As a winemaker, Ben achieved Bushing King status in 2000 - a unique award that recognises the maker of the best wine at the McLaren Vale Wine Show. Ben's most recent award was winning the Consumers' Award at the 2004 South Australian Hyatt Advertiser Wine of the Year Awards with his 2003 Mr Riggs Shiraz Viognier (the first release of this wine, by the way). Married to Annie with young sons, Baxter and Austin, Ben is committed to championing McLaren Vale's global Shiraz reputation, as well as exploring wine styles from other regions. It is that passion which is driving him to do things his way and showcase not just the region's greatest winegrape variety but to give a free rein to his particular winemaking and wine marketing skills.

Located at the base of the Willunga Foothills in the central part of the McLaren Vale wine region, Monapilla vineyard is virtually dry grown, as the soil has excellent water holding capacity, and the focus is very much on low yields of high quality grapes. The warm Mediterranean summer temperatures are moderated by the often-fierce gully winds, which come down from the hills in the early evening. Monapilla vineyard is a prime McLaren Vale Shiraz vineyard. Mr Riggs' very own vineyard, Piebald Gully is located in the cool subregion of Clarendon at approximately 265m, to the east of the McLaren Vale wine region. Ripening occurs at Piebald Gully sometimes up to two weeks later than in the rest of McLaren Vale, and the area averages some 30% more rainfall (700mm pa) than the rest of the district.

Angas Vineyard at Langhorne Creek is the result of the happy coming together of a group of wine industry mates who decided in 1997 that the region was a great spot for vines. Consisting mainly of floodplains, the region has fine, deep and generally fertile soils and is quite unique, in that it benefits from winter flooding from the Bremer River. Planted over fertile sandy loams, Angas Vineyard provides Mr Riggs with both Shiraz and Viognier, which has made its way into both the Viognier and the Shiraz Viognier.

The Penny's Hill vineyard departs from the McLaren Vale norm as far as vineyard set up goes. Established by Adelaide advertising man Tony Parky Parkinson and his wife Susie, the vineyards were set up by industry mogul, David Paxton, and are managed by David's off-sider, Toby Bekkers. Located in the central foothills of McLaren Vale, soils are unprepossessing, being shallow and stony, with low vigour and low moisture holding capacity. Perfect for growing high quality grapes, as it turns out.

Set up in 1987 to provide a cool climate alternative to McLaren Vale, Kuitpo vineyard is located in the southern Mount lofty ranges of the Adelaide Hills. Cooler, wetter and with a heat summation similar to areas of the Napa, Sonoma or Bordeaux, Kuitpo's average January temperature is only 19.8 deg C, as compared to that of McLaren Vale's, which is 21.7 C. This appears to be a small difference, but proves significant in grape ripening terms. Mr Riggs uses Viognier and Riesling from the Kuitpo vineyard. Viticulturist Geoff forms part of the sixth generation of the well-known Australian Hardy wine family. Breakneck Creek is adjacent to the Penny's Hill vineyard in the central foothills of McLaren vale. Planted in 1993 by respected McLaren Vale grape grower, Ian Leask, the vineyard benefits from all of the McLaren Vale climatic positives which help make McLaren Vale such a high quality wine region. The site, as with the Penny's Hill vineyard, also derives additional cooling influences from the gully winds, which spring up in the evenings and come down from the hills. By combining a high-tech water monitoring system, minimal drip irrigation and smart viticulture, these sensitive soils are a prime site for quality Shiraz, a fact Mr Riggs was very quick to recognize.

The team at Voice of the Vine has a strong commitment to viticulture and winemaking excellence, believing that the best wines in the world are grown in the vineyard. The goal is to create balanced wines that are elegant, textural and made to age well and simply be enjoyed with food. All Voice of the Vine wines are single estate grown and embody the philosphy of site expression. The grapes are hand harvested and sorted to ensure only the best go into the winemaking process. In a similar pursuit of quality, the wine is processed in small batches using gravity feeding techniques and only the best wine is bottled.

The team respect and celebrate the unique personality of the vineyard and the fine art of viticulture and winemaking; conceived from a delicate balance of nurturing hands, creativity, knowlege and the natural desire of the vine to produce wine that is everything it was created to be. Voice of the Vine are immensely proud of their wine and the acievments of the team, and invite all wine enthusiasts to come along on the journey.

Voice of the Vine Vineyard is situated within a cool maritime climate, and experiences an average rainfall of around 28 inches / 700 mm per year. This protected site with its North and East facing slopes is warmer than the standard peninsula vineyard. Stress is low, sunshine hours are plentiful, with adequate rainfall abundant during winter and spring. The prevailing winds during the growing season are from the north west and southwest providing excellent air drainage.

