hill showcases the three distinct flavour profiles of Verdelho, grassy, pungent characters, tropical fruit flavours and beautifully scented honeysuckle blossom perfumes.

Chapel Hill is built around an historic stone church, so it's entirely appropriate that the estate's flagship wine be named The Vicar. More wine Vicar? A McLaren Vale icon which has previously claimed the prestigious Australia Trophy and twice collected Silver at the London International. The Vicar embodies true excellence, is only released in the best years and has only ever attended seven times in the history of Chapel Hill. Some vintages can be a smart assemblage of noble varietals, others might be fashioned from outstanding parcels of Shiraz.

Originally a Christian Bible church and parish school, Chapel Hill is set within a historic nineteenth century stone church. Situated on a picturesque hill in the McLaren Vale's magestic hills, views from the cellar door are breathtaking. The emphasis has long been on environmentally sustainable viticulture and vintages of the finest quality. Chapel Hill's estate grown Shiraz is endowed with an intense, opulent mouth coating palate, exhibiting a unique combination of power, elegance and grace.

Chapel Hill's mantra is to produce wines with pure varietal and regional characters. Grown to the cooler climes of the Adelaide Hills this fine example of Pinot Grigio displays all the elements associated with the variety. Hints of guava, lychee and nashi pear overlay a textured, viscous, dry spicy palate with subtle mineral notes.

Parson's Nose is intended to offer some respite from the more serious and stern religious connotations that are at times associated with Chapel Hill. McLaren Vale is deservedly recognized as one of the worlds leading Shiraz appellations. This can be attributed to the vitality and generosity of the region and its wines. Stylistically the aim with Parson's Nose is to showcase primary McLaren Vale Shiraz character as supported by a velvety tannin structure. Oak plays a supporting role and is utilised delicately, providing complexity without overriding the expression of fruit.

The unique qualities of Tempranillo can be attributed to it's engrossing varietal charms and effusive personality. Elevated slopes and ancient soils at a spectacular site in the Mt Torrens area of Adelaide Hills provide the ideal harsh conditions to infuse character. A backbone of fruit grown to good vineyards in McLaren Vale offers varietal potency and assertive character. Chapel Hill exudes savoury olive and bay complexities of Mediterranean influence, vibrant dark berry characters are supported by a deeply flavoured palate and chewy, mouth filing tannins.

Il Vescovo is the Bishop, a medium bodied Sangiovese wine, vinified from grapes grown to the cooler climes of Kangarilla in McLaren Vale. Sangiovese is endowed with a distinctive and unique personality that exudes savouriness and rustic earthiness. The quintessential Italian red, it possesses vivacious natural acid levels which work closely with silky tannins to make it an exemplary accompaniement to food. Styled to the new wave of super Tuscans, Il Vescovo exhibits lifted berry fruit flavours, solid structure and a multi dimensional palate.

Chapel Hill is in very real terms a broad church, a great community of contemporary and indigenous artists, gourmandes and bon vivant, who celebrate daily in the benediction of good wine and endowments of McLaren Vale. The estate's wines are piously crafted to showcase the attractive and distinctive attributes of superfine Cabernet Sauvignon. Sourcing fruit from well managed vineyards ensures consistency, as it articulates the richness and diverse flavour spectrum of all good things McLaren Vale.

The Harvey family established their first vineyard in 1897, it remains productive to this day and yields the most precious harvests of McLaren Vale fruit. Six generations later, the Harveys own and operate a total of six closely managed sites, scattered throughout the premier viticultural precincts, from Kangarilla Road to Willunga and Maslin Beach. Each site was selected over the years for its uniqueness, a confluence of soil and mesoclime to assemble complex yet seamless wines, endowed with the articulate charm and seductive appeal of McLaren Vale.

The topical Alsation cépage of Riesling with Traminer, Chalk Hill Blue is a consistent performer around the national wine show circuit, for its ebullient, spiced floral fruit characters and seamless complexity. Established 1886 with a view to crafting medicinal elixirs for the well being of body and soul, Angove now host some of the most splendid vineyards across South Australia. The quality of Angove's fruit lies at the core of this exquisite accord of varietal grapes, the essence and redolence of Alsace, in a cleanly perfumed Aussie styling.

Black Thursday Vineyard played a role in extinguishing some nasty bushfires which threatened the Adelaide hamlets of Kuitpo and Gumeracha. Cheers were raised and there were many thanks given, but nothing could save chilled bottles of Chain of Ponds Sauvignon Blanc from the tired and thirsty firefighters. Consider this drink to be something quite the opposite of a parched and arid flame, think of green grass, iced kiwi fruit, cool cucumber and asparagus. A great match to the freshest sashimi or traditional Coquilles St Jacques.

