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"We travelled the world in search of the ultimate home for us, a place that would fulfil our dream of being makers of very special, unique wine but we kept returning to the Barossa Valley, drawn by all it had to offer"
The Haan philosophy was established right at the beginning with Hanenhof Vineyards being managed as a true Wine Estate. Providing the best possible conditions in the vineyards and the winemaking has been the key to success - along with a clear understanding of wine excellence.
Barossa remains a unique district that maintains many of the great traditions lost in other areas. The local Barossa inhabitants work towards a strong commitment to preserving a great vineyard heritage rather than letting it be taken over by industry or sub-division. Barossa is blessed with a climate that exhibits four very distinct seasons, and a wonderful sense of community where everyone works together for the common good, taking pride in the achievements of one and all.
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The original vineyard that is now Haan, was initially purchased in 1853 by George Friedrich Schmidt for one pound an acre. The 18-hectare vineyard surrounding the Hanenhof Estate consists mainly of the sandy loam soils that dominate the Barossa Valley floor. These soils have proven excellent for producing some rich, luscious Shiraz and Cabernets, varieties that have made the Barossa famous the world over.
The Hanenhof Estate also grows some exceptional Merlot, together with a small amount of Malbec and Petit Verdot
In the white varieties Semillon and Viognier are also grown on the estate. Superior quality fruit can be turned into average wine without the skill and dedication of equally superior winemaking skill. All of the production receives excellent attention to detail by the Haan's vineyard manager, Robert Seelander and talented winemaker Mark Jamieson.
Under Mark's critical scrutiny the grapes are picked at optimum maturity for each wine type, and following fermentation the wine is transferred into French oak barriques to mature. The barriques are housed in the beautifully designed maturation cellars that dominate the entrance to the Estate's buildings.
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Most of the vines are on a simple vertical trellis system with moving wires to lift the foliage and expose the fruit to the sun for full development of flavour and character. The Haan philosophy of providing the best possible conditions in the vineyard in order to encourage the most outstanding result in the bottle has certainly been rewarded with some excellent wines from this property.
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Depending on the variety, the wine will remain in oak for up to 24 months, followed by further bottle maturation prior to release, with the eventual aim that the red wines will be available at around 2.5 years of age.
Haan recently traveled to London to collect Trophy and Medals for outstanding successes at the 2005 International Wine & Spirit Competition. Accolades for the Haan's superior releases have come from far afield, and triumphing with Australian Wine Producer of the Year 2005 and Gold Medal with Trophy for the 'Best Blended Red Wine, at the International Wine & Spirit Competition have been highlights.
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