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After many years of dedication to formulating superb Eden Valley Riesling, Elderton have again achieved an excellent expression of the genre, paradoxically the most underrated style of wine in Australia. Small harvests of fruit which show wonderful primary, zesty characters and delicate acid structures are the foundation. Elderton» |
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Mandoon are a Swan Valley operation of great provenance, their homestead vineyard being an ancient block established on the first rural grant in Western Australia, circa 1929 at a property named Sandalford. Always on the lookout for exceptional parcels of fruit, the highly decorated Mandoon team have focused on a northern block of Research Station Vineyard in Margaret River. Mandoon» |
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The Daisy Hill district thrived throughout the 1850s, due to its location along the main route to and from gold fields. The Amherst property sits atop old alluvial tailings, ancient diggings can still be seen around the property dressed in rich quartz soils. Amherst» |
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Paringa Estate has established an unassailable repute over the last twenty years as one of the leading small winery vineyards in the country, named Australian Winery of the Year by James Halliday. Paringa Shiraz won a total of six trophies including Best of Show at the 2006 Royal Sydney, sweeping the field with five Gold Medals and five Trophies, including the prestigious Best of Show and Best Shiraz at the 2009 Royal Sydney, as well as Best Shiraz Trophy Royal Melbourne. Paringa Estate» |
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Tio Pepe is the world's leading Fino, a very pale and dry style of wine made in the southwest of Spain. Produced since 1844 by the Gonzalez family of Jerez, Tio Pepe has a distinctive aroma and a unique taste. Tio Pepe» |
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Coriole is one of McLaren Vale's most eminent, artisanal estates. Consecutive vintages of Coriole Shiraz have claimed a remarkable back to back San Francisco Double Gold. Coriole» |
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Twice Gold Medal Challenge International du Vin! Moscatel and Gewürtztraminer grapes, grown to estate vineyards on the mountains of the Upper Penedes, form the backbone of fruit for Viña Esmeralda, a delicate but strunningly fragrant wine. The dry fig and raisin characters of Moscatel de AlejandrÃa give Esmerelda it's luscious and flavourful palate, fleshed out by the orange of Frontignac or Moscatel de Grano Menudo as the Spanish say, further enhanced by the complex aromaticness and spice of the vivacious Traminer.. Torres» |
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Named for a rare grasshopper Sigaus childi, found only at Central Otago within the Earnscleugh gold mine tailings, just across the road from Grasshopper Rock vineyard. The site is fortuitously harsh and sufficiently challenging to make the vines work their hardest. Grasshopper Rock» |
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Excellent Langtons Classification. Elderton Command has established an enviable reputation, truly one of Australia's most esteemed flagship wines. Elderton» |
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Saint Clair continue to deliver Marlborough's most internationally lauded Sauvignon Blanc. The winemaking team are on a perpetual odyssey, to isolate and retain Marlborough's finest harvests, capable of producing wines with intense regionality. Saint Clair» |
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The Moppa district was a flourishing settlement of pioneering farmers and gold miners. When the Kalleske vineyard was established in 1853, there were few schools in the region, so local parents established the Moppa Public School to provide their children with a formal education. Kalleske» |
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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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Helm
About Helm - the Winery
Helm
Helm is a boutique cool climate winemaker, one of the first ever commercial operations in the Canberra region
Ken and Judith Helm started the vineyard, winery and cellar door in 1973 and have built it into one of the leading wineries in the Canberra District. It continues to be a family affair with all of the family (including recent additions) playing an integral part in the business. The winemakers are Ken Helm and daughter Stephanie, who are fourth and fifth generation descendants of German vinedressers from the Rhineland, who established vineyards near Albury and Rutherglen in the 1860s. Ken's flagship wines are Riesling and Cabernets and he has connections with Riesling makers from all over the world, eg: Dr Loosen and Katharina Prüm in the Mosel and Dr Alexander Kohen from the German Wine School in Koblez. Trips to the vineyards and wineries of Mosel, the Rhine valley and Bordeaux have fine tuned the Helm wines. In 2000 Ken instigated the Canberra International Riesling Challenge and his continuing role as chairman allows him to constantly keep abreast of new developments in Rieslings around the world.
Riesling has been Ken's passion for 30 years. The first wine he produced in Canberra in 1977 was Riesling and this won the winery's first show award. The next 30 years have seen some outstanding Rieslings produced at Helm wines, bringing over 50 awards and wine writer's rave reviews. Helm Wines has become renowned for its Classic Dry style of Riesling however recent years have seen the winery introduce a Half Dry style of Riesling which has a hint of sweetness. These two contrasting styles show the diversity that can be accomplished with this classic and often understated variety.
The winery uses a combination of modern and traditional winemaking equipment which allow for the consistent production of high quality premium range of reds and whites.Helm wines have attracted an impressive 30 years of wine show awards from every major show and wine critic in Australia.
Winemaker Ken Helm (AM) was appointed a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2010 honours. The award recognises Ken's service to the Australian wine industry as a winemaker, through the promotion of the Riesling white grape variety and as a supporter of cool climate wine producers and to the community of the Canberra/Yass region.
Wines of premium quality have been consistently produced for decades but Helm Wines is more than just a working winery. A visit to Helm Wines could not only involve wine tasting in the historic Toual School House, but also the trivia of wine, politics, history and perhaps a look behind the scenes on a guided tour of wine making (viticulture).
Cabernet Sauvignon, the classic red grape that thrives in the Canberra climate and soils. The wines have been a great success to Helm Wines. In 1984 the first gold medal and trophy to a Canberra wine was the 1983 Helm Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1988 the Helm Cabernet Sauvignon 1986 won the first gold at Royal Sydney Wine Show to a Canberra wine. In 1989 the move to blends saw the straight Cabernet Sauvignon cease production, except for Stephanie who produced her Cabernet sauvignon which in 1998 won gold and trophy at the Cool Climate Wine Show. The winery turned its attention back to Cabernet Sauvignon after a trip to Bordeaux Premium Growth wineries in 1999 by Ken, his son Matthew and grape growing neighbour Al Lustenburger. This trip assisted in the development of the recipe to make consistent premium Cabernets in the Canberra District. The award winning 2005 vintage was the first release using all the techniques of vine management and winemaking learnt in Bordeaux. The success of this vintage went far beyond all expectations, winning a silver medal in the London World Wine Awards and receiving praise from some of the top wine writers in Australia.
A quarter of a century of wine making and promoting, together with pioneering the development of many of the Canberra Region wine styles has been a passion for Ken Helm. He has been involved in the development of the National Wine Show, Cool Climate Wine Show, Wine Press Club of Canberra and in numerous promotional events for the Canberra region. Awarded by NSW Government in 1999 the Graham Gregory Trophy for a major contribution to the NSW Wine Industry. He instigated the International Riesling Challenge held at the Hyatt in Canberra in 2000. Ken was awarded the Wolf Blass Award in 2006 for contribution to the promotion of Riesling.
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