Amadeus Francis Symonds was a local preacher, Justice of the Peace and chairman of Para Wirra district, he took up land at Chain of Ponds in 1848. The first bible christian Methodist services in the district were held at his old farm house, continuing until he laid foundations for the local church. One of the earliest vineyard wineries ever mentioned in the local Adelaide Hills papers, much of the fruit grown to Chain of Ponds has been a component of Penfolds most memorable vintages, the finest parcels are set aside and vinified under the estate's own label.

An outstanding assemblage of the most exceptional fruit from the elite Ehrat Vineyard, picked off unirrigated rows of parallel grown Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon along Krondorf Road. The inclusion of choice picks Shiraz from a panoply of terroirs in the Valley Eden, Stockwell and Light Pass, add palate weight and complexity. A traditional ferment and old world standards of élevage, just a few hundred dozen are made, are followed by eighteen months in a luxuriously high proportion of new Leroi French oak hogsheads, purposefully bottled unfiltered and unfined.

Old vine Grenache, a few inestimable rows, planted during the 1930s to a picturesque place in the northern Barossa called Light Pass. Impassioned vigneron Kevin Schild is custodian of these wizened old veterans, yielding barely enough of a crop to make a few hundred cases. The Chaffeys see themselves as oenological parfumiers, identifying the supple complexities of wayward fruit, revelling in the lost art of small batch vintages. They have elected to treat Schild's fruit to a Nouveau style of ferment, a third included as whole bunches, to be judiciously bottled unfiltered and unfined.

Graeme and Michael Fechner brought back cuttings of the Weißer Herold grape, also known as Kerner, to their Eden Valley vineyard, following a research trip to Germany in 2001. The vines bloomed and found a new home away from home, where the felicitious, long calm ripening seasons encourage the grapes to form lusciously sweet fruit esters, redolent of all the tropical muscat characters which define the dulcet delicacy of the delightful Kerner. Grapefruits, lychee and applejack, an excellent choice of chilled Mosel style white to accompany dressed birds, savoury bakes and desserts.

True enthusiasts of the wonderous plurality in sparkling wine, will be enthused by the Chaffey's emulation of the creamily perfumed, gelid mineral sprays, grown to the sacred slopes along the mighty Mosel. A coterie of small pickings, Kerner, Riesling and Traminer, grown to the eminent Fechner Brothers vineyard at Moculta. Batches are vinified as one and finished to a juicily dry, indigenously ferment style, a mere six hundred bottled of vintage, naturally effervescent and audaciously unfined, for those who like their sparkling to be both, Brut et Sauvage.

Single vineyard Syrah, from a sparse harvest of the most amazing grapes, hand picked off the dry grown, Drögemüller family orchard at Springton in the very southeast of Barossa Valley. Bunches are treated to a six tonnes, open top fermenter, for a week of skin contact and daily pumpovers, followed by a year in a selection of well seasoned French oak barrels. An intensely perfumed, Rhône valley style, redolent of peppercorn and spiced black bramble fruit, its ripe, juicy, loganberry, cherry and morello freshness, lingering on a long, licorice wick of, elegant, tensile tannins.

The ancient winegrowing hamlet of Moculta is at the very northern end of Eden Valley, where altitudes are warmest and soils are propitiously mineral rich. It's an elite little precinct with a history which dates back to Lutheran settlement. Every row of plantings here is sacred, local folklore recounts the establishment of illustrious old vineyards and stewardship by the nation's most esteemed vignerons. Chaffey source a superior harvest from the distinguished Fechner Brothers block, a transcendent parcel of Shiraz, ultimately to be treated to in an invaluable selection of new French oak from France’s oldest cooperage.

A seamless single vineyard co ferment of three wonderously perfumed whites, a third each of Riesling, Traminer and the abstruse Kerner Weißer Herold, a bespoke Riesling Trollinger hybrid. There are few places with the exceptional excellence of terroir to sire such a graceful bouquet of aromatic varietals. The eminent Fechner brothers block at Moculta is fortuitously mineral rich, gently strewn with marble and chalk shards for the infusement of grapes with lively lychee and fragrant florals. Its marvelously poised and elegant structure, lustrous with minerality and lingering with honeysuckle hazel delights.

A small number of mature Shiraz blocks toward the southern parts of Barossa Valley are identified each year as potential candidates for Centenary Hill. Jacobs Creek were at the very establishment of South Australia and retain access to the nation's most distinguished, long lived vineyards. A highly prestigious Barossa effort, cellared at the Orlando wineworks, treated to the most refined oak maturation before an extravagant term of eighteen months bottle age to develop ornate, seamless complexity.

For well over a decade, Rosedale have been nurturing their splendid vineyards across the western ridge of Barossa Valley. Nine Lives exhibits power with finesse, spice fruit character and weight in unison.