Boutique wineries offer something that the bigger commercial ones cannot… heart. Miles and miles of heart. The other important and certainly more tangible aspect is attention to detail which is vital in any quality winemaking endeavour. The devil is in the wine detail they say.
A boutique winery, (as defined by the Association of Australian Boutique Winemakers) is a wine company which crushes and bottles 250 ton or less annually under its own label and is owned independently; therefore ruling out the plethora of supermarket giants private labels and wineries owned by multinational beverage companies. Interestingly, large wine companies account for well over 90% of Australia’s wine production, with thousands of smaller ventures making up the difference. Consumer support of these smaller independent producers is vital for the overall health and vitality of the Australian wine industry, and further to that their respective local economies.
South Australia is fortunate to have many of these boutique gems scattered throughout each of our winemaking regions. These are more often than not family owned, hands-on operations that take pride in every drop of wine they produce. Take a scenic drive through any picturesque wine region, and you can’t help but stumble across them. And one of the picks of the bunch (pun intended) and a leader in the category is Skillogalee Winery.
Skillogalee has been owned and operated by the Palmer family since the late 70s and is home to some of the highest vineyards in South Australia. One of the must visit destinations of the Clare Valley region, not only does the winery have a vibrant cellar door but also renowned restaurant and accommodation. While many wine lovers would know Skillogalee firstly as one of Australia’s top Riesling producers, their reds are also exceptional and world-class.
In fact, the 2012 vintage is considered by many Clare Valley Vignerons as the most stellar in recent memory for producing red in the region. Skillogalee’s flagship red the Trevarrick 2012 Shiraz is definitive proof of this shared sentiment. Awarded a rare James Halliday rating of 97 Points, the remarkable Shiraz is described as, ”… A wine of great class and elegance, with an utterly seductive array of red and black cherry fruits, spice and pepper on its bouquet, precisely repeated on the supply, juicy, silky medium-bodied palate. So easy to enjoy now, most will be long since consumed prior to its notional best-by date.” The Fassina Tasting Panel was also blown away by the sheer quality of this wine!
While big producers certainly have their place in the diverse marketplace of Australian wine, boutique wineries such as Skillogalee utilise their smaller size to their advantage with the flexibility to hand-make individual quality wines in small batches. The end result is a win for consumers who have access to a huge variety of authentic wines that accurately represent the terroir they come from. Whether it’s in a liquor store or at cellar door, actively seek out and support wines from smaller producers, not only to support local business, but to enjoy a glass of wine that is unique and not mass-produced.
Skillogalee Trevarrick Shiraz 2012 – 97 Points James Halliday – $74.95ea
(Limited stock – available at Fassina Liquor while stocks last)
