Gentle Folk
Originally from South Africa, Gareth has now lived in Australia for over 20 years. Finding his place in the Adelaide Hills, he quickly fell in love with the people and climate. A far cry from the inside of laboratories and lecture theatres where he was once was a marine scientist, Gareth enjoys being outside and using his hands so the life of a winegrower was far more appealing. Biodynamic viticulture and a light touch in the winery are standard operating procedure for Gareth, but it is the sense of being effortlessly constructed, without feeling like they are manipulated in any way, that are the hallmarks of all the Gentle Folk wines. Always balanced, structured, and complete, the 2018 single vineyard releases are no exception to this theme, and, as Gareth notes, the different microclimates of the area allow for very different wines from his various vineyards. Gareth farms 7.5 hectares across 5 different sites in the Piccadilly Valley of the Adelaide Hills and produces approximately 3500 cases per year.
Rainbow Juice — Back to the top
“We have a small vineyard in Basket Range planted to 21 varieties, but in some years only makes a barrel or two so overtime we have been adding bits and pieces from our other vineyards into the blends and hence…Rainbow Juice…it’s a blend of all our varieties from all our vineyards. Red varieties are direct pressed into rosé and the juice poured into a vat with the white varieties (de-stemmed) and then the vat is sealed up and left. So it’s a skin contact rose if that makes sense at all!”
Total Production: 6000 bottles
Age of Vines: 12-42 years
Elevation: 450-620 meters
Appellation: Adelaide Hills
Soil: Mainly clay over sandstone, but some vineyards have lots of quartz and schist
Vineyard Treatments used: Sulphur, Copper, Ecocarb, Milk Wey, Nettle tea, Biodymanic preperations 500, 501 and 508.
Varieties: Unknown percentages as we dont measure. Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Riesling, Gewirztraminer, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit verdot, Malbec, Cabernet franc, Viognier, Chenin blanc, Pinot gris, Arramon, Arneis, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Trollinger, Syrah
Vinification Method: The wine ferments in stainless steel tanks with ambient yeast, in contact with the skins for 2-3 weeks. The wine is left undisturbed for around 11 months, racked a few times just to clarify the juice a little bit.
Schist Sauvignon Blanc — Back to the top
“I have always loved Sauvignon blanc, especially out of the Loire and Austria, but sadly its got bad rap down here, for good reasons though – Australian Sauvignons are generally horrible. Its a pity as there are some very beautiful and old Sauvignon vineyards in the Adelaide Hills (Sauvignon was one of the first varieties planted up here alongside sparkling varieties – Pinot noir/ meunier and Chardonnay). I was lucky enough to be able to lease a block sitting on schist, south west facing (cold) at 620m and at 32 years of age on its own roots. We let the fruit ripen fully and picked just as they started showing hints of botrytis. Left on skins for a few days before being pressed and fermented in 500L puncheons (French, neutral). Very happy winemaker.”
Total Production: 2400 bottles
Age of Vines: 32 years
Yields: 3600 liters/hectare
Soil: Clay over Schist
Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc
Appellation: Forest Range, Adelaide Hills
Vineyard Treatments used: Sulphur, Copper, Ecocarb, Milk Wey, Nettle tea, Biodymanic preperations 500, 501 and 508.
Vinification Method: The wine is fermented in 5 year old 500 liter wooden barrels with ambient yeast. The wine ages in barrel for about 11 months, before it is bottled, unfined and unfiltered.
Pairing: Village Wine — Back to the top
“The idea of a this wine is a drinking wine! Wine that can be shared with friends and family, no matter what their wine preference is. It’s Pinot noir from Scary Gully, we chose a few barrels that we consider the most reflective of the site for the top end Scary Gully Pinot noir and what remains heads into the Village wine.”
Total Production: 6000 bottles
Age of Vines: 34 years
Yields: 2800 liters/hectare
Soil: Clay over sandstone with quartz and schist rubble
Varieties: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Forest Range, Adelaide Hills
Vineyard Treatments used: Sulphur, Copper, Ecocarb, Milk Wey, Nettle tea, Biodymanic preperations 500, 501 and 508.
Vinification Method: The wine is fermented 50% whole cluster in 5 year old 225 and 500 liter wooden barrels with ambient yeast. The wine ages in barrel for about 11 months, before it is bottled, unfined and unfiltered.