2018 Vintage Report

Vintage Report by James Hook

Wines made:

Shiraz, Grenache, Viognier, & Non-Vintage Sparkling Wines.

Harvest at the Rosedale Vineyard: Sellicks Foothills: McLaren Vale Wine Region. 

Harvest at the Rosedale Vineyard: Sellicks Foothills: McLaren Vale Wine Region. 

As the newly juiced wine is being put into barrels to begin maturation, we can now pass comment on the season. 

The reported harvest from McLaren Vale was 35,650 tonnes in 2018, compared with 44,153 tonnes in 2017 – a decline of 19%. Over the past five years, the average crush has been 36,408 tonnes. This year’s vintage was very similar to the average.

The vintage in McLaren Vale is being touted as producing wine of excellent quality. The collective "we", the McLaren Vale grape and wine community, live and breathe the “big three” red varieties (Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon). The big three combined are around 80% of our wine production. Each of these were suited by the season.

Fruit around Kuitpo and Hope Forest (technically in the Adelaide Hills Wine Region with a mix of grapes that includes cooler climate varieties like Pinot Noir) also when very smoothly. 

At this early point we are scoring the vintage between 8/10 and near perfect. The best sites are going to be as good as our region produces.

The wine quality was set up by having a good wet season in 2017 which mean healthy vines, but a dry season this year, which prevented excessive vigour or disease problems.

Summer and early Autumn were unusually dry, there was as little as 10mm of rain from 1st of January to picking in the middle of March. Fortunately McLaren Vale growers have access to multiple water sources, including recycled water, which allows for timely irrigation - and sites in Kuitpo thrive in drier seasons. 

Favourable summer ripening weather with daytime temperatures in the high twenties, with cool nights, led to fruit in great condition at picking. The good condition of fruit going into the winery allowed winemakers the freedom to take time and give full care in the winery.

Crop yields were 15-20% down on Vintage 2017 which was a bumper crop compared to average. The yields recorded this year are in line with the averages picked from 2010 to 2016.  

Lazy Ballerina 2017: People's Choice Business of the Year.

We are very pleased to announce we were awarded The People's Choice Business of the Year at the McLaren Vale Business Association Awards, sponsored by SeaLink.


Thanks to all of YOU who voted.


With love and appreciation to Paul and Pat Hook, John and Evenlyn Bourne (our parents), plus our friends who help at the business; Suzy Lincoln, Mel Hage, Tim Cox, Josh Cuffley, Katie Cameron, Hannah Moncrief, and Lucinda Martin.


Thanks to our family Elizabeth Hook, Sarah-Jane Hook and Jeremy Picton-King. Davis Bourne and our sister in Darwin, Lydia.


For yummy food we use and recommend, 'Our Place', Willunga Hill, Matchett Productions, Baylies Epicurean Delights, B.-d. Farm Paris Creek, Kommon Grounds Coffee, Howie Hill Farm and Beerenberg Farm.


Grape growers and winemakers Inkwell Wines, Rusty Mutt, WayWood Wines.


For technical help, inspiration and advice PCS Accountants, Fleurieu Figures, Chilli Chocolate Marketing, DJ's Growers and Winey Kids.

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Tasting Note from Arnie: Sydney

Tasting Note from our client Arnie, a long term Lazy Ballerina collector. 

 "Last night I opened the very first bottle of 2007 Shiraz of the dozen I bought from you back in 2008.

WOW just WOW, what a wine. I know you said that it would cellar well but I wasn’t expecting this.

It still is a baby and the fruit concentration is amazing and all the acid and tannins are there to support it.

It was just sublime on the nose even as soon as I opened it. I quadruple decanted it and it didn’t even blink an eye, I saved half of it in a half bottle and gonna try it tonight.

I think I won’t touch remaining 11 bottles for another decade.

Kudos to you making just a wine at a such price point.

I just can’t imagine how 2007 Sellicks Foothills Shiraz ( got 6 bottles) of gonna turn out if ordinary Shiraz is this good?

Keep the good work going."

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Name Game - The History of McLaren Vale Wine #5

Originally the area which we now call the McLaren Vale Wine Region had many different names, one for each of the hamlets or groupings of farms that were settled in the 1800’s. Over the span of time these names have been swallowed up into the towns we now call McLaren Vale, McLaren Flat and Willunga, but for those with a sense of history names live on if you look closely.


