Chapel Hill McLaren Vale

VINTAGE 2012 UPDATE – WEEK 3

damien — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:14:22 +0000

Well now it really feels like we are getting somewhere. This week saw the remaining fruit for the iL Vescovo white harvested, some great flavours in the Roussanne and Verdelho. These have now been racked and are ready to commence a long slow temperature controlled ferment.

More excitingly today has been the harvest of our home shiraz blocks for the Chosen range. The House and The Road block are right next to each other but produce fruit with very different qualities. We look forward to showing you the new releases exclusively in the cellar door from May 1st.

150 tonnes crushed so far, another 500 odd to go!

Keeping us entertained is a great playlist from chief winemaker and resident Dj Michael Fragos. Check out the progress here and suggest a funky DJ name for him to go into the draw to win two tickets for Reds & Ribs. Enter here by email.

VINTAGE 2012 UPDATE – WEEK 2

damien — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:36:18 +0000

Chapel Hill Winery is really coming to life this week. After receiving our first fruit last week, the Gorge Block Chardonnay (see here), we have fruit samples arriving almost hourly for maturity tests, the first ferment of the year is bubbling away and we have been picking verdelho from our Kangarilla vineyard since the wee hours of this morning.

This week will see more verdelho, the hand-picked Savagnin and our first reds, some small parcels of shiraz and tempranillo. The wait for Vintage 2012 is over, it is very much upon us.

The below picture was snapped Monday the 6th February by winemaker Bryn Richards at our Kangarilla vineyard as the team took grape samples, a pair of interested onlookers, tawny frogmouth owls.

WELCOME TO VINTAGE 2012 – GORGE BLOCK CHARDONNAY

damien — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:45:19 +0000

On Tuesday the 31st of January we officially kicked off vintage 2012 with the hand picking of the fruit for our Gorge Block chardonnay. Widely regarded as McLaren Vale’s best chardonnay vineyard the north facing Gorge Block benefits immensely from McLaren Vales’ cooler maritime climate where afternoon and evening sea breezes moderate the summer heat. The following videos track the fruit from vineyard to winery and then the finished product.

To celebrate the launch of vintage 2012 we are offering a great special on the Chapel Hill Gorge Block Chardonnay 2009, save $120 per dozen. Click here to go to the specials page on our wine shop to see what else is on offer.

A short clip in our Gorge Block Chardonnay of Bryn introducing new team member Bodhi Edwards on the first day of picking for vintage 2012.

This is the first fruit being delivered to the winery for vintage 2012. Look at all of those chardonnay berries!

Winemaker Bryn Richards takes us through four vintages of Gorge Block Chardonnay – Part One

Winemaker Bryn Richards takes us through four vintages of Gorge Block Chardonnay – Part Two

The Retreat at Chapel Hill

damien — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:16:53 +0000

Need to know a bit more about The Retreat at Chapel Hill. Here’s a great article from FOOD WINE SLEEP.

Bodhi Edwards joins Chapel Hill

damien — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:15:56 +0000

A big welcome to Bodhi Edwards who is now in his 2nd week as our new CRM Manager. Our new wineclub, spearheaded by Bodhi is coming soon, so make sure you have subscribed as numbers are very limited.

50 THINGS TO DO IN McLAREN VALE #50

damien — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:38:20 +0000

End of the week, summer, and 30 degrees today. No other choice but to dive into the beautiful Gulf St Vincent and get ready for the Tour Down Under…see you there, The Chapel Hill Team!

50 THINGS TO DO IN McLAREN VALE #49

damien — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:15:53 +0000

The fun is just beginning, drive over the hill from McLaren Vale and discover the Fleurieu Peninsula. The road from Willunga to Carrackalinga is one of South Australia’s great drives.

‎50 THINGS TO DO IN McLAREN VALE #48

damien — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:35:19 +0000

Got a sweet tooth? Check out Medlows Fine Gels in the heart of McLaren Vale & its interactive confectionary showcase. Need to indulge in the unique soft texture of these fruitb bombs after that tongue twister.

50 THINGS TO DO IN McLAREN VALE #47

damien — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:05:12 +0000

6 generations and 170 years, you’d reckon a few tales would lurk in that history. Go to Olivers Taranga and ask Corrina what McLaren Vale means to her.

50 THINGS TO DO IN McLAREN VALE #46

damien — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:14:10 +0000

Shiraz, Shiraz, Shiraz, Shiraz, Shiraz almost half of McLaren Vale’s famous wine is made from this variety. Have you tried them all?