"Is Willunga 100 the most improved and augmented Aussie winery in the last decade? I would like to know if anyone else has magicked up a portfolio with this number of nail-bitingly dramatic wines in the blink of any eye!"
Matthew Jukes - 100 Best Australian Wines 2025
Grenache Enthusiasts
Grenache has a wonderfully diverse flavour profile that changes from site to site and throughout its life in the bottle. This sensitivity to a site attracted owners David Gleave MW and John Ratcliffe to McLaren Vale when they first started Willunga 100 in 2004. At the time, few people took Grenache seriously, but they saw great potential in the old bush vines of McLaren Vale, particularly from the Blewitt Springs and Clarendon sub-regions. Today, David and John's vision is to make contemporary McLaren Vale wines with a strong focus on Grenache. With Renae Hirsch as Winemaker, our wines aim to be an authentic expression from each of our unique sites.
2023 McLaren Vale Grenache
winner of the National Wine Show Prime Minister's Trophy
"An "incredibly beautiful" Grenache from a small vineyard in South Australia's McLaren Vale has taken out the top award in the National Wine Show of Australia, the first time the variety has won in the show's 50-year history."
2025 National Wine Awards
Prime Minister's Trophy Best Wine of Show
Best Red of Show Trophy
Best Grenache Trophy
National Wine Show Winners
"Willunga 100's winning Grenache, sourced from it own estate vineyard in Blewitt Springs, was not the only highlight for the McLaren Vale producer. It's Gold medal-winning 2023 Trott Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache was also among the five finalists competing for the Grenache Trophy"
Willunga 100 2023 McLaren Vale Grenache
2025 National Wine Awards
Prime Minister's Trophy Best Wine of Show
Best Red of Show Trophy
Best Grenache Trophy
Willunga 100 2023 Trott Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache
Gold Medal
Finalist Grenache Trophy
Our Vineyards
Situated 45 minutes south of Adelaide, South Australia is McLaren Vale - one of the most geologically diverse regions in the world. At Willunga 100, we play to our strengths, particularly with our Single Vineyard range, sourced from two distinguished sites in the Blewitt Springs and Clarendon sub-regions. Our vines enjoy a Mediterranean climate and sea breezes from the nearby Gulf of St Vincent, which are ideal growing conditions for Grenache and emerging Mediterranean varieties.
News
History Made: Willunga 100 Grenache Wins Prime Minister’s Trophy at National Wine Show
For the first time in its 50-year history, the National Wine Show of Australia has awarded its top honour, the prestigious Prime Minister’s Trophy, to a Grenache. And not just any Grenache, but our very own 2023 Willunga 100 McLaren Vale Grenache, grown on our estate vineyard Blind Spot in the heart of Blewitt Springs.
Blind Spot Vineyard Development and Transformation
As we prepare for the opening of our Grenache Room at our Blind Spot Vineyard in Blewitt Springs it's a great time to reflect upon the transformation that has taken place across the vineyard as a whole since we took ownership in 2019.
“Over the last few years, big changes have been made to the footprint of the Blind Spot vineyard. We reviewed whether existing blocks were fit for purpose, or whether they were even planted in the right place, and made some hard decisions." - Alex Sas Viticulturist
“Over the last few years, big changes have been made to the footprint of the Blind Spot vineyard. We reviewed whether existing blocks were fit for purpose, or whether they were even planted in the right place, and made some hard decisions." - Alex Sas Viticulturist
Coming Soon: The Grenache Room - Update
Work continues on the restoration of the existing stone cottage at our Blind Spot Vineyard in the heart of Blewitt Springs McLaren Vale, as we create what will be The Willunga 100 'Grenache Room'.