Winemaker Notes
Shirvington started in 1996 when the family purchased 16 hectares of prime land in Willunga (now known as White’s Valley), South Australia. Willunga is just south of McLaren Vale on the Fleurieu Peninsula, an area internationally renowned for its red wines.
In the winter of 1996 work began on the development of the first vineyard, Redwind, where we planted Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (since replaced with Mataro) vines. Their aim was to grow grapes to produce super-premium, honest wines with full fruit flavour, and to build a strong and thriving Australian brand, respected as a leader in quality, consistency and value to the consumer.
They have since established vineyards in other parts of McLaren Vale, with additional Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache vines. Only the best Redwind Vineyard grapes are pressed for the wines, the excess fruit is sold to other quality winemakers.
Sustainable farming practices are used in their vineyards. Each vintage is closely monitored right through to the hand selection of the fruit before harvest. The quality of fruit is such that their first commercial release, the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, was awarded Wine of the Year (The Bushing Trophy) at the prestigious McLaren Vale Wine Show. Subsequent vintages of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz have gone on to further accolades nationally and internationally.
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.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.