Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesRating: 95+
An Englishman, an Irishman and an Australian of German descent..... at home in the Adelaide Hills, Thistledown make super premium wines from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Langhorne Creek regions of South Australia.
Drawing on strong Celtic links, the thistle provides an apt image for a producer that, for all the rugged exterior, makes wines that possess a delicacy, subtlety and beauty that counters the notion that bigger always equals better. Thistledown works directly with growers in the premium regions of South Australia to source fruit that has the potential to communicate its origins precisely while delivering polished, balanced, delicious wines of great personality.
Established since 2010,Thistledown is developing a focus on individual terroir expressions of Grenache and Syrah - a passion borne of our love for the wines of Southern France and Spain.
Whether it's the deep, ironstone rich terra rossa of Marananga in the Barossa or the delightfully light, deep sands of Blewitt Springs in McLaren Vale, we look to reflect the terroir by picking for optimal balance rather than power and by winemaking that is, wherever possible, hands off.
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.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.