Region: King Valley, Victoria
Wineries
Website: https://www.dalzotto.com.au/
Winemaker: Michael Dal Zotto
Dal Zotto is regarded as one of the stand-out wineries in the King Valley region, and the importance of family is at its heart. The business is now lead by the second generation of Dal Zotto's - Michael and Christian. But it was patriarch Otto Dal Zotto with his wife Elena that inspired the vision of the business. Their approach combines the best of traditional Italian methods alongside a more modern, ‘new-world’ winemaking techniques. With the expansion of the winery in 1994 came the opportunity for Otto to introduce Italian varietals into the vineyard – barbera, sangiovese, pinot grigio, arneis and, importantly, prosecco - a varietal and wine style that is the foundation of Otto’s Italian hometown, and now the signature wine of the Dal Zotto range. The Dal Zotto's go from strength to strength and were recognised as Hallidays Dark Horse winery in 2020. Each Dal Zotto wine is the blend of three elements - family, tradition and innovation - with one overarching philosophy - your origins are just as important as your future.
Region: Barossa, South Australia
Website: http://www.kalleske.com/
Winemaker: Tony Kalleske
In South Australia's Barossa Valley, the Kalleske family have been farming and growing grapes since 1853 near the village of Greenock. They are one of the region’s leading grape growing families and part of the selected few that were chosen to provide grapes for the world renowned Penfold’s Grange. Seventh generation brothers, Troy and Tony established the winery in 2002 which is now certified as an organic and biodynamic producer. They are caretakers of the land and not only want to maintain the environment but improve it for future generations. Since the first wine release in 2004, Kalleske has rapidly gained a reputation for producing top-quality hand crafted wines.
Region: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Website: http://www.montalto.com.au/
Winemaker: Simon Black
Montalto founders and owners John and Wendy Mitchell initially planned a small vineyard by the coast. A place to relive earlier years spent holidaying with friends in Southern France. But John’s love of the outdoors, his interest in viticulture and corporate knowledge soon combined to grow Montalto into one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most popular destinations. True cool climate characteristics abound in the wines, which have received multiple awards on the Australian Show circuit. The 2010 appointment of Simon Black as Chief winemaker marked a new chapter in the Montalto wine journey; an opportunity for the wines to achieve their full potential. Their focus is to create wines of exemplary quality and character. Above all, it is the Montalto philosophy that wine should be an expression of its origin. A representation of the best fruit produced from its site in a particular vintage.
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Website: http://www.oxhardywines.com.au/
Winemaker: Andrew Hardy
Ox Hardy range of wines represent a rare and precious combination of people, vineyard, history and winemaking provenance. Andrew ‘Ox’ Hardy is one of Australia’s most respected winemakers and his family’s Upper Tintara Vineyard is one of Australia’s most important viticultural assets. A fifth generation winemaker, Andrew is the great-great grandson of Thomas Hardy, the ‘Father of the South Australian Wine Industry’.The Vineyard’s last remaining 2.54ha block of 1891 Ancestor Vines, planted by Thomas Hardy himself, are some of Australia’s oldest and most valuable. The combination of the two has now lead to the release of wines already steeped in history. It is Andrew’s library of wines made from the family’s vineyard over the past two decades, but cellared and hidden from the public until the first release in 2019, that now demonstrates the quality and age-worthiness of these special releases.
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Website: http://www.pannell.com.au/
Winemaker: Steve Pannell
The S.C.Pannell label was established by Steve and wife Fiona in 2004, but Steve's journey to winemaking really dates back to 1969, where as a toddler he grew up on one of Australia's most iconic boutique wineries, Moss Wood in Margaret River. S.C.Pannell winery was realised to focus on Stephen’s passion for the McLaren Vale region and its ability to produce dry - grown and environmentally sustainable Shiraz and Grenache. Steve’s wines are made with modern Australian food and wine culture at the front of mind. Quite simply, Stephen Pannell is one of Australia’s finest and most imaginative winemakers. He’s a Jimmy Watson Trophy winner, a McLaren Vale Bushing King winner, a two-time Max Schubert Trophy winner, International Red Winemaker of the Year and Decanter Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Contributors to the World of Wine.
