Eight at the Gate Australian Wines

By Linda Kissam

Linda Kissam and Jane Richards. Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on

We all want the best wine at the best price. Eight at the Gate Australian wines is “that wine.” Think best value-for-money wines up to $40.

Haven’t heard much about Eight at the Gate in the US market? You will, and the story behind these wines is charismatic.

As you probably know, many people buy wine based on how the label looks. Others trust the terroir to bring them a defining and consistent taste. Others love the story behind the wine. Others trust the media and competition scores. IMO, the way to judge value-for-money is to balance the taste against the price. The further you get into your wine journey, the more you develop what I like to call benchmark tastes. In other words, we calculate what we like in certain types of wines against the price. A sort of great price-to-taste-quality ratio. The bottom line here is that Eight at the Gate wines should exceed your expectations. It did mine. Australian wines can vary depending on where the grapes come from. Australia’s wine regions range from rugged mountains to lush pastures. Temperatures certainly vary from warm days to misty mornings and crisp, cool evenings. There are more than 100 different grape varieties planted across the country in 65 designated wine regions.

Eight at the Gate vineyards are located on the famous Limestone Coast, specifically the Wrattonbully area. This is home to some of the most sought-after grapes in the world. Think rich red soils, ocean breezes, and luminous sun. It also supports many large and boutique wineries, with Cab, Char, and Shiraz being the most successfully produced grapes.

The owners are sisters Jane Richards and Claire Davies. Their love of family, farming, and wine brought them to purchase an already

established vineyard in Wrattonbully in 2002. With eight children between them, Eight (souls) at the Gate is a common sight around the property. The vineyard has been providing grapes and wine for many iconic wine labels for the past 20 years plus. Since 2005, they have produced their own wine with fruit chosen from the best parts of the vineyard. Eight at the Gate Wines were born in 2016.

Jane shares these thoughts on the wine process. “Our soil is free-draining terra rossa, which is ideal for viticulture. The limestone beneath the ground gives us an edge for growing grapes. Because vines don’t like having wet feet, after a rain the limestone drains the moisture away, keeping the ground ideal for the vine to flourish in. But the limestone ground can make life interesting. You can be putting a vine post into the ground, and it can disappear as it falls into a cave underneath! Our vineyard has been built on the sharing of knowledge and skills. Claire is a qualified viticulturist who studied viticulture and oenology (the science of making wines) at Roseworthy. And I brought the years of experience and knowledge gained in the corporate world. Our wines are perfected by our winemaker, Peter Douglas.”

The sisters are proud of what they have accomplished. It all shows up in the taste. Here are my impressions and pairing notes for the four wines sent to me for review.

An elegant vintage showcasing soft, tannins, and notes of cherry, dark berry jam, fig, orange rind, and earthy spice. Nicely structured with a long fruit and spice finish.

• A well-spiced lamb or beef curry • Cheese and smoky bacon burger • Broiled flank, chimichurri • Beef and mushroom stroganoff and pasta • Smoked brisket, corn, and all the fixings • Sharp cheddar cheese

A lovely soft Chardonnay with some oak and fruit. Pale straw in color. On the palate, you’ll like the white peach with citrus notes some oak, and (yay!) some mid-palate flinty notes. Cool and refreshing.

• Grilled Peri Peri chicken and slaw • Bagel, lox, and cream cheese

Another nice fruit-forward nose and taste. On the first swirl expect a nose of blackberry, chocolate, vanilla, and cedar. On the palate, the same, plus some cedar, fruit, and warm spice. Expect smooth tannins and a ripe berry fruit finish.

• Roast lamb • Grilled steak and green peppercorn sauce • Soy and ginger braised duck legs • Sticky barbeque ribs • Quail saltimbocca, soft polenta, peperonata.

• Coq au Vin Blanc – chicken and mushrooms braised in Eight at the Gate Chardonnay and cream finish with tarragon • Tuna Niçoise salad • Boston clam chowder • Crab cakes

A nice example of what we’ve come to love in Australian white wines. Medium-straw color. On the nose, lovely stone fruit and citrus. White peach and citrus on the palate with a good medium mouthfeel. A stylish wine. Veganfriendly.

• Broiled peach and prosciutto salad • Roast turkey, especially at Thanksgiving • Prawn with Asian noodle salad • Ripe Brie or Camembert cheese • Lobster salad • Grilled salmon, grilled broccolini, lime mayonnaise • Seared scallops, sage butter • Garlic prawns in a creamy sauce Eight at The Gate have teamed up with Ian Perry, local Mount Gambier chef to create a selection of recipes and serving suggestions to accompany their wines. Ian has spent over 35 years in the food business working in some of the best restaurants across the world. He now gives back to his craft teaching the next generation of chefs at the Mount Gambier TAFE. Check out some of his recipes (Smoked Trout Salad, Chicken Liver Pate, Grilled Lamb Chops, and Pasta Caponata) along with Eight at the Gate wine pairings on

Linda Kissam ‘Food, Wine & Shopping Diva’ is a professional travel, food, and wine writer who specializes in easy, breezy destination stories sharing her favorite things about the places she visits. Visit www.AllInGoodTaste.info