Grampians, Victoria, AustraliaThe Grampians wine region is one of Australia’s most historic, established by the Bests in 1860s, who were themselves deeply influenced by French immigrant and vigneron Jean-Pierre Trouette.
This is pioneer country; stringy bark eucalyptus trees, productive farm land, Mount Stapylton rising in the background and the rich mineral vein that was once exploited in the gold rush. Howard’s own research identified the region as perfectly suited to the Shiraz variety. Grampians Shiraz is renowned for its dense black fruit characters, powerful but silky tannins, complex minerality, pepper and spice notes. |
The region’s Best’s Old Block Shiraz clones (75% Mount Staplyton’s plantings) pre-date the Great French Wine Blight of the 1870s, phylloxera, so this is one of the few pockets in the world preserving this original, ungrafted rootstock, famed for its Hermitage origins, fragrance and minerality. The region is also very well suited to Australia’s widely planted SA1654 (25% Mount Staplyton’s plantings), this Barossa Shiraz clone reputed for its intense colour, spice and fine tannins.
This terroir is beautifully suited to shiraz: at an elevation of more than 200 meters above sea level the dry, continental climate, with warm days that peak around 4:00pm and cool nights that promote a long, intensity-building growing season. Sandy loam clays with a vein of buckshot gravel a foot below the surface helps retain warmth around the rootstock overnight. |
Upper Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia Having achieved great success in the Grampians with shiraz, Howard and Samantha then set out to create a world class chardonnay and pinot noir in the Upper Yarra Valley.
In 2009, the Staehrs planted a 1.2-hectare vineyard at Little Yarra Station, Gladysdale in the Upper Yarra Valley. They engaged another great winemaker in Caroline Mooney, born and bred in the region, who has a wine science degree from Charles Stuart University and over 25 years’ experience in the wine industry. The first vintage of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir was picked in 2012. The 2012 Samantha Chardonnay won a Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge in Vienna and the 2013 vintages of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have won multiple international awards. They sold their Yarra Valley vineyard in 2013 and have still a small amount of 2013 Pamela Chardonnay left to sell. Other Regions in Australia and Around the World have their own unique Terrior and it is amazing to sense and taste the these beautiful wines.
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