Join us this Saturday for a fun tasting featuring two of South Australia's exciting producers – Barr-Eden Estate and Coriole.
Saturday 31th May
2.00pm-5.00pm
Open on the day:
2.00pm-5.00pm
Open on the day:
'24 Coriole Fiano - McLaren Vale $29
'24 Coriole Piquepoul - Mclaren Vale $31
'23 Barr-Eden 'Dreams of Gold' Shiraz - Eden Valley $36
'20 Barr-Eden 'Avenue to Gold' Shiraz - Eden Valley $75
'22 Barr-Eden 'Love over Gold' Hommage - Eden Valley $180
Enjoy a 10% discount when you purchase any three bottles on the day, and you'll also go in the draw to win a special bottle.
Hosted by Ashley Hyde of Fesq & Co., and free of charge.
South Australia’s Great Wine Regions: Barossa, Eden Valley & McLaren Vale
South Australia stands as a cornerstone of Australian wine. Responsible for nearly half the nation’s total production, it blends historical depth with modern dynamism. Its phylloxera-free status has preserved some of the world’s oldest producing vines, and its regions express a remarkable range of terroirs and climates. Among them, Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, and McLaren Vale are foundational. Each delivers a distinctive interpretation of the land, shaped by topography, climate, and long-standing viticultural knowledge.
Barossa Valley: A Landscape of Generosity and Legacy
Just northeast of Adelaide, Barossa Valley lies in a wide, open basin framed by rolling hills. It enjoys a Mediterranean climate—warm, dry summers and mild winters. Vineyards sit at elevations between 100 and 300 meters, on soils ranging from sandy loams to red-brown earths rich in ironstone and clay, which aid in water retention and vine resilience.
Just northeast of Adelaide, Barossa Valley lies in a wide, open basin framed by rolling hills. It enjoys a Mediterranean climate—warm, dry summers and mild winters. Vineyards sit at elevations between 100 and 300 meters, on soils ranging from sandy loams to red-brown earths rich in ironstone and clay, which aid in water retention and vine resilience.
Barossa’s wine history began in the 1840s, with early settlers establishing deep viticultural roots. Many vines planted over a century ago still bear fruit, and the region has taken steps to recognize and protect these ancient assets.
The dominant varietal here is Shiraz, known for its rich, full-bodied style with deep flavors of dark fruit, spice, and chocolate. Tannins tend to be broad and generous, and the wines often carry considerable aging potential. Grenache and Mourvèdre also perform well, offering complexity and structural variation, whether blended or bottled alone. Cabernet Sauvignon is present, typically structured and dark-fruited.
Barossa also produces dry Semillon, a legacy white varietal marked by citrus, hay, and mineral tones—capable of long-term evolution. While white wines are less prevalent, they contribute to the region’s diversity.
In recent decades, some winemakers have turned to earlier picking, lighter extraction, and single-site expression to balance Barossa’s natural power with precision and nuance. The region continues to evolve, honoring tradition while embracing innovation.
Eden Valley: Elevation, Elegance, and Precision
Forming Barossa’s eastern highlands, Eden Valley contrasts sharply in elevation and climate. Vineyards range from 400 to 600 meters above sea level, with rocky, shallow soils of schist, quartzite, and clay. The continental climate is tempered by altitude, yielding warm days and cool nights that preserve acidity and slow ripening.
Forming Barossa’s eastern highlands, Eden Valley contrasts sharply in elevation and climate. Vineyards range from 400 to 600 meters above sea level, with rocky, shallow soils of schist, quartzite, and clay. The continental climate is tempered by altitude, yielding warm days and cool nights that preserve acidity and slow ripening.
Riesling reigns supreme here. The wines are dry, intensely aromatic, and known for their longevity. Lime, citrus blossom, and slatey minerality characterize young expressions, while aged versions evolve toward beeswax, toast, and spice. These wines set a benchmark for dry Riesling in Australia and beyond.
Shiraz also thrives in Eden Valley but expresses itself differently than in Barossa—more restrained, aromatic, and structured. Red and blue fruits, pepper, and floral notes are typical, often with finer tannins and notable energy.
Eden Valley's terrain and yields discourage large-scale production, focusing instead on precision and expression. Its wines reflect not just grape variety but place—defined by altitude, soil, and light.
McLaren Vale: Coastal Vitality and Sustainable Vision
South of Adelaide, McLaren Vale spreads between the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Gulf of St Vincent. It enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and moderating sea breezes that maintain vine balance. Rainfall is concentrated in winter, allowing for dry farming in many sites.
South of Adelaide, McLaren Vale spreads between the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Gulf of St Vincent. It enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and moderating sea breezes that maintain vine balance. Rainfall is concentrated in winter, allowing for dry farming in many sites.
