2025 Winifred Grenache

This wine is named after our paternal Grandmother, who would drive from her home in Gippsland, Victoria, to come and babysit us as often as possible, and to prune the 300 odd rose bushes on our original Nuriootpa estate. Nan, as we called her, was always up for a glass of wine in the afternoon. Whilst happy to drink anything, one of her favourite sayings was "Red wine is a party!".

From our vineyard atop Mengler Hill in the Eden Valley, one of the highest Grenache vineyards in Australia at 550m above sea level. This was formerly used by Thistledown for their Fool on the Hill Grenache. The leaner, rockier soils are scattered with pink quartz and ironstone. With three clones planted in bush vine formation, these vines have very little access to water and so are extremely low yielding, however with fruit density and a finely detailed yet assertive tannin profile with intensity in abundance.

2025 was a vintage sent to challenge what might be considered normal! We realised early on that we would have all 3 of our vineyards hitting similar ripening stages at once. Our Mengler Grenache, from the top of the hill takes advantage of cool morning breeze and often a little fog to temper the long dry warm days. Our 2025 Winifred was picked on the 7th March, over a month earlier than in 2024. Destemmed fruit was fermented with very gentle cap management in large format oak with 10 days on skins before gentle pressing to neutral French oak for malolactic fermentation and maturation.

Alcohol: 14.8

Aroma: Rose petal, floral high tones with a distinct brooding earthy note

Appearance: Vibrant garnet

Taste: Complex mix of dried herbs, a raspberry pop but all contained in some form of spring morning dew, finishing with a delicious slightly nervy tannin which is just slotting into place. There is a slightly different nuance to the characters coming through in this wine with every taste.

Mouthfeel:

Ageing Process: Matured in seasoned French oak hogsheads. This wine will evolve over the next 10+ years. As a young wine be sure to let it breathe.

Serving Suggestion: Elegant and finely structured, this Grenache pairs best with nuanced, savoury dishes. Try it with duck and cherry, herb-roasted lamb, mushroom-based dishes, or even grilled tuna or salmon. Aged cheeses also highlight its detail and restraint.
A more delicate, “wine lover’s” Grenache—refined, expressive and quietly serious.