Pewsey Vale Contours Riesling 2012

Gather around grownups as we’re going to tell you the tale of the subcontinent known as Australia. “BILLIONS OF YEARS AGO…!” Sorry we can’t, it’s too reminiscent of Ross and Rachel’s first date in the planetarium. Remember when he rolled over the juice box? Good times!

Australia is old, even older than that Friends reference, so old in fact that the mountain ranges of Australia that once reached similar heights to the Himalayas have crumbled into dust and now the land mass is decidedly flat. This means sites at any altitude are highly prized by winemakers. They are uncommon, but a good vintner can utilise these sites to fully ripen grapes but maintain acidity and aromatics. This is exactly what Pewsey Vale do. With an altitude varying between 484 and 500 metres Pewsey Vale Contours is made from a highly prized parcel of land that creates a Riesling which shows great length and depth with concentrated power, pristine fresh lime juice overlaid with toasted brioche, sage oil and lemon grass.

In 1847, shortly after his arrival from England, Joseph Gilbert built a fine homestead in Eden Valley and planted the region's first grapevines. These vines can be traced to some of the original vine cuttings brought to Australia by James Busby. Like so many vineyards in the 1920 and 30s, Pewsey Vale fell into disuse but thankfully its potential was rediscovered. In 1961, pastoralist Geoffrey Angas Parsons became aware his property had once incorporated the regions earliest vineyard and share his discovery with good friend, neighbour and vigneron Wyndham Hill Smith. Several wine companies were considering potential vineyard sites with cooler ripening conditions than found on the Barossa Valley floor and Hill Smith needed no further persuasion - work soon began on re-establishing Pewsey Vale Vineyard. Initially, 50 hectares of Riesling was planted in contoured rows. The several remaining hectares of these vines continue to provide fruit for Pewsey Vale Vineyard the Contours Riesling. The lean and hungry soils, high altitude, rock outcrops and finicky micro-climate keep Darrell and Louisa working hard year-round to individually manage each block according to its specific needs. And it is these very attributes that produce superior quality grapes of exceptional flavour and character. With an altitude varying between 484 and 500 metres, Pewsey Vale Vineyard sits 250m above the Barossa Valley floor. This means cooler temperatures and long ripening period that extends well into autumn perfect for the characteristic Rieslings we know and love. Our beloved Contours block received formal organic certification in 2018. But Darrell also goes one step further - farming the site utilising holistic biodynamic practices to tease out the very best characteristics from these vines while nurturing the surround fauna and flora, which are so important to the biodiversity of the vineyard.