Walk our ‘Taste The History’ tour through the old vine blocks in McLaren Flat and you'll notice that these aren't the neat, uniform rows you might picture when you think of a vineyard. The trunks are thick and twisted by decades in the ground. Some of these vines are older than we are and every time we walk past them, we're reminded that everything they give us started long before Grounded Cru existed.
What We Mean by ‘Old Vines’
There's no official rulebook for what counts as an old vine, but the general consensus is that it takes around 35 years or more for the roots to work their way deep enough into the earth that they can start drawing on everything the deeper soil has to offer. They've also seen enough seasons to shrug off a scorching January or a strange, unpredictable year. Steady is the word that comes to mind, vintage after vintage.
Older vines also don't tend to produce as much fruit as their younger counterparts. Smaller berries and less fruit delivers a richer, more complex wine with more texture in the glass. It’s a simple trade: less fruit, more character. And once you've tasted the difference, it's hard to go back.
Our 95-year-old Grenache, 75-year-old Shiraz and 75-year-old Cabernet vines sit across 14 acres here in McLaren Vale, the heart of our winemaking home. Joining us for our ‘Taste the History’ experience at the cellar door gives you the unique experience of walking the rows together before sitting down to taste what they’ve produced.
What Ends Up in the Glass
This is the fruit we save for our most considered wines; our Reserve Inc range, and iconic Kardi Shiraz Cabernet. So next time you pour a glass and notice a little more weight, a little more layered fruit, a little more presence, we hope you think of our old vines in the sun, doing what they do best.
FAQs
What counts as an “old vine”?
There's no strict cut-off, but we're generally talking about vines that have been in the ground for 35 years or more, long enough to have developed real depth and character.
Why do old vines make better wine?
They naturally produce less fruit, and that means more flavour concentrated into every berry. They also tend to handle tough seasons more gracefully than younger vines.
Which Grounded Cru wines come from old vines?
Our Reserve Inc Grenache, Inc Shiraz and Inc Cabernet and our iconic Kardi Shiraz Cabernet are all from our old vines on Ingoldby Road.
Can I visit the old vine blocks myself?
Yes. Our ‘Taste the History’ experience takes you through the vineyard before finishing with a tasting. Get in touch via our Contact page to find out more or to book for yourself of a group.