Region: North Cantebury, New Zealnd
Website: http://www.pyramidvalley.co.nz/
Winemaker: Mike and Claudia Elze Weersing
Mike and Claudia Elze Weersing spent 15 years searching the world to find the perfect place to grow grapes. In 2000, they purchased the plot of land near Waikari, that we now call home. German-born and America-raised Claudia, was a committed biodynamicist while Mike studied oenology and viticulture in Burgundy and worked in vineyards and cellars across Europe. The wines of Pyramid Valley are born in the dramatic limestone and clay derived soils and slopes of the estate in Waikari, North Canterbury. A unique high-altitude site that is home to some of the most profound Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines in the world. Grown biodynamically and following natural principles of winemaking they create wine that breathes of its place and tastes of nowhere else on earth. Fast-forward to 2017, when good friends Steve Smith and Brian Sheth realised their long-held vision of realising a wine dream together – to craft impeccable wines and inspiring experiences they could share – by purchasing Pyramid Valley.
Region: Margaret River, Western Australia
Website: https://www.larrycherubino.com
Winemaker: Larry Cherubino
Larry Cherubino is an award-winning Australian winemaker having won over 60 trophies and 250 gold medals across both the Australian and International wine show system. After several years working as a corporate wine maker travelling the globe, Larry Cherubino has put down his roots in Western Australia channelling his energy into his family business along side his wife who's family are fourth generation wine growers. Larry crafts what is one of the most consistently high quality and comprehensive wine ranges in the country, covering key regions in Western Australia from Margaret River to the Great Southern.
Region: Clare Valley, South Australia
Website: http://www.koernerwine.com.au/
Winemaker: Damon Koerner
Koerner Wine is a partnership between brothers Damon and Jonathan Koerner. Their ambition is to bring a new style of wines from the traditional region of the Clare Valley.They play with a mix of 'classic' Clare Valley varieties such as Riesling, Cabernet and Malbec and a suite of alternate varieties that show a different side of this iconic Australian wine region. The fruit grown in the Watervale area of the Clare Valley, with the majority coming from the family vineyard. Their winemaking philosophy is very simple - wines are made in the vineyard. Thier more contemporary techniques lead to wines that are light, fresh, textured and well-structured with high drinkability in mind. A winery that is a must to keep your eye on!
Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Website: https://www.mountmary.com.au/
Winemaker: Sam Middleton
Mount Mary is one of Australia’s iconic, family owned single vineyard estates, located in the heart of the Yarra Valley, Victoria. Established in 1971, three generations of the Middleton family have dedicated themselves to producing limited quantities of premium wines of elegance, longevity and distinction. Mount Mary remains truly family owned and operated. David Middleton, son of the late founders John and Marli Middleton, his wife Victoria and their three children Claire, Sam and Hugh are all involved with Mount Mary. All of Mount Mary’s wines are made from estate grown fruit and are produced and bottled on site at Mount Mary. The fact that they are entirely self contained in all parts of the process is extremely important to them and this philosophy has been central to who they are since day one, and will remain their approach to producing fine table wines in the future.
Region: Coonawarra, South Australia
Website: http://www.parkercoonawarraestate.com.au/
Winemaker: Andrew Hardy
John and Faye Parker established Parker Coonawarra Estate in 1985 after a career-long interest in the region. Today, the privately owned Parker Coonawarra Estate is committed to John Parker’s standards of excellence, and producing the most faithful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from the celebrated Terra Rossa soils of the Coonawarra growing region. The winery’s first release of the 1988 vintage of First Growth was met with outstanding success, winning the Penfold Hyland Trophy in Perth. It was also judged the 6th highest rated Bordeaux-Style in the 1991 International Wine Challenge in London. For over a quarter of a century, Parker Estate has achieved numerous wine show medals, trophies and accolades, including a Five Star rating by James Halliday and Langton’s Classification V for Excellence.
Region: Coal Valley, Tasmania
Website: http://www.stargazer.com.au/
Winemaker: Samantha Connew
Tasmania is one of the key emerging regions of the Australian wine landscape. A relatively recent addition to this landscape is Stargazer, owned and run by Samantha Connew. Stargazer pays tribute to Abel Tasman, who as the first European explorer and navigator to sight Tasmania, must have spent a fair amount of time gazing towards the heavens. Samantha’s first vintage was in Oregon, where she became captivated by Pinot Noir. So it seems only fitting that she has ended up in Tasmania making Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay. In Samantha’s words “The opportunity to work with pristine fruit to craft the wines that I am passionate about in an environment of extraordinary beauty is really all I have ever wanted to do as a winemaker”. Samantha has been able to harness all her years of experience to craft wines of purity and balance that are already receiving amazing reviews.
