Port Phillip Estate is planted to 8.7 hectares of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc. It was established in 1987, and has rapidly gained a reputation in the industry for producing exceptional cool climate wines, brought about by attention to detail and the impeccably maintained vineyard. In this regard, advantage is taken of the site's unique 'terroir' and the essential ingredients comprising the right soil, the right grapes for that soil, the right climate, and the know-how of the winegrower and winemaker.

Good wine is the result of a balanced vine, controlled yields and quality fruit. Under the management of third generation viticulturist Doug Wood, the Port Phillip Estate viticulture program produces low yield, high quality crops that display the flavour intensity of this exceptional site. The vines are all cane pruned and shoot thinned by hand. The handpicked Sauvignon Blanc fruit is whole bunch pressed. One third of the juice is transferred to old French oak barrels for fermentation with the remainder going to stainless steel tanks. The wine is fermented naturally without yeast additions. Once fermentation has ceased the wine is sulphured to prevent malolactic fermentation. Wine is assembled and bottled at approximately six months of age.

Chardonnay is handpicked, whole bunch pressed and transferred to new and used French oak. The wine is fermented naturally without yeast additions. Once fermentation has ceased, the wine is sulphured to prevent malolactic fermentation. Our desire is to retain all the freshness of the naturally occurring acidity. The wines are not battonaged resulting in a finer more elegant wine. Up to 30 per cent new oak is used, the remainder being one to three year old barrels.

All of the Pinot Noir fruit is hand picked and 100 per cent de-stemmed into open vat fermenters. The fruit is chilled to approximately 8-10 degrees and then allowed to warm up ambiently. Spontaneous fermentation occurs between four to eight days later. Cap management is via hand plunging as well as a computer controlled mechanical plunger. Once the fermentation is complete (between days 14 to 20), the wine is pressed and transferred to French oak barrels. Up to 30 per cent new wood is used and the wine is bottled after 12 months. The Morillon Pinot Noir is a specially selected parcel of fruit. This wine is made exactly the same way, but it is allowed to mature in oak for another six months.

All of the Shiraz fruit is hand picked and 100 per cent de-stemmed into open vat fermenters. The fruit is chilled to approximately 8-10 degrees and then allowed to warm up ambiently. Spontaneous fermentation occurs between four to eight days later. Cap management is via hand plunging as well as a computer controlled mechanical plunger. Once the fermentation is complete (between days 14 to 20), the wine is pressed and transferred to French oak barrels. Up to 30 per cent new oak is used and the wine is bottled after 18 months. The Rimage Shiraz is a specially selected parcel of fruit. Both the Port Phillip Estate Shiraz and Rimage Shiraz are made in the same way.

The brand's international popularity is growing rapidly, with sales to the United States alone expected to increase from the current 2,000 cases to more than 50,000 over the next 12 months. The strength of the brand lies in dedication to quality wine-making, product consistency, intensive marketing and careful cost control.

The fruit for Cockatoo Ridge's wines is sourced from their own carefully tended vineyards and from reputable contract growers throughout the Barossa Valley. The skilled winemakers often identify additional sources of premium fruit in areas outside the Barossa Valley, without compromising the house style.

Cockatoo Ridge Wines operates on a quality fruit philosophy. While the winery aims for self-sufficiency in fruit supplies, the production system is also geared to sourcing premium grapes from growers who are contracted to meet strict quality standards.

Cockatoo Ridge's philosophy is to deliver optimal value to wine lovers, and to remain responsive to changes in the global wine markets. Long established expertise in viticultural practices has led to a vigorous planting program that's been initiated to ensure adequate supplies to satisfy Cockatoo Ridge's growing domestic and export demand.

The Cockatoo Ridge label was originally owned by Yalumba and was launched in 1991 with a NV sparkling wine. Since its release the label has grown into one of Australia's most recognized wine brands, with the product range now including a selection of table wines. In 2002 Cockatoo Ridge Wines was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. Building on strong domestic sales and the introduction of new brands, Cockatoo Ridge have forged strategic relationships with leading distributors in international markets.

