Bruno & George Eden Valley Montepulciano, Barossa Valley Montepulciano, or Monte as it is colloquially known among grape growers and winemakers in Australia, hails from the Apennines of Central Italy, particularly the mountainous regions of Abruzzo and the inland zones of neighbouring Marche. Capable of burly wines with a firm backbone of ferruginous tannins, bright acidity and a palette of darker fruit aspersions lifted by whiffs of dried tobacco and smoked meats, Montepulciano suits the torrid climate of much of Australia well, particularly the Barossa Valley. At Bruno & George, expect a full-bodied expression toned by consummate levels of extraction and high quality oak.

This wine is the culmination of a long term project that started 20 years ago when we planted a small block of Cabernet Franc on a bony ridge in the highest part of the vineyard. The fruit was destemmed into an open fermenter and spent 9 months in six second-hand French hogsheads to allow full fruit expression. The wine is bright crimson with a delicate perfumed nose and a hint of pepper and spice. There is a broad palate of black fruits – satsuma plum, dark cherry and mulberry with a lingering finish.

Thistledown Wines Fool on the Hill Grenache, Eden Valley Thistledown Wines are a leading name in the who’s-who of Australia’s modern grenache movement out of some of South Australia’s finest regions. The Fool on the Hill Grenache is sourced from two dry-grown plots high in the Eden Valley. The soils are tricky to work with, but the results are more than evident that the hard work required to yield Fool on the Hill has been worth it. Lifted aromatics pair with a palate of textural, chewy body with dark cherry, spice, and a refreshing line of minerality.

Barr-Eden Estate is a storied piece of land situated at the crest of Mengler’s Hill, one of the highest points of viticulture in Australia. Well-known grape-grower Joel Mattschoss first acquired fruit from the site, which sits atop the ancient goldfields of the Eden, in 2014, to produce the first small batch Love Over Gold wine with Frenchman Pierre-Henri Morel. After the passing of the estate’s owner, Barossa icon, Bob McLean, in 2015, a venture began between the two, along with friends Michael Twelftree and Tim Hower, to become the new custodians of this special property of great pedigree. The Grenache vines at Barr-Eden Estate were planted in 1997 - at 545m elevation this is some of the highest Grenache in South Australia. 2021 was mild, with a slow ripening season over a long Indian Summer. The fruit was handpicked, destemmed and tipped into a one tonne fermenter. Gentle pump over and slow extraction until full dryness. Only the free run was placed into a 3 year old French oak barrel. The Barr-Eden Estate Love Over Gold Grenache 2021 has a soft palate with extremely precise and thin tannins that caress and carry on the freshness and intensity, the fruit has carried its freshness and vibrancy.