Australian Wine: Where Old Vines Tell New Stories

Australian Wine: Where Old Vines Tell New Stories

Australian Wine: Where Old Vines Tell New Stories

Discover the landscapes, old vineyards, and people shaping Australian wine from the Barossa Valley and beyond.

Discover the landscapes, old vineyards, and people shaping Australian wine from the Barossa Valley and beyond.

Discover the landscapes, old vineyards, and people shaping Australian wine from the Barossa Valley and beyond.

Australian wine is often associated with Shiraz from the Barossa Valley, home to some of the world's oldest continuously producing vineyards. Some of the region's vines were planted in the 1840s and still bear fruit today.

But the Barossa is more than one grape and one style. Warm days, varied elevations, and complex soils allow Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and other varieties to express themselves in very different ways. The wines can be rich and powerful, but also savory, lifted, elegant, and long-lived.

The region's old vines have also taught generations of growers and winemakers to pay close attention to place. A change in slope, soil, or aspect can shape the character of a wine, even when the same grape is planted nearby. Some families have protected old vineyards for generations, while others have built new wines around rare varieties and distinctive sites.

Australia's wine country extends well beyond the Barossa, from cooler coastal regions to high-elevation and inland vineyards of the Yara Valley. As our coverage grows, each winery will offer another way to understand how climate, soil, vine age, and human decisions shape Australian wine.

The wineries and stories gathered here are invitations to explore that diversity, and to discover why Australian wine is much more than bold Shiraz.

A great wine comes from a great vineyard that is grown on a great site.

Dean Hewitson

Hewitson Wines

Winemaker and Owner

Featured wineries

Australia

Barossa Valley

Langmeil Winery

Barossa Valley, South Australia. The Langmeil property was first settled in 1842 by settlers arriving by boat from Prussia, central Europe. One of their first line of action was to plant grapes for wine. Now the winery operating that same property is internationally recognized and regarded as one of the top premium wine producers in Australia. Driven by quality in every aspect, Langmeil Winery is a must visit either in person or virtually in our story to witness the people, the historic grounds, the ancestral vineyards and its astonishing history. And... experience the ultimate: a single vineyard wine from what is believed to be the World's oldest Shiraz vineyard. Let this wine whisper you the history of over 180 years in rich layers of flavor, complexity and awe.

Australia

Barossa Valley

Hewitson Wines

The World's oldest Mourvèdre vineyard with a coveted secret. A masterful winemaker in the Barossa Valley of South Australia who discovered it and shared it with the world. Meet Dean Hewitson, owner and winemaker of Hewitson Winery with an unmatched passion for old, ancestor vineyards and letting them tell their stories through the wine. The vineyards were planted by the first settlers from Europe back in the mid-eighteen hundreds. Hewitson is located in the heart of the Barossa Valley and has made exceptional wines with international acclaim, not only because of their intensely flavorful, yet elegant quality but also because of the story behind these wines… including the spell that is casted by this coveted secret he discovered.

Australia

Barossa Valley

Greenock Creek Vineyard & Cellars

Big wine, humble hands. Greenock Creek crafts some of Barossa’s most expressive reds—wines that are bold, site-driven, and impeccably balanced. What began in 1984 with a pioneering vision has evolved into a deep exploration and expression of terroir. Exemplified by a rich Shiraz, lifted by an unmistakably stone fruit undernotes from the rocky slopes of The Apricot Block and an opulent, spiced yet endlessly refreshing Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘Shiraz’ wanna-be from the red clay soils of the Seppeltsfield vineyard. These are the wines that called us back and made us travel 8,500 miles to tell—their story.

Australia

Barossa Valley

Hentley Farm

With Map In Hand, He Created the Beauty and the Beast With a 1954 soil map in hand, Keith Hentsche traced the curves of the land, his vision set on uncovering the story hidden beneath the soil. That story would become Hentley Farm—a meticulously designed wine estate in Barossa Valley—and gave rise to two iconic wines: The Beauty and The Beast. This is a tale where science meets artistry, and where terroir becomes the author of contrasting expressions. Just as in the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast embody two halves of a whole, their differences highlighting the depth of their connection. Here, however, the magic lies not in an enchanted castle, but in the earth itself. Planted just 200 meters apart using the same clone, these wines are a masterclass in how terroir shapes flavor. Together, they tell the story of Hentley Farm’s pursuit of excellence—where the land speaks, and those who listen craft something extraordinary

Australia

Barossa Valley

Langmeil Winery

Barossa Valley, South Australia. The Langmeil property was first settled in 1842 by settlers arriving by boat from Prussia, central Europe. One of their first line of action was to plant grapes for wine. Now the winery operating that same property is internationally recognized and regarded as one of the top premium wine producers in Australia. Driven by quality in every aspect, Langmeil Winery is a must visit either in person or virtually in our story to witness the people, the historic grounds, the ancestral vineyards and its astonishing history. And... experience the ultimate: a single vineyard wine from what is believed to be the World's oldest Shiraz vineyard. Let this wine whisper you the history of over 180 years in rich layers of flavor, complexity and awe.

Australia

Barossa Valley

Hewitson Wines

The World's oldest Mourvèdre vineyard with a coveted secret. A masterful winemaker in the Barossa Valley of South Australia who discovered it and shared it with the world. Meet Dean Hewitson, owner and winemaker of Hewitson Winery with an unmatched passion for old, ancestor vineyards and letting them tell their stories through the wine. The vineyards were planted by the first settlers from Europe back in the mid-eighteen hundreds. Hewitson is located in the heart of the Barossa Valley and has made exceptional wines with international acclaim, not only because of their intensely flavorful, yet elegant quality but also because of the story behind these wines… including the spell that is casted by this coveted secret he discovered.

Australia

Barossa Valley

Greenock Creek Vineyard & Cellars

Big wine, humble hands. Greenock Creek crafts some of Barossa’s most expressive reds—wines that are bold, site-driven, and impeccably balanced. What began in 1984 with a pioneering vision has evolved into a deep exploration and expression of terroir. Exemplified by a rich Shiraz, lifted by an unmistakably stone fruit undernotes from the rocky slopes of The Apricot Block and an opulent, spiced yet endlessly refreshing Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘Shiraz’ wanna-be from the red clay soils of the Seppeltsfield vineyard. These are the wines that called us back and made us travel 8,500 miles to tell—their story.

Australia

Barossa Valley

Hentley Farm

With Map In Hand, He Created the Beauty and the Beast With a 1954 soil map in hand, Keith Hentsche traced the curves of the land, his vision set on uncovering the story hidden beneath the soil. That story would become Hentley Farm—a meticulously designed wine estate in Barossa Valley—and gave rise to two iconic wines: The Beauty and The Beast. This is a tale where science meets artistry, and where terroir becomes the author of contrasting expressions. Just as in the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast embody two halves of a whole, their differences highlighting the depth of their connection. Here, however, the magic lies not in an enchanted castle, but in the earth itself. Planted just 200 meters apart using the same clone, these wines are a masterclass in how terroir shapes flavor. Together, they tell the story of Hentley Farm’s pursuit of excellence—where the land speaks, and those who listen craft something extraordinary

Frequently asked questions

What wine region does Spoken Wines cover in Australia?

What grape is the Barossa Valley known for?

Why are old vines important in Australian wine?

Why do wines from the same grape taste so different across Australia?

Is Australian wine only Shiraz?

What is the difference between Shiraz and Syrah?

What makes Barossa Shiraz distinctive?

Where can I buy these Australian wines?

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© 2024 Spoken Wines