View McLaren Vale Historic Names in a larger map

What is in a name? Click on the map to find out more.


One hamlet has survived with its own postcode almost into the present day. Landcross Farm, which had its own postcode, 5170, until recently centered on and named after the farm property which has been rejuvenated by Paxton Wines.

A few of the original settlement names have been merged into common postcodes but survived as map or service addresses. Whites Valley and Willunga South, which are both part of the Willunga postcode 5172, live on as utility addresses. Tatachilla also remains in common usage both as an address, winery brand and school, despite being swallowed by the McLaren Vale.

Some names live on as business names, Hillside formerly near McLaren Flat, lives on as Hillside Haulage the Sullivan families freight business. Taranga, which was the southern section of a farm established by William and Elizabeth Oliver when they settled in 1841, lives on in several business and property names.

Others names have fallen out of general use and remain as property names, like Bethany or Beltunga. Some have fallen out of usage entirely like Gloucester.

Why this happened makes an interesting story.


The first amalgamation of names was due to a natural increase in population. As settlers arrived in the area hamlets merged together to form towns.

Originally the region was survey in 1839 by a party led by John McLaren. McLaren was appointed as Senior Surveyor was given the task of surveying the southern districts of Adelaide. McLaren divided up the south of Adelaide into three districts - B, C and D to be released to the settlers in stages. Section C included all the land south of the Onkaparinga River to Willunga Hill as was released from 1840.

McLaren Vale was the general name for the wide valley south of the Onkaparinga Gorge. The township of McLaren Vale originally consisted of 2 small villages; Gloucester, a triangle between the Salopean Inn and Kangrilla road, established in 1851 and Bellevue, where The Barn and Limeburners stand, established in 1854.

Both small towns had a unique character. In 1841 two of the early settlers were Devonshire farmers, William Colton and Charles Hewitt. The farmers bought workmen with them and established neighbouring farms, Daringa and Oxenberry Farm. These farms formed the nucleus of the hamlet Gloucester. Daringa and Oxenberry live on as cellar doors on Kangarilla Rd.

Bellevue, town to the north, began on land purchased by Richard Bell at settlement who built a little colony of thatched pug houses. He also built a hotel in 1857 and named it the Clifton in honour of his wife, nee Clift. Ellen Street also bore her name until recent years, but is now retitled as part of Chalk Hill Road. Ellen Street lives on as a wine made by Mark Maxwell. The Clifton Hotel is currently the Hotel McLaren.

The Gloucester and Bellevue towns grew together so that by 1923 McLaren Vale was gazetted by the Lands Office as a private town. In that year Mr CE Pridmore, owner of land situated half way between Bellevue and Gloucester at Sylvan Park, applied for a transfer of the portion of section 156 in the township McLaren Vale. All previous transactions for that locality were designated as in the township of Gloucester in the McLaren Vale (or Valley).

Approximately four kilometres to the southeast of these towns in the McLaren Vale was Wesleyan chapel was opened in 1854 and was given the name Bethany Chapel. Other cottages were established which gave rise to Bethany the hamlet. Later Bethany was also home to the first illuminated tennis courts which can still be seen on McMurtrie Road. 

Bethany Chapel c. 1990 prior to renovation.

I have always assumed Wirra Wirra’s Church Block wine is named after the chapel as Wirra Wirra's vineyards sit directly opposite. Can anyone confirm this?

North of Bethany is the town of McLaren Flat. McLaren Flat had the satellite villages, or hamlets, Hillside which was located west towards Kangarilla and Beltunga, to the north whose houses were mostly built at the instigation of Richard Bell, founder of Bellevue.

Blewitt Springs was further north and consisted of a series of sandy ridges linked by roads that ran in between. It has maintained its ‘independence’ on maps and as a street address although shares McLaren Flat’s telephone exchange and the greater 5171 postcode.

Bush Grenache vines at Paxton Wines - Landcross Farm.

Traveling back towards the McLaren Vale township was known as Seaview. Sir Samuel Way’s 1870’s farm called Sea View lent its name to a Seaview hamlet complete with a chapel built in 1880’s, now the cellar door for Chapel Hill Wines. Sir Samuel in turn lent his name to Justin McNamee’s Samuels Gorge winery now based in the former Sea View blacksmith’s and olive press house.