Few regions can match McLaren Vale’s geological diversity. Over 40 soil types—ranging from ancient marine sediments to iron-rich clays and sands—lie across the region, supporting a wide range of wine styles. Elevations span sea level to 350 meters, enhancing stylistic breadth.
Shiraz leads plantings, producing wines that are ripe yet balanced, often with savory undertones and soft, supple tannins. Compared to Barossa, these wines are more lifted aromatically and sometimes more approachable in youth.
Grenache, particularly from old bush vines on sandy soils, has gained prominence for its fragrant, textural, and medium-bodied style. It represents a shift toward finesse and transparency over sheer weight.
McLaren Vale is also a hub for innovation with Mediterranean varieties like Fiano, Nero d’Avola, and Vermentino increasingly embraced for their climate resilience and fresh, vibrant profiles.
Notably, McLaren Vale leads Australia in sustainable viticulture. Many vineyards are certified organic or biodynamic, and regional initiatives support water recycling, soil health, and minimal intervention winemaking—ensuring long-term viability and quality.
Barr-Eden Estate
Barr-Eden Estate is a unique property consisting of 130 acres of natural splendour. Nested on Mengler’s Hill, the property rises in elevation from 1525 to 1788 feet (465m to 545 m) above sea level and sits across Eden Valley and the Barossa Valley.
In March 2014 Joel Mattschoss, a renowned Barossa grape grower was fortunate enough to source a few tonne of premium fruit from a long established Eden Valley property.
The original 4,000 acre property was settled by the Polhner family in the foothills of the Barossa during the early settlement of South Australia in 1858. After nearly 150 years under the original Polhner family ownership, the property was sold to larger than life, Australian wine industry icon, Bob McLean in 1997. Bob and Joel had a very close relationship and Joel was able to acquire this premium fruit in 2014.
Through a common passion of great terroirs and premium wines, Joel showed the grapes to Pierre-Henri Morel, a Frenchman newly arrived in South Australia from the Northern Rhone region. Pierre-Henri thought the fruit profile was reminiscent of the most uplifted and complex fruit within his home region.
Together, they agreed to crush and to ferment the 2014 fruit separately after a meticulous hand picking and hand destemming process.
Together, they agreed to crush and to ferment the 2014 fruit separately after a meticulous hand picking and hand destemming process.
In 2016, Love Over Gold extended their footprint on the property and created Avenue to Gold, from a younger block of vines on the same property.
Sadly, only a few short months after, Bob McLean passed away. Through their close friendship, an agreement was formed that Joel, Pierre and a couple of friends (Michael Twelftree and Tim Hower) would become custodians of the unique property.
And…. Love Over Gold Estate was born.
The name Love Over Gold comes from this spectacular property as the vineyards have been lovingly planted over historic goldfields in Eden Valley.
In October 2018, 1,700 days after the first berries were picked, the first wine was released, thus creating a new chapter of this unique story by the new custodians.
In June 2023, Pierre-Henri and Michael, driven by the same love for the place and dreams to take this incredible property to new heights, became the sole custodians of Barr-Eden Estate.
The Wines
'23 Barr-Eden 'Dreams of Gold' Shiraz - Eden Valley $36
Hand picked early morning on the 26th of April, “Dreams of Gold” comes from vines planted in 1997 and 2013. The wine has been made in 4 ton fermenter and stayed on skin for 20 days before to be pressed in a small basket press. We blended some of the pressings back to the free run for extra complexity. The wine was aged in 3 and 4 year old French oak puncheon and hogshead.
5850 Litres / 7800 bottles / 650 dozen
'20 Barr-Eden 'Avenue to Gold' Shiraz - Eden Valley $75
Avenue to Gold possesses a very lifted aromatic and excellent ripe fruit that create a lasting mouth feel.
The Avenue to Gold 2019 displays a vibrant crimson colour. Aromas of Fresh blackberry and juniper which evolve to pipe tobacco, dried sage and rosemary. The wine enters the palate with power and presence carrying liquored blackberry and coal dust flavour at first impression. It turns savoury slowly delivering black peppercorns and umami notes which provide a lovely mouth watering finish.
This wine has a very complex finish which touches on both fruit and savoury details. Avenue to Gold’s fine tannins and acidity will bring pleasure in its youth and allow long cellaring.
3000 Litres / 4000 bottles / 330 dozen
This wine will age very well for 10 to 15 years.