Stephen Pannell has been named one of the 50 most influential contributors to the world of wine by the UK's Decanter Magazine. His extensive knowledge and experience has been garnered over many years, working with some of Australia�s most iconic wineries, including Wirra Wirra, Tintara and BRL Hardy where he was Chief Red Winemaker from 1999 to 2003. He has worked numerous overseas vintages at such places as Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Burgundy, Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux and G.D. Vajra in Barolo.

Pannell's choice of vinification techniques remain decidedly old world, open fermentation, natural yeast and maturation in large format oak, to ensure that the natural expression of vineyard, fruit and wine are all preserved. Components of whole bunches may be introduced, vintage permitting, to incite partial carbonic maceration, extract fine stem tannins and enhance complexity.

Highlights in Stephen�s career include winning the title of International Red Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge in London, winning the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show and twice winning the Max Schubert Trophy at the Adelaide Wine Show. In 2011 Stephen won the Mclaren Vale�s top award and the title of 2011 Bushing King.

Stephen has also turned his talents to harvests from Adelaide Hills, the escarpment which runs above McLaren Vale in the south and continues through toward Barossa Valley in the north, to create a range of textural, aromatic whites, as well as a highly awarded cool climate Syrah.

After returning from working with Aldo Vajra in Barolo in 2004 he received a request to look at a Nebbiolo vineyard in Gumeracha in the northern area of Adelaide Hills. The vineyard is planted with five different clones, including clone 230, which is the preferred clone in Barolo and SC Pannell has been making Nebbiolo from this fantastic vineyard ever since. SC Pannell Nebbiolo 2008 won Best Wine of Show at the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show in 2012. The year 2012 also saw Pannell purchase his first vineyard in the Blewitt Springs area of McLaren Vale. This is a vineyard Stephen has coveted since his early days at Hardy�s. The construction of a cellar door ensured exciting times ahead for the SC Pannell wineworks.

The Alkoomi vineyards and winery share similar climatic conditions to those found in Bordeaux, France thus it is not surprising that Alkoomi produces some of the finest wines made in Australia. The name Alkoomi is taken from a local aboriginal dialect and translated means a place we chose. The Alkoomi logo is a stylised representation of an Australian grass tree which grows in the area.

Alkoomi’s red wines enjoyed success early on and Alkoomi has continued to produce elegant cabernet, shiraz and cabernet blends. The quality of Alkoomi Riesling has helped establish the reputation of Frankland River as one of the best areas for this variety in Australia and the Sauvignon Blanc is also regarded as one of the best in the country.

Alkoomi’s annual production of about 80,000 cases is distributed to all parts of Australia and is exported to more than ten countries in Europe, North America and Asia. The consistently superb varietal flavours across a wide range of Alkoomi wines have been recognised by the doyen of Australian wine writers, James Halliday, awarding Alkoomi a five star rating in his “Guide to the wines of Australia”.

The Alkoomi vineyard is located only 80kms inland from the Southern Ocean, resulting in good winter rains and dry ripening months. Summer days and evenings are cooled by fresh sea breezes, enabling ideal slow ripening of grapes. This climatic pattern is very similar to that of the best Bordeaux vintages. The property includes large areas of suitable soils and aspects. From the initial planting of about one hectare, the area under vine has been expanded throughout the 1980s and ‘90s and expansion of the vineyard has continued steadily over the next decade.

Alkoomi uses water supplied from on-site dams efficiently to prevent vine stress during extended dry periods without sacrificing the naturally low yields that produce concentrated flavours. The vines are all pruned by hand. Machine harvesting occurs in the cool of the morning, usually starting at 2.00am, to ensure that grapes arrive at the winery in top condition. The winery is completely self-contained, including bottling, labelling and packaging. All processing equipment – presses, fermentation, oak barrels and stainless steel tanks – is modern and maintained in outstanding and clean working order.