Wines & Grapes

The wines produced from Wrattonbully show impressive quality. Awards for wines from the region, as well as winemaker impressions, reflect the astute selection of this region for planting in the 1990s.

From Peter Gago, Chief Winemaker, Penfolds:

“The spoils of terra rossa soils, latitude and limestone – a magical mix shared by both Coonawarra and Wrattonbully”

Sue Bell, winemaker at Bellwether, has produced wine from Wrattonbully fruit for more than two decades, and describes the distinctive earthiness, fragrance and spiciness that develops over the cool nights characteristic of the region, due to its greater continentality than neighbouring Coonawarra or Padthaway. She refers to a more authentic representation of the site in this region, and its distinctiveness from other regions, with greater spice and finer wines, and less dustiness than from some other regions.

Yalumba is one of the original growers and companies in the region, and highly value the fruit quality, particularly for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Natalie Cleghorn, winemaker at Yalumba, stresses the importance of the ancient soils, that keep the vines in check with the limestone. She describes the fruit and resultant wines as having lovely architecture and structure, with great depth of flavour, tannin structure and colour; they have a certain minerality and savouriness balancing the flavour. The Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh, varietal and aromatic, quintessential Cabernet with no green characters and a depth of flavor in the fresher spectrum.

Varieties & Wines

The main wine grape varieties grown in Wrattonbully are the classic varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, with Merlot and Chardonnay plantings the next two most widely planted. In the last two decades there has been a move in Australia to look at alternative wine grape varieties – alternative varieties are one of a suite of management tools being used to counter the effects of climate change.

There has been a lot of interest in the white variety Pinot Gris and in the red Spanish variety Tempranillo. Pinot Gris in particular has been taken up by the Wrattonbully region, and this now represents 11% of the State’s plantings. An alternative variety showing some particular promise is Barbera, an Italian red from the Piedmont region.

Other reds planted include Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and Malbec, the last two showing well in niche markets. The whites include Sauvignon blanc, Riesling, Semillon and Viognier.

The total varietal plantings in 2020 are shown below.

Plantings of red grapevine varieties, in hectares, in Wrattonbully region in 2020.

VARIETY – REDS

  2020 (ha)
Cabernet Sauvignon 1,294
Malbec 13
Merlot 223
Pinot Noir 63
Shiraz 754
Tempranillo 9
Other red 15

Plantings of white grapevine varieties, in hectares, in Wrattonbully region in 2020.

VARIETY – WHITES

 2020 (ha)
Chardonnay 168
Pinot Gris 99
Riesling 7
Sauvignon Blanc 61
Semillon 3
Other white 17

*(Source https://vinehealth.com.au/industry/sa-winegrape-crush-survey/)

PATRICK WINES

PATRICK WINES

PROPRIETOR: Luke Tocaciu EMAIL: cellardoor@patrickofcoonawarra.com WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: Riddoch Hwy,...

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HOLLICK WINES

HOLLICK WINES

PROPRIETOR: Hollick Estates Pty Ltd EMAIL: admin@hollick.com WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: Cnr Riddoch Highway and...

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REDDEN BRIDGE WINES

REDDEN BRIDGE WINES

PROPRIETOR: Greg & Emma Koch EMAIL: accounts@reddenbridge.com WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: 3/44 Robertson...

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DYNE PARTNERS

DYNE PARTNERS

PROPRIETOR: Peter Westley & Sherrin Sutcliffe EMAIL: westcliffe@bigpond.com ADDRESS: Naracoorte/Apsley Road...

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EIGHT AT THE GATE

EIGHT AT THE GATE

PROPRIETOR: Claire Davies and Jane Richards EMAIL: admin@eightatthegate.com.au WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: PMB 46,...

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GRINDSTONE VINEYARD

GRINDSTONE VINEYARD

PROPRIETOR: Susie Harris EMAIL: susie@grindstonevineyard.com WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: PO Box 303, Coonawarra SA...

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CAPE JAFFA WINES

CAPE JAFFA WINES

PROPRIETOR: Anna & Derek Hooper WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: 459 Limestone Coast Road, Mount Benson, PO Box...

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HYNAM PARK VINEYARD

HYNAM PARK VINEYARD

PROPRIETOR: Nick and Heather Laycock EMAIL: hynampark@bigpond.com ADDRESS: Hynam Park, PO Box 16, Hynam SA 5262...

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MALONE WINES

MALONE WINES

PROPRIETOR: Jim, Rosemary, William and Nick Malone EMAIL: will@malonewines.com.au WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: PMB...

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YALUMBA

YALUMBA

PROPRIETOR: Robert Hill-Smith EMAIL: info@yalumba.com WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: PO Box 10 Angaston SA 5353...

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TIDSWELL WINES

TIDSWELL WINES

PROPRIETOR: Ben & Andrea Tidswell EMAIL: ben@tidswellwines.com.au WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: 14 Sydenham Rd,...

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TERRE À TERRE

TERRE À TERRE

PROPRIETOR: Xavier Bizot and Lucy Croser EMAIL: xavier@terreaterre.com.au WEBSITE: Visit Website TELEPHONE: +61 (0) 8...

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SMITH & HOOPER

SMITH & HOOPER

PROPRIETOR: Robert Hill-Smith EMAIL: info@hsfv.com WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: PO Box 297 Coonawarra SA 5263...

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PEPPER TREE WINES

PEPPER TREE WINES

PROPRIETOR: Dr John Davis EMAIL: john.davis@peppertreewines.com.au WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: 86 Halls Rd...

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PAVY WINES

PAVY WINES

PROPRIETOR: Ottoson Family EMAIL: sarah@ottoson.com.au WEBSITE: Visit Website ADDRESS: Pavy Wines - 501 Concrete...

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CUMBEROONA VINES

CUMBEROONA VINES

PROPRIETOR: Dianne Stuart, Angela Stuart, David Stuart EMAIL: daveangela40@hotmail.com ADDRESS: PO Box 2121, Hilton...

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Region

Limestone Caves are a feature of the area, with the region being home to the World Heritage Listed Naracoorte Caves. Many caves were discovered beneith vineyards as they were developed, some of which contained significant ancient fossils and prehistoric remains.

LATEST NEWS

Find out what is happening around the region as well as the latest news, wine show results and media releases.

PRODUCERS

The heart and soul of the Wrattonbully region are its people and producers. Discover who they are and hear their stories.

DISCOVER THE WINERIES OF THE

WRATTONBULLY WINE REGION

DISCOVER WORLD CLASS WINE AT IT’S BEST
CONTACT US

Wrattonbully Wine Region Association

Post Office Box 717,

Naracoorte South Australia 5271

 

Phone: 0409 520778

Email: info@wrattonbullywineregion.com.au