The sites
Two mother sites we buy from when they exist. One hill where we live, and where the cuttings are going in.
Boongarrie sits on the northern slopes of Keynes Hill, 430 to 460 metres. Ten hectares went in during 1998 to Shiraz and Cabernet. In 2021 we took out the upper Cabernet and replanted that block to Riesling, Grenache and Gamay — cuttings off sites we already knew. Four hectares of olive trees stand on the same hill.
The Riesling is Mirooloo Road. The Grenache is Springton. The estate reds are Boongarrie.
Boongarrie sits on the northern slopes of Keynes Hill, 430 to 460 metres. Ten hectares went in during 1998 to Shiraz and Cabernet. In 2021 we took out the upper Cabernet and replanted that block to Riesling, Grenache and Gamay — cuttings off sites we already knew. Four hectares of olive trees stand on the same hill.
The Riesling is Mirooloo Road. The Grenache is Springton. The estate reds are Boongarrie.
Mirooloo Road — Riesling
Woodcarvers Vineyard, Mirooloo Road, Flaxman Valley. A south face at about 410 to 425 metres. Planted in the early 2000s.
The Riesling comes from this block. We first bottled it in 2017.
The Riesling comes from this block. We first bottled it in 2017.
Springton — Grenache
Stonegarden, Springton. Planted 1858.
Old Grenache on the dry side of the vineyard, with a little Mataro still in the rows. This is the mother site. The wine in the shop is from the Northwest block.
Cuttings of the same wood are in the ground at Boongarrie. Those wines will carry their own name when they deserve one.
Old Grenache on the dry side of the vineyard, with a little Mataro still in the rows. This is the mother site. The wine in the shop is from the Northwest block.
Cuttings of the same wood are in the ground at Boongarrie. Those wines will carry their own name when they deserve one.
Boongarrie — the hill
Northern slopes of Keynes Hill. Shallow ground, rock, little water. The vines do not grow much. That is the point.
Shiraz most years. Cabernet in the years that earn a bottle. House Blend when the two belong together. We stopped the Syrah. Gamay from the 2021 planting has no plan until the fruit gives us one.
Shiraz most years. Cabernet in the years that earn a bottle. House Blend when the two belong together. We stopped the Syrah. Gamay from the 2021 planting has no plan until the fruit gives us one.
Farming
The ground here is dry, so midrow plants only stay where they can live without a fight. Sheep and the two alpacas graze under the vines in their season. Water is used as if there will be less of it next year. The grove is farmed the same way.
The grove
Four hectares of Manzanillo, Pendolino and Kalamata. Picked about a month after the grapes. The oil is fruity and a little peppery. It belongs with tomatoes and Sarah’s bread.
Four-litre tins go to people we already know. They are not on the shop.
Four-litre tins go to people we already know. They are not on the shop.