Voice of the Vine Vineyard experiences an extended ripening season, allowing for the full flavour development of the key grape varieties of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The coincidence of late ripening and a prolonged gentle Autumn result in fully ripe grapes with outstanding fruit flavours, high natural acidity and fine tannins. At Voice of the Vine the team endeavour to produce fruit that is of the highest quality from vines that are in balance with the environment in which they are being grown. The vignerons aim to express varietal flavours that are displaying unique differences through canopy management and planting densities. Put simply, the aim is to work with nature and not against it.

The extensive gardens are of a broad botanical theme with a mixture of exotic and deciduous trees, shrubs, grasses and water plants bordering large sweeps of lawn. The grounds are home to an abundance of native birds and flora. Wander along paved slate paths through wisteria walks or amongst tropical plants, exotics and palms, along meandering boardwalks in the conifer garden or across the spacious lush lawns. For plant enthusiasts, a wealth of rare and interesting specimens is to be found. The wetlands are an oasis for wildlife and many different types of migratory and water birds. With 10000 natives planted, large-scale re-vegetation of the existing bushland has occurred. There are peppermint and manna gums scattered amongst the bushland, and koalas are occasionally sighted as well as echidnas and blue-tongued lizards. Designed with sight, colour and fragrance very much in mind, a stroll through Voice of the Vine Vineyard’s gardens is a feast for the senses.

You can travel down Barkly Street Rutherglen and not even notice the tiny little winery housed in a collection of corrugated iron sheds, yet Chambers Rosewood is internationally acclaimed. Afficianados of Australian fortifieds could easily be forgiven for not realising that some of the world’s finest Muscat are produced here. This small, family operation was established by William Chambers in 1858 and has operated as a winery continuously ever since long enough for the sixth generation of Chambers to make wine here. The ancient rare cuvees date back to soleras from 1890, the non-irrigated vines, many of which are over eighty years old, produce low yields with wonderful concentrated flavours.

Much of the family documentation and historical information has been pieced together by Wendy Chambers. She was very pleased to uncover details pertaining to a pivotal character in the Chambers story. It now seems that the young Prussian man who lived on an adjoining property and shared his wine making experience with the first generation Chambers family, did not disappear without a trace. Anton Ruch has been acknowledged over the years for his contribution to the Chambers Rosewood story, a history rich in fascinating characters such as the third generation Chambers who was responsible for many early innovations laying the foundation for future generations.

Today, Chambers Rosewood may not be a flash place but it is undeniably memorable! You will also find homemade jams, pickles and the Tavenders range of gourmet dressings as well as Lyric Olive Oil - even wine infused chocolate at the rustic cellar door. A commitment to providing good wine, reasonable prices and excellent service is right in tune with modern styles. The Chambers family and staff thank those who appreciate their wines, for valuing their efforts and for rewarding merit with loyalty.

Delta Air Line’s globe-trotting customers can now enjoy the labours of the Chambers family who have been producing wine at their rustic Chambers Rosewood cellars in Rutherglen for the past 150 years. Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson selected just eight wines from more than 900 wines tasted and assessed to meet Delta's strict criteria for outstanding flavour, brand recognition, diversity and destination connection. Stephen Chambers believes this exposure to passengers enroute to more than 300 destinations, across 50 countries, proves that Rutherglen makes world-class wines.

Named after 15th Century made jugs used to carry wine from oak cask to table, the labels show etchings taken from Bellarmine jugs. Bellarmine Wines is a couple’s dream come true. They’d like to share their dream with you.

Dr Di Miller has been making wine since 1999. Before this she enjoyed working in mixed and small animal practice as a veterinarian in the U.K. and Australia. Di is passionate about wine and about her work for Bellarmine which she sees as a very high quality vineyard that produces restrained, savoury wines full of flavour and balance. “Each year the wines get better and better”, enthuses Di, who has made the wines for Bellarmine since they began production in 2004.

Di also manages the Bellarmine wine company which she has done since July 2008. Prior to this she was Senior Winemaker and Manager of the highly successful contract winery, The Vintage Wineworx in Porongurup, Great Southern. In 2007, Di was a State finalist in the Telstra Businesswoman of the Year Awards. Now in her second year of the Master of Wine course run by the London Institute of Masters of Wine, Di has enjoyed the opportunity to travel to Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and the Rhone Valley in France and Ribera Del Duero, Rioja, Jerez, and Madrid in Spain.