In an idyllic setting in the very South West corner of Australia, the 85 hectares of vines on the original Xanadu Wine Estate flourish in the rich, free draining gravel soils of the Margaret River region. In this near-perfect environment for viticulture, this unique maritime climate enjoys an abundant supply of water and is sheltered by forests of magnificent marri trees. A state-of-the-art winery / restaurant and cellar door has been constructed, with the extensive use of local granite and gneissic rocks, excavated during the planting of the original vineyard. These low yielding, carefully handled vines produce a range of varieties under the labels Secession, Xanadu and Lagan Reserve.

Enjoying a strong family focus since its inception almost 30 years ago, the company was listed on the ASX in April 2001. More recently, Xanadu Wines has returned to family ownership having been purchased by the Rathbone Family in August 2005. The Rathbone family remain focused on producing premium wines that reflect the true characteristics of the Margaret River region.

On the rolling slopes of Xanadu’s vineyard, vines flourish in the rich, free draining gravel soils of the Margaret River region, where they are fed by an abundant supply of pristine water, and sheltered by forests of magnificent marri trees. It's a near perfect environment for viticulture.

The ocean strongly defines the climate in Margaret River, which is classed as 'west coast Mediterranean' featuring warm to hot summers and mild to wet winters. The majority of Margaret River's approximate 1100mm of rain falls between April and October, and with an average rainfall of around 50mm from December to February. This usually means a dry ripening and harvesting season, come vintage time in March and April. The summer daytime temperatures are usually kept below 32 degrees Celsius, while daytime winter temperatures can vary from around 11 degrees to around 18 degrees Celsius. The extreme temperatures, humidity and frosts are kept at bay by the influence of the Leeuwin current of the near by Indian Ocean.

The vineyards of Xanadu are situated on the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge formed from an ancient granite landmass 2000 million years old. The soils are mostly formed in situ as a result of long periods of weathering. Granite decomposes to form iron-rich clay, which precipitates to the surface forming laterite gravel loams, the best vine growing soils in the region.

The original two-storey cellar, built into the side of the hill in time for the 1868 vintage, has been added to throughout the generations. Now covered with ivy, the stone building retains an old-world charm with its open fermenters and winemaking memorabilia on display. The estate's Mount Edelstone, Hill of Grace, Eden Valley and Lenswood vineyards produce the range of Henschke wines. Managed by viticulturist Prue Henschke, the superlative vineyards bear the fruit of her leading edge research and development. They vary from venerable dry-grown shiraz vineyards to the newer cooler-climate Lenswood vineyards supporting varieties such as pinot noir, chardonnay and merlot.

The original two-storey cellar, built into the side of the hill in time for the 1868 vintage, has been added to throughout the generations. Now covered with ivy, the stone building retains an old-world charm with its open fermenters and winemaking memorabilia on display. The estate's Mount Edelstone, Hill of Grace, Eden Valley and Lenswood vineyards produce the range of Henschke wines. Managed by viticulturist Prue Henschke, the superlative vineyards bear the fruit of her leading edge research and development. They vary from venerable dry-grown shiraz vineyards to the newer cooler-climate Lenswood vineyards supporting varieties such as pinot noir, chardonnay and merlot.

In 1839 Johann Menge, a German geologist, mineralogist and gardener explored and surveyed the regions around Adelaide in the new free colony of South Australia, on behalf of George Fife Angas and Colonel William Light. He travelled through the Barossa Range, giving names to the rivers and hills, including Mount Edelstein, which with time was anglicised to Mount Edelstone. The 40-acre Eden Valley vineyard, was planted to shiraz, probably sourced from Joseph Gilbert at Pewsey Vale. The original pre-phylloxera material most likely originated from the James Busby selection, which was propagated by Samuel Smith of Yalumba in the 1850s. What is surprising about Mount Edelstone is that it was planted purely as a shiraz vineyard.

Hill of Grace is surely is one of the most evocative phrases in the world of wine. For Henschke it is the name of both the vineyard and the wine that has so captured the heart of the red wine lover. The land was originally granted to Charles Flaxman in 1842 for £1 per acre. It was then sold by George Fife Angas to Nicolaus Stanitzki in 1873, for £480. Paul Gotthard Henschke purchased the vineyard in 1891. After his death his sons and executors Paul Alfred and Julius Philip Henschke arranged the transfer to Julius Philip, who had married into the Stanitzki family. In 1951 the property was purchased by Louis Edmund Henschke, a son of Paul Alfred Henschke, who worked the vineyard and property for nearly 40 years. The family continues to maintain the heritage.

