Barossa Grounds Project Brochure

THORN CLARKE ‘KABININGE’ VINEYARD – KRONDORF DEEP BLACK CRACKING CLAY

RUSDEN VINE VALE VINEYARD DEEP SAND OVER CLAY

KAESLER ‘OLD BASTARD’ VINEYARD – NURIOOTPA DEEP RED BROWN EARTH

SCHOLZ ESTATE ‘FAT OF THE LAND’ VINEYARD - EBENEZER RED BROWN EARTH

Barossa Soils

Barossa’s soils and topography play an important part in selecting sites for planting grapevines. Soil types range from alluvial sands and rich fertile black soils in Southern Barossa, to the less fertile slopes overlaying the limestone and ancient sandstone and schist of Eden Valley – to the red clay loams of Northern Barossa.

HENTLEY FARM ‘THE BEAST’ VINEYARD - SEPPELTSFIELD RED BROWN EARTH OVER CALCAREOUS SUBSOIL

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KEN & HELEN SEMMLER ‘ST JAKOBI’ VINEYARD - LYNDOCH DEEP ALLUVIAL CLAY LOAM DUPLEX

OPEN THE PAGES TO DISCOVER THE STORY OF DIVERSITY IN THE TASTE OF SHIRAZ WINES ACROSS BAROSSA.

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BAROSSA ZONE Ebenezer

Moppa

STOCKWELL

NORTHERN GREENOCK GROUNDS

BAROSSA VALLEY

Kalimna

Seppeltsfield

Marananga Stone Well

NURIOOTPA

Light Pass

Moculta

Dorrien

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Gomersal

ANGasTON

TANUNDA

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E Vine Vale

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CENTRAL GROUNDS

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Bethany

Krondorf

Rosedale

EDEN VALLEY

Flaxman Valley

LYNDOCH

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SOUTHERN GROUNDS

Rowland Flat

Keyneton

Pewsey Vale

Craneford

HIGH EDEN

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WILLIAMSTOWN

For more information on the Barossa Grounds Project Contact Nicki Robins: Barossa Grape & Wine Association nicki@barossa.com www.barossa.com September 2016 Printed on 100% recycled paper.

Springton

With time, more specific locations may be identified within the Barossa Zone, highlighting the diversity of Shiraz across the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley Regions.

Variation in the taste of Riesling wines from different locations within the Eden Valley may also be explored.

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How climate, soil, landscape, grower and winemaker all contribute to the diversity of Barossa Shiraz.

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Discover the diversity of Shiraz from across Barossa’s landscape.

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Barossa is 70 kilometres north-east of Adelaide in South Australia with a history dating from 1842, sixth generation winemaking families and some Shiraz vines over 170 years old.

THE BAROSSA ZONE CONSISTS OF TWO REGIONS:

BAROSSA VALLEY

SUB-REGION

EDEN VALLEY

HIGH EDEN

THE TASTE OF BAROSSA VALLEY & EDEN VALLEY SHIRAZ

Barossa Shiraz is one of the great regional wine styles of the world.

First produced by Silesian and English settlers in the late 1840s, it is renowned for its aromatic complexity, volume and flavourrichness. The taste of Barossa Shiraz evokes the character and stories of a unique and beautiful

landscape. Its compelling nuances are connected to ancient, genetic, colonial vine stock, varying microclimates, soils, topography and generations of effort.

For over 150 years growers and winemakers have observed the growth habits of Shiraz vines in the Barossa Zone. Anecdotal evidence acquired over several generations suggests that quality and character of Barossa Shiraz are profoundly connected with locality and vineyard. Different climates, aspects and soil types, possess unique characteristics that impact on the taste of Shiraz.

These differences have become increasingly obvious with the release of more single vineyard and sub-regional wines, bringing an exciting richness and diversity to the Barossa Shiraz experience.

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THE BAROSSA GROUNDS PROJECT

Can the taste of a wine transport you to a piece of ground somewhere in the Barossa?

112 – 597m (53% <280m)

Climate

Warm and dry during the growing season. The warm conditions help build weight and fruit richness to the wines.

Soils

Soils are very diverse, ranging from deep sandy loams to clay loams and red brown earths.

Style:

Full-bodied, opulent, rich, robust.

