Barossa Shiraz: An Exploration of its Sub-Regions

I’d be really happy if we could celebrate wine for what it is and not what it “should be”. Grapevines can be manipulated to an extent, but if we keep insisting that alcohol levels should be this, and tannins should be that (etc.) we will continue down the line of homogenised bland wine that will take the interest out of what is a remarkable product and can provide emotional experiences to the consumer. Let’s appreciate the natural tendencies of regionality and worry less about “the market place”. 

~ Andrew Seppelt, Winemaker & Partner at Murray Street Vineyards

Swirl, Sniff, Spit's next outing will be exploring the sub-regionality of the Barossa Valley through arguably its most famous grape variety - Shiraz - using the knowledge and insight of one of its favourite sons: Murray Street Vineyards Andrew Seppelt.

If you are wondering what sub-regionality is, we like to think of it thus: instead of being one singular entity, the Barossa is a complex patchwork of micro, or sub-regions.  Each of these sub-regions display its own unique character, and through this tasting we are looking to explore - and hopefully understand - those unique characters.

The wines are a mix of vintages and wineries so we will see some variation there, but the consistent element should always be the underlying notion of 'terroir' or the sense of place, the dirt from whence a wine came.

Western Ridge

Murray Street Vineyards 'Gomersal' Shiraz 2008 (VF) Twitter: @MSVWine

South Barossa

TeAro Estate 'Charred Door' Shiraz 2008 (VF) Twitter: @TeAroEstate

South Central

tbc

Foothills

Cirillo 'Steingarten Vineyard' Shiraz 2010 (VF) Twitter: @n/a

Eden Valley

Sons of Eden 'Remus' Eden Valley Shiraz 2009 Twitter: @SonsOfEden

Yalumba 'Swingbridge Vineyard' Craneford Shiraz 2007 (VF) Twitter: @Yalumba

Valley Floor

tbc

Northern Barossa

Westlake Vineyards 'Eleazar' Shiraz 2009 (VF) Twitter: @WestlakeWine

Greenock

Murray Street Vineyards 'Greenock' Shiraz 2008 (VF) Twitter: @MSVWine

Yelland  & Papps 'Devote' Shiraz 2010 (VF) Twitter: @YellandAndPapps

Central West

Whistler Wines tbc Twitter: @WhistlerWines

The tasting on 21st August and spaces open up 9am on 13th August on a first-come-first-served basis.

(VF) = Vegan Friendly

Session 15 - The Granite Belt - 17th July

Swirl, Sniff, Spit has been a proud supporter of Queensland wines along the way and is grateful for the support it has received from wine lovers in Queensland.

We've been gearing up for this one for a while, looking to put together a fantastic representation of wine from the Granite Belt.  Home to a wide range of alternative varieties, as well as some old friends, this line-up is a fantastic introduction to the region, its wines and its winemakers.

Flight 1:
Bent Road Marsanne 2011 @WinemakerGlen

Cypress Post Viognier Marsanne 2011 @CypressPostWines & @PeterScudMW

Flight 2:
Ridgemill Estate Chardonnay 2011 @RidgemillEstate & @GraniteGravels
Ravens Croft Chardonnay 2011 @RavensCroftWine


Flight 3:
Ridgemill Estate Tempranillo 2009 @RidgemillEstate & @GraniteGravels
Hidden Creek Tempranillo 2009 @HCWinemaker

Flight 4:

Boireann La Cima Barbera 2008 @BoireannWinery

Summit Estate Queensland Cabernets 2009 @SummitEstate

Flight 5:

Witches Falls Prophecy Syrah 2008 @TheWineryWitch
Bent Road Syrah Cabernets 2009 @WinemakerGlen

Flight 6:

Golden Grove Durif 2010 n/a
Pyramids Road Wines Mourvedre 2011 @SuePyramidsRoad

Flight 7:
Ballandean Estate Sylvaner 2005 @BallandeanWines

Witches Falls Botrytis 2008 @TheWineryWitch