Berton Vineyards Metal Range The White Viognier 2011
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Bob Berton is a recognizable name throughout Australia. With over 30 vintages under his belt, both top grape growers and winemakers know him alike. While he started in senior management roles for some of Australia’s top estates, he didn’t found Berton Vineyards until 1996 when he purchased a block of land in High Eden, the premium sub region of Barossa Valley. Completely hands on, Bob established his vineyard from scratch and after successfully establishing this one block he realized he needed more. In 2005 when the former Southcorp winery in Yenda became available, he jumped on the opportunity. Keeping the company family owned, Berton Vineyards has successfully grown to one of the 20 largest wineries in Australia as well as being awarded a 4 Star James Halliday Winery.
Berton owns a modern production facility located in the regional township of Yenda which has a population of around 1,600 people and is 360 miles southwest of Sydney. Growing and sourcing from the same first-rate estates each year within the Limestone Coast, Barossa Valley, High Eden and throughout South Eastern Australia, in order to build a consistent product. With this partnership, Berton Vineyards crushes and ferments each vineyard in batches and then grade and blend accordingly, with an emphasis on all that is casual, friendly and approachable in wine. Berton features three tiers of wine, their popular premium Metal Label range, their super premium Berton Reserve series and their flagship Berton High Eden wines.
Full-figured and charmingly floral, Viognier is one of the most important white grapes of the northern Rhône where it is used both to produce single varietal wines and as an important blending grape. Look for great New World examples from California, Oregon, Washington and cooler parts of Australia. Somm Secret—Viognier plays a surprisingly important role in the red wines of Côte Rôtie in the northern Rhône. About 5% Viognier is typically co-fermented with the Syrah in order to stabilize the color, and as an added benefit, add a subtle perfume.
A large, climatically diverse country with incredibly diverse terrain, producing just about every wine style imaginable, Australia has a grand winemaking history and some of the oldest vines on the planet. Both red wine and white wine from Australian are wildly popular and beloved. Most of Australia's wine regions are concentrated in the south of the country with those inland experiencing warm, dry conditions and those in coastal areas receiving tropical, maritime or Mediterranean weather patterns. Australia has for several decades been at the forefront of winemaking technology and has widely adopted the use of screwcaps, even for some premium and ultra-premium bottles. Thanks to the country’s relatively agreeable climate throughout and the openness of its people, experimentation is common and ongoing.
Shiraz is indeed Australia’s most celebrated and widely planted variety; Barossa Valley leads the way, producing exceptionally bold and supple versions. Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia's second most planted variety, can be blended with Shiraz but also shines on its own particularly in Coonawarra and Margaret River. Grenache and Mourvèdre are also popular, both on their own and alongside Shiraz in Rhône Blends. Chardonnay is common throughout the country and made in a wide range of styles. Sauvignon Blanc has recently surged in popularity to compete with New Zealand’s distinctive version and Semillon is often blended in Margaret River or shines on its own in the Hunter Valley. Riesling thrives in the cool-climate Clare and Eden Valleys. Sticky-sweet fortified wine Rutherglen is a beloved regional specialty of Victoria.