Winemaker Notes
Chapel Hill Winery borders the stunning Onkaparinga River National Park; they value and respect their unique surrounds, their land and vines. Their focus is on soil health to build resilience and character in their vines and consequently, the wines. One of the first to embrace the McLaren Vale Sustainable Australia Winegrowing program and are continually improving their grape-growing practices. Rainwater is collected from the winery roofs for use in the winery. Winery waste water is treated via a wetlands system and used for irrigation. All of the organic material from the winemaking process (skins, seeds and stems), is composted onsite and spread on the vineyard, negating the need for synthetic fertilisers. Vineyard operations have been modified to minimise the impact on beneficial insects, helping to maintain a natural balance to prevent pest and disease outbreaks. Volunteer cover crops have been encouraged to reduce evaporation and protect the precious soils. Their sustainable farming practices result in fruit that articulates the wonderful characteristics of McLaren Vale.