Colour:

Deep purple-red

Aroma:

Blue and black fruits (dark cherry, fruitcake, plum, blackberry, mulberry, black olives) spice, chocolate, licorice.

Shape & Texture:

Round and velvety.

Firm tannins (chalky, grainy) moderately to strongly puckering and drying.

EDEN VALLEY Climate

created by the Australian Geographical Indications to indicate a unique and homogenous wine growing region.

The higher altitude results in wetter and cooler weather. Day time temperatures can be 2-3OC cooler (night time temperatures 5-7OC cooler) than the Barossa Valley. The cooler conditions result in a more elegant, perfumed, linear-shaped wine.

Soils

Mainly shallow, rocky soils.

Sub-region – an official boundary

Style:

Medium- to full-bodied, vibrant, elegant.

Colour:

Vibrant red.

Aroma:

Mainly red and blue fruits (red and black cherry, raspberry, blueberry, plum), violets, sage, pepper.

Shape & Texture:

Linear to oval, silky, savoury. Fine tannins (dusty, powdery) moderately puckering and moderately to strongly drying.

The Australian Geographical Indications defines the official boundaries of the Barossa Zone; its Regions Barossa Valley and Eden Valley, and the Sub-region of High Eden.

Ground – an unofficial but locally recognised locality, identified by its climate, soil, geology and vineyard management practices.

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THE TASTE OF THE WINES

217 – 630m (99% >280m)

within the Barossa Valley Region - Northern Grounds, Central Grounds and Southern Grounds.

Two smaller grounds, Eastern Edge and Western Ridge, are also acknowledged.

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Altitude

Altitude

The Barossa Grounds Project was established in 2008 to evaluate the variations of wine style across the Barossa Zone. This collaborative undertaking, led by the Barossa Grape & Wine Association and including the participation of South Australia’s leading soil scientists and viticulturists, wine critics, PIRSA, Wine Australia and many of the Barossa’s most experienced winemakers, involved the collection of climatic data, analysis of soil profiles across the Barossa and Eden Valleys, controlled winemaking studies and annual tasting reviews.

The Barossa Grounds Project identified three distinctive Grounds

BAROSSA VALLEY

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Barossa is famous for its richlyflavoured Shiraz wines — from both the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. But other varieties excel here too, including Grenache, Mataro and Cabernet Sauvignon in the Barossa Valley and Riesling, Chardonnay and Viognier in the Eden Valley. Barossa is also wellknown for its GSM (Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro) blends. Eden Valley Rieslings are known for their great ageing potential. Many outstanding fortified wines are also produced in Barossa.

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BAROSSA

Region – An official boundary

created by the Australian Geographical Indications and based on evidence of sub regional differences including climate, soils and overall wine style.

Parish – the area surrounding the villages established by the different groups of original Barossan settlers.

THE TASTE OF THE WINES

WHY ARE THE â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;GROUNDSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER?

SHIRAZ

VINEYARD SITE

SOIL TYPE

Contributing elements (what are often

Soil structure, depth, fertility, water-holding capacity and supply are factors that influence vine

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Elevation, slope and aspect will modify temperature conditions, sunshine hours, rainfall and frost incidence.

growth, as well as viticultural management practices including vineyard orientation, trellising, clonal selection, irrigation, pruning and harvesting.

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Shiraz was planted in South Australia around 1838. It probably arrived in the Barossa somewhere during the mid-1840s. There are various selections or clones of Shiraz, each with subtly different growing characteristics.

Ebenezer

Stockwell Kalimna Light Pass

Nuriootpa

Flaxman Valley

Vine Vale

Marananga Stone Well

AD Bethany

Stockwell Kalimna Light Pass

Ebenezer

Krondorf

Moppa

Gomersal

Nuriootpa Dorrien

Greenock

Barossa Valley

Seppeltsfield

Rowland Marananga Stone Well Flat Tanunda

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Vine Vale

Craneford

High Keyneton Eden

Angaston Pewsey Vale Pewsey Vale Peak 629m

Lyndoch

Barossa Valley

Eden Valley

Springton Eden Valley Craneford

Bethany

Rowland Flat

Barossa Soil Groups

Flaxman Valley

Kaiser Stuhl

Krondorf

Gomersal

Rosedale

Eden Valley

Kaiser Stuhl

Tanunda

Seppeltsfield

Barossa Soil Groups

referred to as terroir) that determine the character of a locality were charted in the Barossa Grounds Project and are shown in the maps on the following page.

