Gary’s vineyard, named after the grower Gary Whaite, has ironstone conglomerate soils interspersed with sand and gravel, overlaying mottled orange-yellow clay. Situated at 200 meters above sea level, the vineyard benefits from the orographic lift (air being forced to rise from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain), and gentle slopes northward above the Onkaparinga Gorge. The vines are dry-grown.
While planting Grenache, Gary used a sledgehammer and pick to break through the vineyard’s ironstone conglomerate. The label features a fragment of broken ironstone taken from the vineyard, its fractured surface revealing reflective patches reminiscent of the Milky Way. Subtly embossed on the label is an image of Gary the grower holding his sledgehammer, gazing simultaneously into the rock and the stars.
South Australia
McLaren Vale
Grenache:
Continental
Ironstone conglomerate with sand and gravel, layered over mottled orange-yellow clay
Certified sustainable
200 meters
7% whole bunches, a 9 day fermentation, and 71 days on skins post-ferment
178 days ageing in sandstone amphora