2026 Blewitt Springs Grenache Rosé
TASTING NOTE
Delicate aromas of orange blossom and rose are complemented by notes of Pink Lady apple, fresh strawberry and watermelon. The palate is vibrant and textural, balanced by a fine line of mineral acidity. Flavours of pomelo, red apple, rose petals and a subtle hint of cranberry carry through to a long, fresh and refined finish.
VINEYARD
A blend of Grenache fruit from younger vines, providing fresh fruit aromas and flavours, combined with Grenache fruit from 50-year-old dry-grown bush vines for depth, spice, and complexity. The younger vineyard blocks of Grenache were planted from cuttings taken from the 100-year-old Smart Vineyard, which is used for one of our single vineyard wines. The vines are grown in sandy soils over ironstone in the Blewitt Springs subregion of McLaren Vale and benefit from the cooling breezes flowing down from the Mount Lofty Ranges and in from the nearby coast.
VINTAGE
The season started with a cool, wet spring, which slowed the start of growth and affected flowering, causing some uneven fruit set and very open bunches, which we were thankful for later in the season. December brought warm, dry conditions that lasted through January, with some heatwaves and some early crop loss. From mid-harvest onwards, however, temperatures dropped again and we experienced periods of rain, which slowed the harvest and allowed for good flavour development, especially in the later-ripening varieties like Grenache. As fruit set was poor, the bunches remained nice and open, resulting in little disease pressure in McLaren Vale.
WINE MAKING
A blend of hand-picked fruit from old vines and machine-harvested fruit from younger vines. Harvested in the cool of the early morning, the fruit was gently pressed before undergoing a slow, cool fermentation in stainless steel. Extended maturation on lees, with regular stirring, built texture and palate weight while preserving freshness and vibrancy. Bottled as a dry-style rosé and certified vegan friendly.
FOOD PAIRING
Fresh seafood: oysters, scallops, fresh fish, and/or a fresh summer salad.
WINEMAKER
Renae Hirsch