Gareth on the 2021 vintage: “We have been dreaming about making Vin de Sofa out of predominantly Sangiovese for a number of years now and it finally happened! Carbonic for maximum deliciousness; the use of whole bunches also helps to soften out the wine even though we pick the grapes early and with some serious acid. It’s a delicious lip-smacking spicy vibrant little number; if ‘vin de soif’ means easy-drinking, then where better than the couch!”
Varieties: Sangiovese, Pinot noir, Syrah & Merlot
Vineyards: the Sangiovese & Syrah come from Charleston. Sandy loam over siltstone and sandstone, 460m ASL. Planted 1998 – 2018, organically farmed by the Turnbull family.
Pinot noir is from Little Creek, an amphitheater-like site owned by Gareth’s friends. Quartz rubble over siltstone, sandstone and clay, 500m ASL. Planted 1987 and 1990, organically farmed (+ biodynamic practices) by Gareth & his team
The Merlot is from Morialta. Quartz rubble over siltstone, sandstone and clay, 420 m ASL. Planted 1990, organically farmed by Ross Christian
Making of: The varieties were fermented separately and blended together after five months of aging. In terms of specific details, the Sangiovese was destemmed and macerated for three weeks before pressing and elevage in stainless steel. The Pinot Noir was 100% whole bunch fermented, pressed after ten days, and aged in a mixture of stainless steel and 225L barriques. The Merlot and Syrah were macerated as 20% whole bunch for two weeks before being pressed into 500L puncheons. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered in August 2021 with a small addition of sulfur.
Personality: just look at the drawing on its label – hard to put down until the bottle is done. “Super lively fruit plus the crunch that makes this one so moreish,” Gareth says himself.
Varieties: Sangiovese, Pinot noir, Syrah & Merlot
Vineyards: the Sangiovese & Syrah come from Charleston. Sandy loam over siltstone and sandstone, 460m ASL. Planted 1998 – 2018, organically farmed by the Turnbull family.
Pinot noir is from Little Creek, an amphitheater-like site owned by Gareth’s friends. Quartz rubble over siltstone, sandstone and clay, 500m ASL. Planted 1987 and 1990, organically farmed (+ biodynamic practices) by Gareth & his team
The Merlot is from Morialta. Quartz rubble over siltstone, sandstone and clay, 420 m ASL. Planted 1990, organically farmed by Ross Christian
Making of: The varieties were fermented separately and blended together after five months of aging. In terms of specific details, the Sangiovese was destemmed and macerated for three weeks before pressing and elevage in stainless steel. The Pinot Noir was 100% whole bunch fermented, pressed after ten days, and aged in a mixture of stainless steel and 225L barriques. The Merlot and Syrah were macerated as 20% whole bunch for two weeks before being pressed into 500L puncheons. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered in August 2021 with a small addition of sulfur.
Personality: just look at the drawing on its label – hard to put down until the bottle is done. “Super lively fruit plus the crunch that makes this one so moreish,” Gareth says himself.