Keyneton

Angaston

Dorrien

Greenock

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The personality of Shiraz is linked to the character of vineyard site, vine age, clone, viticultural practices, soil types, harvesting time and individual winemaking craft and philosophy. Vintage conditions bring further variation.

Cooler sites may perform best in warmer seasons, whereas warmer sites perform best in cooler seasons!

Pewsey Vale Pewsey Vale Peak 629m

High Eden

Eden Valley Springton

Mt Crawford

Geographic Indicator Mt Crawford Boundary

Lyndoch

Williamstown

Geographic Indicator Boundary

Deep loamy texture contrast soils with brown or dark subsoil

Williamstown

Ironstone Deep loamy texture contrast soils soils with brown or dark subsoil Ironstone soils

Shallow to moderately deep acidic soils on rock

Shallow to moderately deep acidic soils on rock Shallow soils on rock Shallow soils on rock

Deep uniform to gradational soils

Deep uniform to gradational soils Calcareous soils Calcareous soils Shallow soils on calcrete or limestone

Shallow soils on calcrete or limestone

Gradational soils with highly calcareous lower Gradational soils subsoil Hard red-brown texturecalcareous contrast soils lower subsoil with highly with alkaline subsoil

Hard red-brown texture contrast soils with alkaline subsoil

Cracking clay soils

Sand over clay soils

Cracking clay soils

Deep sands

Sand over clay soils Deep sands

IDENTIFYING THE GROUNDS

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The Barossa Grounds Project identified three distinctive “Grounds” within the Barossa Valley Region. Two smaller grounds are also acknowledged.

Central Grounds — comprises

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vineyards in the parishes of Gomersal, Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Dorrien and Light Pass. A difficult area to define as there are dramatic differences in soil type across this section of the Barossa landscape.

Each wine has the Barossa Valley signature, but with a different expression; sometimes more like the north, other times more like the south — it depends very much on the climate and soil of each site and how the grower manages the site. Vineyards around the parishes of Krondorf, Bethany and Vine Vale are located along the Eastern Edge, one of the first areas settled in the 1840s because of its deep sandy loam soils, water-holding capacity and access. The soil, and the gully breezes from Eden Valley, bring a softness to the character of these wines, similar in structure to the wines in the south.

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Northern Grounds — includes vineyards in the “parishes” (townships) of Seppeltsfield, Marananga, Stone Well, Greenock, Moppa, Stockwell, Ebenezer and Kalimna. The renowned Western Ridge runs from the north of Greenock, through Seppeltsfield and pushes into the Central Grounds near Gomersal.

Southern Grounds — The

southern approaches of the Barossa Valley include vineyards in the parishes of Williamstown, Lyndoch, Rowland Flat and Rosedale.

Growing Degree Days is used as an indication of the cumulative temperature conditions across the vine growing season.

Barossa Soil Available Water Holding Capacity Ebenezer Moppa

Greenock Seppeltsfield

Stockwell Kalimna Light Pass

Nuriootpa

Vine Vale

Marananga Stone Well

Tanunda

Keyneton

Angaston

Flaxman Valley

Eden Valley

Kaiser Stuhl Craneford

Bethany Krondorf Pewsey Vale

Gomersal

Rowland Flat

Barossa Valley Rosedale

High Eden

Eden Valley Springton

Pewsey Vale Peak 629m

Lyndoch

Mt Crawford

Geographic Indicator Boundary

Williamstown

More than 100cm 70 - 100cm 40 - 70cm 20 - 40cm Less than 20cm

Rainfall patterns are linked to elevation. The highest average rainfall in the Barossa Valley occurs in the Southern Grounds, along the Eastern Edge, and in the north along the Western Ridge.

TEMPERATURE

The warmest parts of the Barossa Valley are found in the western areas of the Southern and Central Grounds. Growing Degree Days is used as an indication of the cumulative temperature conditions across the vine growing season.

