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| Born at Guildford, very near the Houghton Swan Valley wineworks, Dr John Gladstones was an internationally acclaimed scientist who identified the Margaret River in 1965 as being world class for planting vines and growing grapes. Dr Gladstones also played a role in the development of the Frankland River region, Pemberton and Manjimup. Houghton» |
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| In exceptional years, parcels of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot are separately fermented. The best lots are assembled into a multiple trophy winer named Harry's Monster and treated to an extravagant maturation in the finest oak. Giant Steps» |
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| The highly opportune Pinot Noir vines at Bird In Hand are planted on the site of an ancient gold mine, a godsend of fortuitously fertile soils, magnificent growing conditions for stellar quality Adelaide Hill wines. Fermented in own bottle and aged five years on lees in true Méthode champenoise, the term of extended maturation imparts luxurious biscuit notes, chantilly crème and frais de bois. Bird In Hand» |
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| The inaugural release of Hanging Rock Shiraz was vintage 1987 and what an event it was, immediately claiming gold and inspiring comparisons to Grange by the industry press. From from fruit grown to the estate Athols Paddock, a complex Heathcote style, more Syrah than Shiraz, boasting several trophies and over fifty gold to its distinguished history, big, powerful and rich, yet exhibiting an elegance and finesse that's rare in Australian wine. Hanging Rock» |
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| A single vineyard, strongly terroir wine by maestro Ken Helm AM, from fruit picked off neighbour Al Lustenberger's property, only released under the premium black label if it reaches the highest quality benchmarks. Since 2005 the collaboration of Lustenberger and Helm has claimed more than fourteen trophies. Helm» |
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| Stella Bella have won resounding critical acclaim and a reputation for producing artisanly crafted Margaret River wines of great expression, personality and quality. Stella Bella have established an almost peerless reputation after receiving numerous accolades at significant competitions, including coveted Gold and Mission Hill Trophy at the London International, the only southern hemisphere Chardonnay to win such a prestigious award.. Stella Bella» |
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| A wine of pure Barossa fruit by a master who loves Shiraz and is devoted to the valley he calls home. Grant Burge has been awarded every major trophy and medal in Australia, including the Montgomery, Stodart, Brisbane Club and Jimmy Watson. Grant Burge» |
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| Considered an undistinguished vintage, it won a trophy, five Gold, four Silver and six Bronze medals between 1974 and 1982.. . Penfolds» |
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| Peter Lehmann has always been Riesling's most outspoken advocate, he has claimed best Riesling trophy at the prestigious London International on more occasions than any other, he declares Riesling to be his wine of choice if marooned on the proverbial desert island. Early picking of fruit from a superior single vineyard in the salubrious climes of Eden Valley has produced a fresh, lively Riesling, expect this captivating wine to exhibit genuine charm and offer great longevity as it narrowly missed being bottled behind Lehmann's flagship Riesling label.. Peter Lehmann» |
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| Don Lewis spent thirty five years crafting the nation's most memorable vintages while at Mitchelton. Nowadays he travels to Spain each year where he makes wine for Merum Priorati, returning to Australia just in time for vintage. Tar Roses» |
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| There are two superb high altitude sites in Carey Gully and Piccadilly Valley, which yield an extraordinary quality of Sauvignon Blanc. Knappstein take the top cut of each harvest, crushing the fruit for a long cool vinification, treating a batch to the added richness of oak barrel ferments for texture, complexity and weight. Riposte» |
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| Yealands Seaview Vineyard is exposed to some of the toughest growing conditions in Marlborough, high sunshine and billowing winds wind, cool nights and low rainfalls for a smaller, thicker skinned Pinot Gris of exciting intensity. Fruit from the relatively flat, coastal L6M block, provides a pure mineral elegance to the structural backbone. Yealands Estate» |
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About Xabregas - the Winery
Xabregas
Xabregas has gained an enviable reputation for quality, locally produced wines under the leadership of an award winning winemaking team at The Vintage Wineworx
Xabregas has rapidly exceeded expectations of a small producer, collecting a bounty of awards and outstanding wine reviews including Gold at the International Wine and Spirit Competition 2007 and 2008 in London, the Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia and the New Zealand International Wine Show 2007 and 2008. Xabregas received a Five Star rating and the title of Best Mt Barker Winery in James Halliday’s - Australian Wine Companion 2007. The initial Xabregas wine production was limited to 2,800 cases and each year has increased in quality and quantity, with the 2008 bottling yielding 18,000 cases. The Xabregas brand is now synonymous with quality and value and has become a much sought after label.
Xabregas has three outstanding vineyards totaling 140 hectares on sites 10kms south of Mount Barker - Fig Tree Lane, The Spencer Vineyard and the Narrikup Vineyard. White varieties planted are Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and reds include the quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon along with Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Shiraz. The vineyards supply fruit on contract to some of Western Australia’s most acclaimed wineries including, Howard Park, Houghtons, Forest Hill and Harewood.
Western Australia is the island continent’s largest state. It spans over a third of the sprawling Australian land mass, yet its premium vinemaking regions are almost entirely concentrated in the glorious south-western portion, with many of the very finest vineyards and wineries now established in the cooler Great Southern region. Skirting the south-west Australian coast for over 200 kilometres (125 miles) and pushing northwards back into the hinterland almost 100 kilometres (60 miles) it ranges from the coastal, maritime sub-regions of Albany and Denmark to the premium inland and continental vineyards of Mount Barker.
The climate is similar to that of Bordeaux in France, tending to be slightly warmer on the higher sites. Ideal for premium vines from Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The predominant soils lateritic gravelly sandy loams (marri country) or sandy loams deriving directly from granite and gneissic bedrocks. They are typically a rich brown to earthy grey brown in colour, producing very high quality fruit of moderate to low yields per acre. Harvest time generally ranges from mid March to early May.
Mount Barker became the birthplace of the Great Southern wine industry in the early 1950s when first recommended for grape vines by the revered American viticulturalist Harold Olmo. Most wineries and vineyards in Mount Barker were established on the gently undulating ground to the west of Albany Highway - distinguished by their rich, gravelly loam soil called “marri” providing the excellent drainage qualities and relatively low fertility required for low-yield premium fruit.
The climate is maritime influenced Mediterranean, with lower levels of humidity and more sunshine than the coast. Elevation, aspect and site vary, but in general terms the climate is similar to that of Bordeaux in France, tending to be slightly warmer on the higher sites. Ideal for premium vines from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Riesling to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. A passion for quality winemaking from the ground up sees the winemaking team intrinsically entwined with each vineyard throughout the course of fruit management. So much so that the viticulture team make themselves readily available to work with on clients vineyards to the most exacting standards - right through to providing state-of-the-art harvesting technology and supervised fruit transport to the winery.
But the story of the Vintage Wineworx doesn’t stop or indeed begin in the winery and its talented, hi-technology heart. It is born in the vineyard, rooted in the passionate embrace of terroir and the pinnacle of viticultural best practice. This is what really separates the Vintage Wineworx from other wineries that offer contract winemaking. Truly a testimony to the exceptional quality of fruit produced at Xabregas.
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