Winemaker Notes
The Fox Creek story began when a small group of doctors and their wives decided to pursue a lifelong passion – creating wine from bare earth and sunshine. The earth was found at McLaren Vale, one of South Australia’s premier wine regions, globally renowned for its Shiraz. The sunshine was free.
Fox Creek’s flagship wine was the 1994 Shiraz, which won the Trophy for the best wine at the McLaren Vale Wine Show in 1995. Fox Creek has subsequently won this award in 1998 and 2003 and successive vintages of this wine, now called the Reserve Shiraz, have achieved international acclaim. As Fox Creek’s success continues, many of the wines have been recognised with trophies and medals from national and international shows. The range of wines made by Fox Creek has gradually increased to seventeen.
Known for opulent red wines with intense power and concentration, McLaren Vale is home to perhaps the most “classic” style of Australian Shiraz. Vinified on its own or in Rhône Blends, these hot-climate wines are deeply colored and high in extract with signature hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced in a similar style.
Whites, often made from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc tend to be opulent and full of tropical, stone and citrus fruit.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.