Along the road back down the hill to the McLaren Townships, George Manning established Hope Farm in 1851, which was turned into a winery over the years. The winery was renamed Seaview in 1951 by its new owners, Mr Edwards and Chaffey. The names Seaview and Edwards & Chaffey have been wine brands.
 
A look back in time... Chapel Vale, now Chapel Hill, circa 1973

Around the town of Willunga were Willunga South where the slate mines were grouped and Whites Valley which lay on the direct road to Port Willunga to the north of Aldinga. The Whites Valley village was centered on Adey Rd, Aldinga Rd and Little Rd. Several historic building remain. Some have been restored while some of the farm houses and mills have fallen into ruin.

Olivers Taranga in the 1990's.
I have been told that the Sellicks Hills, part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, which stare down on Whites Valley, were once known as the Front Hills, and are marked as such on some old maps. I haven’t seen these, but I believe it possible this name was then corrupted to be called foothills. Foothills are dryly defined as gradual increases in hilly areas at the base of a mountain range.

We get the sub-regional name Sellicks Foothills from this, but Front Hills has a ring to it in my opinion and might warrant a comeback.

Postcodes were introduced in Australia in 1967 by the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG), the predecessor of Australia Post. At this point many of the smaller regional names were swallowed up. Landcross Farm survived with a fresh postcode but Tatachilla, McLaren Flat, Blewitt Springs, and remnants Hillside, Beltunga and Bethany were all merged into McLaren Vale 5171. Willunga 5172 took over Willunga South and Whites Valley.

Willunga Post Office also had responsibilities for Hope Forest, The Range, Dingabledinga (where Lazy Ballerina the cellar door is located across from the southern tip of Kuitpo Forest) Montara and Kuitpo.

What is in a name? A lot of the history of this region.

 Wine Fight Club June 09

If you know more to these stories please comment below. It is worthwhile checking out Oliver Taranga's Cellar Door to see their old map of the region. Also the main source for this article is the great book - McLaren Vale: Sea and Vines - Barbara Santich.

The Cult of Personality - The History of McLaren Vale Wine #4

There was a time in Southern Vales where there were no cellar doors. Up until the 1970's wineries did not sell direct to the public or undertake direct tourism. One of the first cellar doors in McLaren Vale was started by Enzo Berlingieri as Settlement Wines in the 1970's.

"In 1984 the most flamboyant figure in McLaren Vale, Vincenzo Berlingieri, purchased Oliverhill with, as usual, grand schemes in mind." Oliverhill Wines- Excerpt from "The Australian Wine Compendium" 1985 Edition by James Halliday


"Old times... good times... when dirty ashtrays were a socially acceptable part of the whole cellar door experience", says Enzo's daughter Annika, "As well as tops off Fridays."

Wayne Thomas was a McLaren Vale veteran, having started his winemaking career in 1961, working for Stonyfell, Ryecroft and Saltram before establishing a cellar door at Fern Hill with his late wife Pat in ’75.

Fern Hill in 1984.
When they sold Fern Hill in 1994 they started again, launching the Wayne Thomas Wines label, using grapes sourced from growers throughout McLaren Vale.

Wayne Thomas passed away in April 2007.

Retro Photo - The History of McLaren Vale #3

You can write words, or you can take pictures. Welcome to our project of finding old photographs of McLaren Vale and surrounds and retaking them to show how everything looks today. We hope you enjoy!

Taranga as a ruin in the 1990's.
The Olivers Taranga site has been heavily re-vegetated as these photos show. The road has been built up higher forming a large embankment.

McLaren Vale Fruit packers building in 1980. Note the Caltex service station in the far right.
Fruit packers gets a makeover in 1981.
Fruit Packer Building is very similar accept for changes to the windows at the front. Cars have changed and both the trees in the foreground and the petrol station in the background have grown. If you look closely the building has 'strunk'. Part of it has been removed to make the petrol station bigger.

