Any great Shiraz adventure will inevitably lead you to the land around Marananga on the Barossa’s western side. A prime destination for world class wine and unsurprisingly home to well-known names like Torbreck, Greenock Creek and Two Hands to name a few. Standard bearers for a distinctly Australian expression of a classic variety.
This is old country. The landscape formed 350 million years ago. Ancient soils riddled with ironstone, blue stone, marble stone and quartz. Yielding small crops of flavour packed berries that local legend Peter Lehmann would often call ‘little black jewels’. Producing wines of deep colour, with a flavour profile melding black fruit, savoury spice and abundant fine tannins. Wines that are a joy to drink young but also cellar for 20 years or more.
Our vineyards on Roennfeldt Road are a very special place for Shiraz. In fact, an almost perfect place if your aim in wine is to touch the sky, as is ours. South easterly facing slopes capture the gentle morning light whilst protecting the vines and fruit from the heat of the afternoon sun. Late in the day gully breezes run up the line of an old creek line that intersects the vineyard. Slowing ripening, enabling the fruit build flavour intensity and complexity, whilst helping to retain vibrancy and freshness.
To my mind, this is the art of natural winemaking. Allowing the landscape to yield what it does easily, and applying a sympathetic approach in the winery to capture the essence of a very special place.
Matt Reynolds, Chief Winemaker – Schubert Estate