The eight-hectare vineyard on the original 32-hectare block sits at an altitude of 400 metres, and has an average rainfall of 520 millimetres. It is situated on Parrot Hill, an isolated spot that was once an active village. Hill of Grace is planted predominantly to shiraz, but a surprise to many is that it also includes other varieties. Riesling, semillon and mataro/ mourvedre, with the sercial grape now only a distant memory. This diverse planting of several varieties in the garden, as the old Barossan growers called their vineyard, is typical - a sort of hedging their bets against the vagaries of mother nature. The whites are used in Eden Valley varietals, and the mataro...well, that's one of mother nature's later maturing varieties. It has gone into Hill of Grace at times, but usually it just doesn't ripen enough.

Fast-forward to the 21st century, when the first Appellations d'Origine Controlle (AOC) of Beaujolais were created: Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages, Brouilly, Cote de Brouilly, Regnie, Morgon, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Moulin-a-Vent, Chenas, Julienas Later, Saint Amour was granted AOC status (in 1946), and most recently (in 1988) Regnie gained status as an AOC. The vineyards in the Beaujolais region spread out over 30 miles from north to south and 8 miles across, bordered by Maconnais to the north, the Rhone Valley to the south, and the river Saone to the east. The vineyards in northern Beaujolais have a predominance of granite, which gives aromas of ripe fruit and faded rose. In the south, a clay-limestone soil gives a bouquet of red fruits.

The way to make Beaujolais wine is slightly different from making other wines. Carbonic Maceration is the name of the fermentation technique used to make Beaujolais. First, whole bunches of grapes are placed in the vats, and the weight of the fruit begins to crush the bottom one-third of the grape clusters. Fermentation begins when naturally occurring yeasts consume the grape’s sugar and create alcohol and carbon dioxide (CO2). The carbon dioxide then envelops the remaining two-thirds of the grape clusters, which allows intracellular fermentation to occur within the whole grapes – the grapes actually ferment inside their own skins! Carbonic Maceration lasts four days for Beaujolais Nouveau, 6 - 8 days for Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages and up to 10 days for Cru Beaujolais.

A central issue in wine growing is controlling the yield of each vine, and winegrowers use pruning systems to control yields. There are two pruning systems practiced in Beaujolais: the Guyot and the Gobelet. The Guyot-trained vines in Beaujolais will result in larger grapes, so that wines will be fruity and light, while the Gobelet-trained vines in Beaujolais Villages and the Crus produce smaller, more concentrated grapes (and thus, more concentrated wines).

Duboeuf Beaujolais is a joyous wine, full of charm and fruit. The reduced yields demanded by Duboeuf in the vineyard create a wine that is full of the juicy fruit forward flavors that Beaujolais is known for, with greater structure and concentration. Bright ruby-red in color, this wine is bursting with red fruit aromas, interweaving strawberries, raspberries and red currants with the scent of flowers. Supple and harmonious in the mouth, the red fruit carries through until the finish. Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais is pure pleasure in the glass, the quintessential summer wine, full of flavor to match with any and all summer faire.

The great thing about Duboeuf Beaujolais is while the wine tastes great at room temperature, it’s even more delicious chilled. Putting a bottle in the refrigerator will enhance the crisp, refreshing red berry flavors that are so prevalent in Georges Duboeuf’s Beaujolais. And if you’re sitting out back with friends, eating dinner hot off the grill, keep the wine chilled on ice by grabbing an ice bucket or a sand pail if it’s closer. For summer entertaining, it’s all about fun and relaxation.

Paynes Rise planted to a north facing slope at Seville in Upper Yarra Valley. This area experiences cooler average temperatures than the Northern and Central regions of the Valley, mainly due to its higher elevation. The elevation of site at Paynes Rise is 200m above sea level. The soil type is an immensely deep and fertile red volcanic light clay soil. The climate provides for a very slow even fruit ripening period, reflected in the intense characters from the area. Great wines begin in the vineyard. The vineyard consists of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The team take pride in producing fruit that's of the highest quality, from parcels of exceptional vines that are in perfect, natural balance.

The cool climate coupled with the regions relatively high average rainfall and fertile soils provides for very healthy, vigoros vines. Many viticultural management techniques are employed to manipulate the vines growth to achieve a balance between vegetative growth and desired fruit production.

Crop levels are evaluated several times throughout the season and thinned where required to maintain low cropping levels. At harvest all fruit is hand picked and sorted in the field. The aim is to create an outstanding range of wines by employing the highest standards of vine husbandry and dedicated land management.