Our “Love Over Gold Hommage” is a nod to the vision of the previous custodian of the estate, Bob McLean. Bob planted a small block of bush vine Mourvèdre near the winery and Grenache on the highest part of the vineyards. In 2022, for the first time, we kept a small portion of Mourvèdre and created “Hommage” in the tradition of great Chateauneuf du Pape. Made of 42% Mouvèdre, 42% Grenache and 16% Shiraz in 2022 all handpicked on April 8th.
Each varietal was crushed separately with 10th whole bunch and fermented on skin for 20 days. After 12 months in barrel, the blend was finalised and a perfectly identical mount of Grenache and Mourvèdre came up as the best blend.
1350 Litres / 1800 bottles / 150 dozen
This wine will age effortlessly for 10 to 15 years.
This wine will age effortlessly for 10 to 15 years.
Coriole
"The family behind the rise and rise of Coriole typify Australian winemakers’ quest to explore all the world of wine has to offer, trialling, adapting and perfecting new varieties. The Lloyds could have easily settled for producing some of the best old-vine shiraz and grenache in The Vale but spread their wings to sangiovese in the 1980s and are now also having great success with the Italian white fiano and are getting serious about the Languedoc’s picpoul. Coriole was also early to adopt chenin blanc, a crisp summer wine from France’s Loire Valley." - The Australian, 22 February 2023
Vines were first planted in the McLaren Vale region in 1838. The McLaren Vale wine companies have formed a close and supportive community that work on cooperatively together to make this region what it is today. Records show that vines were first planted at the Coriole site as far back as 1875.
Coriole was established by the Lloyd family in the 1960s. The Chaffeys Road estate in McLaren Vale, which had 12 acres under vines, was purchased in 1967 by Hugh and Mary Kathleen "Molly" Lloyd. Hugh and Molly named the estate "Coriole" released the first wine in 1969. The Lloyd family continues to manage and develop the Coriole estate with the third generation now at the helm.
Shiraz is the great tradition of McLaren Vale going back over 150 years, and is the major variety planted at Coriole. Alongside shiraz, cabernet, grenache and chenin blanc, Coriole produces alternative varieties such as piquepuol, nero d’avola, montepulciano and negroamaro. Coriole has been a pioneer of Italian varieties since 1985, with the oldest sangiovese and fiano vineyards in Australia.
Many alternative varieties planted at Coriole were championed by Mark Lloyd, who managed Coriole for 40 years until 2020. Mark also established olive oil and olive production at Coriole.
Coriole manages small vineyards in the sub-regions of Blewitt Springs, Willunga and McLaren Flat providing a range of different terroir to work with.
General Manager Peter Lloyd grew up amongst the vineyards alongside his brother Duncan, who is now Coriole’s Senior Winemaker.
Winemaking at Coriole is a very traditional process but we also like to experiment and try different techniques to see the influence on wine style. Red wines are mainly open fermented in stainless steel or old wax lined concrete tanks. Ferments are hand plunged. A portion of new oak is used for many of our estate reds but many wines such as Sangiovese and Redstone Shiraz are specifically matured in older oak to gain maturity with minimum contribution of oak flavour and extract in the wine.
It is an old maxim that good wine is made in the vineyard. Fortunately, Coriole owns or manages most of the vineyards where our grapes are sourced. One of the features of the winemaking is that each block or part of a block is processed separately to maximise the potential of the fruit. This also allows the wine quality to be linked to the vineyard management of each block.
The Wines
'24 Coriole Fiano - McLaren Vale $29
The grape variety fiano originates from a province near Campania, east of Naples. Fiano was selected by Coriole when looking for a new southern Italian variety to grow in McLaren Vale, with the first vineyard planted in 2001. The first Australian fiano was released by Coriole from the 2005 vintage. Perfectly suited to our climate, fiano is now the largest growing whites category in McLaren Vale.
"Brightly fruited and subtly complex, with a savoury, backbone and oyster shell minerality. Lemon pith, tart golden apple, green almond, yellow grapefruit and soft herbs seasoned with fennel seed and white pepper. There’s a seamless quality to this, peppy acidity neatly meshed into the finely-tooled mouthfeel, escorting the flavours through a crisp and very long exit."
'24 Coriole Piquepoul - Mclaren Vale $31
Piquepoul has long been a favourite of the Lloyd Family and was selected as having potential as a new variety for McLaren Vale. We imported the cuttings in 2009 from a nursery in southern France and some years later had our first release in 2015. The variety has proven itself to be well suited to our Mediterranean climate and has found a new home in the Vale. Its fresh acidity and lively texture make it a great accompaniment for seafood, particularly oysters and other shellfish.
The nose is spritely and fresh showing fresh lemon, cypress and white nectarine. The palate is fine and long with fresh acidity providing drive and texture, flavours of citrus blossom, jasmine flower and wet stone leaving the palate craving seafood, natural oysters especially!
