South Australia Archives - Young Gun of Wine

Turon Lenswood Vineyard, Adelaide Hills

Cresting at 510 meters above sea level in South Australia’s Lenswood subregion, Turon Lenswood Vineyard squeezes 1.52 hectares of high-density vines – 0.75ha pinot noir, 0.77ha chardonnay – into a gem of a vineyard on ancient clay and shale soils, planted in 2020 under Turon White’s vision. These ultra-dense plantings – 5,556 vines/ha – yield the fruit for Turon’s estate pinot noir, with an estate chardonnay looming. In a region of 90-plus wineries famed for crisp cool-climate drops, this steep, east-facing sliver of vines – 5 years young – chases vibrancy over volume, sidestepping Piccadilly’s plushness or Lobethal’s heft. It’s a first-generation winemaker’s dream – built from scratch.

Skillogalee Estate, Clare Valley

Skillogalee Estate, planted in the 1970s in Clare Valley’s Skilly Valley subregion, spans 50 hectares of vines averaging 47 years, with some hitting 50. Riesling, shiraz, and cabernet sauvignon lead, joined by gewurztraminer, malbec, and grenache – all dry-grown on ancient dolomite soils. Kerri Thompson and Brendan Pudney drive a hands-on, sustainable approach, hand-pruning and hand-picking across contoured, east-facing slopes, ditching herbicides since 2021 for native grasses and composted marc. The terroir ripens fruit later than Clare’s norm, shaping wines with elegance, fine tannins, and piercing acidity. Thompson’s winemaking keeps it pure, yielding delicate, structured reds and vibrant whites. Skillogalee blends heritage vines with a biodiversity push – it’s Clare classicism meets ecological edge, balancing soil health and fruit intensity for a future-proofed patch of dirt.

Shaw and Smith – Balhannah Vineyard, Adelaide Hills

Shaw + Smith’s Balhannah Vineyard, planted from 2002 to 2021 in the Adelaide Hills, stretches across 35 hectares, with vines averaging 12 years of age (the oldest at 22). Shiraz, sauvignon blanc, gamay, and riesling thrive here at 340–380 metres above sea level, organically managed by Murray Leake since 2021. Vines span north-south rows, dry-grown for shiraz, grazed by sheep in winter, and mulched with minimal tillage to nurture sandy loam over ironstone-rich clay. Leake’s team crafts complex, finely textured shiraz and crisp sauvignon blanc, reflecting the warmth of Balhannah’s pocket within the Onkaparinga Valley. The terroir, laced with quartz and ironstone, drives structured tannins and while detailed vineyard work – compost teas, strategic leaf-plucking, and clonal renewal – delivers vibrant fruit, marrying site precision with ecological balance on a scale few can match. It’s a site that speaks clearly of place, but just as loudly of intent – of a philosophy that puts soil health, vine balance and vineyard expression at the centre of the winemaking conversation.

Ricca Terra – Rudi Vineyard, Riverland

Nestled in the Riverland’s ‘Golden Triangle,’ Ricca Terra’s Rudi Vineyard spans 16 hectares, planted by Ashley Ratcliff between 2004 and 2020 on tight terra rossa soils over limestone. Unlike the region’s typical sandy expanses, this site’s hungry earth pairs with the region’s warm, arid climate to bring definition to a diverse lineup of grenache blanc, fiano, vermentino, nero d’avola, albarino, tempranillo, trebbiano, greco, lagrein, montepulciano, sauvignon blanc, arinto, chardonnay, prosecco, and merlot – mostly planted on drought-tolerant Ruggeri rootstock. Ratcliff’s approach defies Riverland norms, employing hand-pruning and selective harvesting to prioritize fruit quality over yield. Annual cattle manure applications and cover crops enhance soil health, while olives mark a shift toward mixed horticulture. Grapes from here supply Ricca Terra’s extensive range and go to notable makers, including Kangarilla Road, Witches Falls, Little Victories, and Other Wine Co. This vineyard stands out in Australia’s wine scene for pioneering climate-adapted varieties and rootstocks, transforming a bulk-wine region into a hub of innovation. Blending tradition with forward-thinking viticulture, the Rudi Vineyard proves that the Riverland can punch above its weight.

Mount Horrocks Watervale Vineyard, Clare Valley

Perched at 480 meters in the Clare Valley subregion it shares a name with, Mount Horrocks’ Watervale Vineyard spans 5.8 hectares of red loam and limestone. Its vines – planted between 2001 and 2020 – average 18 years of age, and are tense to by Clare Valley icon Stephanie Toole. Riesling, semillon, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and nero d’Avola yield a tight lineup of estate-grown wines. In a region of 80-plus wineries famed for the flinty snap of their bone-dry rieslings, this high-altitude oasis – ACO-certified organic and biodynamic – chases finesse over force, a green island in a sea of conventionally managed vineyards.

Eperosa – Magnolia Vineyard, Barossa Valley

High in a gully on the Barossa Valley’s eastern fringe, the Magnolia Vineyard unfurls across 4.2 hectares of deep sandy soils. Its vines average 50 years of age, but some plantings stretch back to 1896. Brett Grocke tends to this patch of shiraz, semillon, grenache noir, and grenache blanc with an organic hand, letting the land –irrigated by three winter streams – shape wines that whisper elegance in a region known for full-throated power. Among the Barossa’s 300-plus producers, where old-vine shiraz often roars, Magnolia stands apart, a quiet testament to the virtues of restraint and regeneration.

Berrigan – Shining Rock Vineyard, Adelaide Hills

At 400 meters above sea level in Nairne, Adelaide Hills, the Shining Rock Vineyard spans 15.1 hectares of rocky mica-schist. Its vines – planted from 1999 to 2023 –average 18 years of age, and have found new life under viticulturalist Dan Berrigan. Shiraz, sangiovese, grüner veltliner, viognier, and chardonnay thrive here, fuelling the wines of Berrigan’s eponymous label, in addition to supplying fruit for other producers such as Chain of Ponds, d’Arenberg, and La Prova. In a region of 90-plus wineries known for their cool-climate zip, this bowl-shaped site – dryer than its neighbours – delivers concentrated reds and taut whites.

Ashton Hills, Adelaide Hills

Founded in 1982 by Stephen George, Ashton Hills is a beacon of viticultural excellence nestled within the officially recognized Piccadilly Valley subregion of the Adelaide Hills. Under the stewardship of Wirra Wirra Vineyards, with the viticultural expertise of Anton Groffen and vineyard management by Jose Neves, Ashton Hills passionately focuses on a meticulously curated selection of pinot noir clones. This 3-hectare estate, lauded for its high-altitude positioning, crafts wines that embody the essence of the Piccadilly Valley’s cool climate. The offerings, including Ashton Hills Reserve, Ashton Hills Estate, and Ashton Hills Riesling, are distinguished by their precision, elegance, and a vivid expression of terroir. Ashton Hills underscores its significance through a relentless pursuit of clonal perfection, a minimal intervention philosophy, and a deep respect for the unique cool climate conditions of its subregion, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of Australian cool climate viticulture.

Turon Lenswood Vineyard, Adelaide Hills Turon White