Region: Beechworth, Victoria
Website: http://www.giaconda.com.au
Winemaker: Rick Kinzbrunner
There are few names in Australian wine as revered as those of Giaconda and its founder/owner, Rick Kinzbrunner. Giaconda vineyard was established by Rick upon returning to Australia in 1980 after a stint in Napa and Bordeaux working with wineries such as Stags Leap and Chateau Petrus. Since 1982, Rick has dedicated himself to the pursuit of vinous excellence in the Beechworth region. A lover of great Burgundy, Kinzbrunner is best-known for his incredibly powerful Chardonnay, with Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo not far behind. His signature winemaking style shows a rare combination of power and finesse - many believe his to be one of the few New World Chardonnays that can compare to the great Crus of Burgundy. For the Estate wines, production is extremely limited and they generally sell out upon release. Giaconda is a special producer that thoroughly deserves its reputation as one of the country's finest domains.
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Website: http://www.pannell.com.au/
Winemaker: Steve Pannell
Koomilya is a unique brand developed by highly acclaimed winemaker Stephen Pannell. The name comes from an early childhood adventure where Steve discovered an old bell from a ship that travelled between South Australia and Western Australia called the SS Koomilya. The vineyard established in the early 1800's, which Steve purchased recently after 2 decades of pursueing the owners, is at the epicenter of McLaren Vale. From the moment he discovered the vineyard, Steve felt there was something special about this place. This was proven to be corect when Steve produced his first Jimmy Watson Trophy winning wine, the Eileen Hardy Shiraz. Steve is now producing amazing single vineyard wines under the Koomilya label, from this ancient 30 acre block.
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Website: http://www.oliverstaranga.com/
Winemaker: Corrina Wright
Oliver’s Taranga is a family run property that was settled in 1841. Shortly after came the first plantings on the property. Now being cared for by sixth generation family members, the Oliver’s are considered one of the premium sustainably certified growers in the region. So much so that they are one of the few from McLaren Vale to provide grapes to Penfold’s for the illustrious Grange Shiraz. Now under the guidance of the effervescent winemaker Corrina Wright, these grapes are being showcased in the Oliver’s Taranga wine range. Corrina is fast earning the reputation for producing ultra-premium age worthy wines. Corrina is also gaining great recognition for her leading role in the "Women in Wine" movement. Oliver's Taranga has built it's reputation on the back of the premium red grapes it grows. And the rich red wines it produces. The family is now engaged in the development of the new Mediterranean varieties and the wines they produce. These varieties are perfectly suited to the climate and soils in McLaren Vale. As a result, they are becoming a defining feature of the McLaren Vale region. While working with these new varieties, Corrina still wants to ensure that all the wines reflect the unique character of the Taranga Vineyard. The Oliver's Taranga Shiraz is one such wine that encapsulates these characteristics.
Region: Barossa, South Australia
Website: http://www.powellandson.com//
Winemaker: David Powell
Powell & Son is a relatively new brand, however is the brain child of a man with an incredible reputation - Dave Powell. Over the years Dave has worked at and founded iconic winery, Torbreck juggernaut that took the world by storm in the 1990s. Now partnered with his son Callum, they are crafting exceptional wines from the Barossa and Eden Valley that speak of the place in which they are grown. They employ traditional, minimalist winemaking techniques. The inspiration for this style of winemaking has its roots in France’s Rhone Valley. Powell & Son red wines are made from the classic Rhone varietals: Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro and its whites: Roussanne, Marsanne as well as Eden Valley Riesling. Great wine begin in the vineyard is the philosophy that Powell & Son has been built on. .
Region: Clare Valley, South Australia
Website: http://www.vickerywines.com.au/
Winemaker: Jon Vickery
Vickery Wines is a culmination of John Vickery’s half century of wine making experience (with more than 50 Trophies and an incredible 400 gold medals) partnered alongside family friend and talented winemaker Phil Lehmann. To enable their true talents to shine, key vineyards from the iconic areas of both Watervale and Eden Valley, renowned for producing Australia’s greatest Rieslings, were chosen. .