WINELIST No. 69
Dear friends of Ashton Hills,
It feels like just a moment ago that I was writing to you, but here we are – 2024 has flown by! There’s been plenty happening to keep us busy.
When I last wrote, we were awaiting a new processing shed. While it wasn’t ready for vintage 2024, I’m happy to share it’s now finished, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I can’t wait to fill it with beautiful Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir! Our new processing equipment worked a treat over vintage this year, and having a nice big indoor space to ferment in will ensure our fruit gets the royal treatment it deserves.
This year brought two wonderful surprises from James Halliday. Firstly, our 2017 Clare Valley Sparkling Shiraz was featured in Halliday’s Top 100 Wines. Though the 2017 vintage has been sold out for many months now, we’ve just released the new vintage 2018 Clare Valley Sparkling Shiraz and I believe it’s our best yet. Allocations are limited to just six bottles for Martini Club members and three bottles for mailing list members, so be sure to secure yours today.
Secondly, Ashton Hills was named #46 in the Halliday Top 100 Wineries (in Australia) for 2024! This is an incredible honor, and a testament to the dedication of our team.
Speaking of our team, we’re thrilled to welcome Olivia back after a vintage season in Portugal’s Douro Valley. She returned with new skills and stories from her most challenging harvest yet – just in time for our annual Martini Club Lunches. This year, we hosted three lunches, sharing great food and wine with nearly 200 Martini Club members.
With the silly season almost here, it’s a great time to remind you that if you are planning a visit to the Ashton Hills Cellar Door, please book online or call Liza to make arrangements. We look forward to welcoming you this summer.
Cheers and best wishes for the holiday season!
Liam
Ph. (08) 8390 1243 www.ashtonhills.com.au @ashtonhillsvineyard
HALLIDAY TOP 100 WINERIES
It’s an honor to share that Ashton Hills has been named number 46 in James Halliday’s Top 100 Wineries of Australia 2024.
In a review as thoughtful as it is humbling, Halliday highlights the steadfast legacy of Ashton Hills, where Pinot Noir has long been at the heart of what we do. He notes:
“While others have risen to the challenge, Ashton Hills stands steadfastly as ever, with a suite of pinots of outstanding clarity of fruit, refinement and considered detail. It’s not just about pinot noir, either, with chardonnay, gamay, riesling and sparkling wines all hitting great heights.”
This recognition is not just a reflection of our wines but also the people behind them. Since Ashton Hills joined the Wirra Wirra family in 2015, we’ve continued to honor Steven George’s pioneering spirit while looking toward an exciting future. Steven remains an integral part of our story, lending his knowledge and passion to our winemaker, Liam Van Pelt. Together, they carry forward a tradition of hand-crafted wines that express the unique character of the Piccadilly Valley.
As we celebrate this milestone, we’re reminded of the loyalty and enthusiasm of those who have supported Ashton Hills through the years. Thank you for being part of this journey.
REVIEWS & ACCOLADES
96+
Reserve
Chardonnay 2023
96+ Points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate
“…this is toasty and powerful, with elegance and impact at every turn.”
95
Piccadilly Valley
Chardonnay 2023
95 Points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate
”On the palate, the wine is creamy and totally pleasurable to drink… highly recommend.”
95
Estate Pinot Noir 2023
95 Points, Ray Jordan, Winepilot
“Intense aromas of cherry and truffle with a palate that is powerful and elegant.”
HOLIDAY SEASON TRADING HOURS
OPEN 27 - 31 December 11am to 5pm inclusive Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Regular trading hours resume Friday 3 January 2025
BOOKINGS:
+61 8 8390 1243 or ashtonhills.com.au/pages/visit-us
CHRISTMAS OFFERS
Sparkling Six
3 x 2020 Piccadilly Valley Vintage Rosé Sparkling
3 x 2018 Clare Valley Sparkling Shiraz (NEW)
$310 FREE DELIVERY to anywhere in Australia
Festive Six
2 x 2023 Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay
2 x 2023 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir
2 x 2023 Estate Pinot Noir
$306 FREE DELIVERY to anywhere in Australia
Order by 5pm Thursday 12 December for FREE Pre-Christmas Delivery www.ashtonhills.com.au; call Cellar Door on (08) 8390 1243; or email cellardoor@ashtonhills.com.au
MARTINI CLUB
The Martini Club takes its name from the Martini Pinot Noir clone, one of seven planted on the estate. It’s rarely sighted in this part of the world and much loved by Ashton Hills founder Stephen George.
The Martini Club was created to ensure that the most loyal Ashton Hills friends received an allocation of Ashton Hills Pinot Noir each year. The crop size of Pinot Noir is notoriously fickle and generally the Reserve is sold on an allocation basis to Martini Club members only.
With the current club allocations at capacity, the only way to join is through The Waitlist Allocation –a bi-annual shipment of Ashton Hills favourites.
You are also holding your spot on our Waitlist to become a true Pinot Aficionado, moving up to our ‘Pinot Noir + Chardonnay’ subscription as places become available. This allocation is our most popular, with members receiving the rare Reserve Pinot Noir.
You can find all the details at ashtonhills.com.au/pages/the-martini-clubor call (08) 8390 1243