SOIL PROPERTIES

A measure of soil available waterholding capacity is used to illustate a soil property. There is wide variation across Barossa. Water-holding capacity of soil determines whether vineyards require supplementary water. While irrigation is used by growers across the Barossa Valley there are many drygrown vineyard sites.

THE GROWER’S TOUCH

Stockwell Kalimna Light Pass

Nuriootpa

Moculta

Flaxman Valley

Kaiser Stuhl Bethany

Tanunda

Krondorf

Gomersal

Rowland Flat

Barossa Valley

Rosedale

Craneford

Eden Valley

High Eden

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Seppeltsfield

Marananga Stone Well

Keyneton

Angaston

Vine Vale

Greenock

The winemaker plays a crucial role in determining the quality and character of wine. The time of harvest, fermentation temperature, maceration times and oak maturation etc. can all impact on the taste of the wine.

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Moppa

THE WINEMAKER’S HAND

Viticultural practices are all slightly different and can impact on vine growth and berry composition.

BAROSSA TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP

Ebenezer

Growers work with winemakers to achieve the yields and quality required for particular wine styles.

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RAINFALL

Pewsey Vale

Pewsey Vale Peak 629m

Springton

Eden Valley

Lyndoch

Geographic Indicator Boundary

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High Eden

Kaiser Stuhl Greenock

Tanunda

Barossa Vall

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Barossa

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Springton

Eden Valley

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Williamstown

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Barossa Valley

© Barossa Grape & Wine, 2015 Produced by: Carto Graphics, Unley, South Australia Barossa Grape & Wine gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Vinehealth Australia

Eden Valley

DIVERSITY IN THE TASTE OF BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ CENTRAL GROUNDS

“Fragrant, elegant and smooth”

“Softness and generosity”

Here we highlight the character of wines from vineyards in the parish of Lyndoch.

Here we highlight the character of wines from along the Eastern Edge of the Barossa Valley, in the parishes of Bethany and Krondorf.

ALTITUDE

112 – 310m

CLIMATE

Warm. Rainfall is higher than in other parts of the valley.

Soils

Sandy loams to clay loams.

STYLE

Medium- to full-bodied, generous, lush, elegant, refreshing.

Mainly red and blue fruit with some black fruit nuances (red cherry, raspberry, blueberry, plum), fragrant, violets, mint and chocolate.

SHAPE & TEXTURE

Linear to oval, smooth, savoury. Fine, gentle tannins (satiny and powdery), moderately puckering and drying.

Altitude of the flat land north of the parish of Nuriootpa is around 280m. Altitude of the Western Ridge varies from 280 – 450m.

CLIMATE

arm. Sites on the W Western Ridge with east facing slopes provide relief from the hot afternoon sun.

SOILS

Soils vary but are predominately red-yellow brown loams over red clay. Shattered ironstones are found in the soils of the Western Ridge and the soils are shallower here than elsewhere. A small section of yellow and white sands is found in the area of Kalimna.

Warm. In summer, cool afternoon and evening gully breezes moderate the temperature, providing relief for vines on hot days.

Sandy brown loams and black cracking clays.

THE TASTE OF THE WINES

THE TASTE OF THE WINES

Medium-to full-bodied, generous, vibrant.

STYLE

Full-bodied, opulent, concentrated, rich.

COLOUR

Deep purple-red.

COLOUR

Deep purple-red.

AROMA

Mainly red and blue fruits with a touch of black fruit (red cherry, fruitcake, blueberry, blackberry, plum), perfumed, mint and chocolate.

AROMA

Blue and black fruits (dark cherry, blackberry, plum, black olives), dark chocolate, cocoa powder, inky, iodine.

SHAPE & TEXTURE

Round, velvety. Firm, strong, expressive tannins (chalky and grainy), strongly puckering and moderately drying.

Style

Deep red to purple-red.

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ALTITUDE 180 – 280m

“Concentration and richness”

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SOUTHERN GROUNDS

NORTHERN GROUNDS

SHAPE & Oval to round. Fine, TEXTURE supple tannins (silky

and dusty), moderately puckering and drying.

The Western Ridge, around the parishes of Greenock and Seppeltsfield is where, typically, you find the most powerful expressions of Barossa Valley Shiraz, structured for ageing, with black fruits wrapped in firm, muscular tannins .