Aerial view of Main South Road Morphett Vale, showing the Emu Hotel centre, left of road, in the early 1950s.
Esplanade Aldinga Beach c.1979.
1970, the original Christian Bible Church chapel seen here at Sea View Chapel Hill. Gladys Stillwell & Peg Dunstan pictured.
Chapel Hill as a modern winery.
With thanks to Andrew Tuck for the pictures from the 1970's and 80's as well as some archive pictures from the State Library of South Australia.

You can view more of our work on Lazy's Facebook page.

AC Kelly - The History of McLaren Vale Wine #2

AC Kelly: Original Wine Hero

AC Kelly: Original Wine Hero

Stephen Pannell. Current custodian of the the old vineyards Dr A. C. Kelly sold to Thomas Hardy in 1876, bits of old buildings and the remnants of an orchard. Photo Philip White; DRINKSTER

Stephen Pannell. Current custodian of the the old vineyards Dr A. C. Kelly sold to Thomas Hardy in 1876, bits of old buildings and the remnants of an orchard. Photo Philip White; DRINKSTER

To quote Dr A C Kelly from Winegrowing in Australia published in 1867 -

'The time has come when the winegrowers of this colony must bestir themselves and boldly face the difficulties before them. They must be prepared to take their stand on the ground already occupied by the experienced winegrowers of Europe. 

'All have a direct interest in each other's success, for according to the quality of wine produced for export will be our status as a winegrowing country. 

'No petty jealousies need stand in the way of that friendly rivalry to produce the best wine which ought to be the endeavour of each winegrower.'

Now here was a pioneer...

Alexander Charles Kelly (1811-1877), winegrower and medical practitioner, was born on 5 June 1811 at Leith, Scotland, son of John Kelly, agent of the British Linen Co.'s Bank, and his wife Margaret, née Porteus. Alexander was educated in France and Scotland, and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh (M.D., 1832). After practicing briefly in Scotland, he became a surgeon aboard the East India Co. ship Kellie Castle; he kept a vividly written and illustrated journal of the voyage from England to Bengal in 1833.

Later, Kelly visited Canada, where he became interested in the problems of popular education, then returned to Scotland and practiced medicine at or near Dunbar. Perhaps inspired by his brother Thomas Bell Kelly, who had migrated to South Australia in 1839, he followed, arriving in the Baboo on 11 March 1840. Kelly was enrolled as the twelfth name in the medical register of South Australia and set up at Port Adelaide. In June 1842 he was made resident dispenser at Adelaide Hospital. He bought 80 acres (32.4 ha) of land west of Morphett Vale, south of Adelaide; the official title was dated 21 August 1843, although he probably occupied the land earlier. Here he built his home, Trinity, and planted his first vineyard, about 1845.

On 1 November 1854 Kelly married Annie Frances Worthington, in the Church of Scotland, Morphett Vale. He drew on the writings of French and other European authorities, which he translated and commented on, for his first book, The Vine in Australia (Melbourne, 1861); it introduced wine chemistry and modern science to Australian winegrowers and was so popular that it was reprinted next year. His Wine-Growing in Australia (Adelaide, 1867) followed. Kelly's two influential books did much to establish Australian technical expertise in viniculture.

In November 1862 he and five of Adelaide's businessmen—(Sir) Thomas and Alexander Lang Elder, (Sir) Samuel Davenport, Robert Barr Smith and (Sir) Edward Stirling—formed the Tintara Vineyard Co., with Kelly as manager. Next year he sold Trinity to concentrate on clearing the 213 acres (86.3 ha) of heavily-timbered country near McLaren Vale which the trustees had bought in December 1862, and on planting vines, building cellars and, eventually, making mainly table wine. In 1871 Tintara shareholders sent him to London to search for new markets. The difficulties of an English market more accustomed to the strong, coarse wines of Spain and Portugal, financial depression in the colony and intercolonial tariffs that disadvantaged South Australian wines contributed to the demise of the company. In September 1877 it was announced that Thomas Hardy had purchased the vineyard, with 27,000 gallons (122,742 litres) of wine. The land was not transferred to Hardy until June 1878.

In 1868 Kelly had given articulate evidence before a parliamentary select committee on education reflecting his long-standing interest in the subject. A photographic portrait of him later in life showed a clear, kindly, open face with silvery hair and a full white beard. In 1876 he retired to his home at Norwood, where he died of bronchitis on 9 October 1877. He was buried in Clayton Chapel cemetery, Kensington, survived by his wife, three daughters and two sons, one of whom (John) was involved in the wine industry. An obituarist noted Kelly's 'obliging disposition . . . his kindness to people in straitened circumstances . . . high character, benevolence, and kindly genial manner'.

