We love to study (wine)!

by Cameron Ashmead

The Ashmeads love wine and hopefully that shows through with the Elderton range. We work, study and when all the work is done we play wine. We love travelling to far flung regions around the globe to study how other wineries ply their craft.

In what is now a five year tradition, Al & I have taken the winemaking and viticulturist team on study tour around this time of year. We have been to the New Zealand North Island, Tasmania, the Hunter, McLaren Vale and as of September the Clare Valley.

Wendouree vineyard in Clare Valley

What is important to the team is they get to meet the technical people behind the scenes, to ask questions about vineyards and winemaking and what in their experiences has worked for their wineries to make the absolute best wine they can. A lot of these tips have gone into play at Elderton to make sure we make the best wine we can.

This year in Clare we want to thank Wendouree, Pikes and Jim Barry for hosting us. It was all very insightful.

Wendouree

Pikes

Jim Barry

The ‘play’ was having dinner with Clare based leading Australian wine journo, Nick Ryan, at the wonderful Seed. He made us drink Pinot Noir and Espresso Martinis amongst some of Clare’s greatest wines.

Maybe Margaret River will be on the agenda next year…

Jules, Brock and Conrad at Pike’s winery

Allister and Jules at Wendouree