2017 Vintage Report

Vintage report by James Hook

Lazy Ballerina wines made: Shiraz, Grenache, Viognier, & Non-Vintage Sparkling wines.

Vintage 2017 in the McLaren Vale Wine Region was judged highly successful for both grape growers, who had above average crops with minimal faults, and winemakers who had the ability to pick fruit as they required during an extended dry autumn.

The reported harvest from McLaren Vale was 44,287 tonnes in 2017, compared to 40,997 tonnes in 2016. Over the past five years, the average crush has been 33,901 tonnes. This year’s vintage was the largest in the past five years.

Winter weather conditions help set up the early growth of our vineyards with above average rainfall leading to full soil profiles.

Spring was also significantly wetter than average. There were notable large storms and high winds with frequent low-pressure fronts moving through the region. Fortunately, the weather patterns during flowering were relatively stable and dry. Spring air temperatures were cooler than average and flowering was delayed by 14-21 days compared to recent seasons, while veraison was also delayed.

Harvest began later than in 2016, with very few vineyards picked in February, with picking continuing into late April.

There was one significant rain event of approximately 25mm in the first week of February. Fortunately, this did not cause widespread berry splitting and Botrytis levels remained low in the aftermath. Weather conditions during March were stable, with little natural rainfall, although there were some morning dews.

Autumn continued to be warm and dry through early April allowing almost all vineyards to be successfully harvested.

The earlier picked red vineyards, including Shiraz and Tempranillo, have been described as having good fruit characters; winemaking reports are they are lively, bright, spicy, vibrant, and elegant. Towards the end of vintage, parcels of Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvèdre were described as excellent examples of these grape styles.

Easter Holiday Tips

Got some time off this Easter? Here are our tips for what to do in the McLaren Vale region. We have a listed of our picks of attractions open in 2016.

Good Friday can traditionally be a tricky day for those on holidays as the 'shops are shut.'

We have some good news! Hugh Hamilton Wines, Fox Creek Wines and Magpie Springs - wine.art.coffee are OPEN! All great locations for a wine and family day out. Make sure to book though.

In the evening why not book a table at INDOMEX, Indian for us, why not for you? It is open for dinner til late. 

Saturday: Why not start the day with a walk along the beach? Our favourite is starting at Port Willunga and walking north along the shore and cliff edges towards Maslins Beach. 

For lunch why not visit Waywood Wines. Then you can either visit Olivers Taranga (wine bar), Beach Road (magnificently family friendly), Maxwell Wines or Bekkers Wines (both producers of some of our regions flagship wines) all of which are a short distance from each other. 

Bekkers Wine - https://bekkerswine.com/

Bekkers Wine - https://bekkerswine.com/

If you want to have a relaxed dinner, head back to the beach this time Aldinga and pick up some Indian takeway from Arbind at The Aldinga Bay Cafe (The Esplanade Aldinga Beach). Eat it on the beach as the sun goes down. 

Easter Sunday: Ditch the car and hire bikes for the day (Oxygen cycles, Main Rd McLaren Vale). You can travel up the Shiraz Way bike path in the morning and shoot up to Pertaringa Wines on Rifle Range Rd.  

Pertaringa offers a natural setting among gum trees with views and outdoor picnic facilities. They can put together a platter so you don't have to carry any food with you.

For dinner The BARN is open.  

Magpie Springs- http://magpiesprings.com.au/

Magpie Springs- http://magpiesprings.com.au/

Easter Monday: Take your car up to Kuitpo for a bush walk and then come and relax at either Lazy Ballerina, K1 by Geoff Hardy or Top Note to end your weekend. All of these are a short drive from the forest. All recommended!

Tip: Remember if you are buying wine and don't want to lug it around. Cellar doors are very accommodating with shipping your wine to you. Just explain your situation and the staff will work out a solution for you. 

Tell them that James & Miri sent you!

The view at Top Note Wines - https://www.topnote.com.au/contact.php

The view at Top Note Wines - https://www.topnote.com.au/contact.php