Internationally, Australia is recognised as producing extraordinary Shiraz wines, even rivalling those of the Rhone Valley from where the grape cuttings were originally sourced.

The Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Great Western districts have firmly cemented their place on the global market as being exceptional Shiraz producing districts and although Heathcote is regarded as their equal, the scarcity of wine has left the district in relative obscurity.
That's all rapidly changing as newer plantings have come on stream. The Heathcote winemakers and growers are now asserting themselves upon the global market.

Leigh Devine, an accounting partner with Ernst and Young and a founding member of the firm’s wine focus group, (as well as being a Heathcote winegrower himself) believes that Heathcote is ideal for winemaking declaring "This will be the new Coonawarra". The reason for such enthusiasm stems from the fact that the terroir of the district is ideally suited for the production of outstanding grapes and in particular Shiraz.
Terroir is defined as the interaction of the soil, sunlight, rainfall distribution and micro climates to create unique conditions not found elsewhere on the planet.

One of the latest Heathcote labels on the market is bound to further consolidate Heathcote's reputation as a top Shiraz producer. (Having said that, the Cabernet from this vineyard is just as well worth seeking out!). The vineyard in question is the Toolleen Vineyard, situated on the Western slope of Mount Camel near the middle of the Heathcote G.I.C. The soil is composed of that highly prized Cambrian earth. Forty acres are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz of North facing slopes. The vineyard is sparingly irrigated, with the vine canopies managed to promote fully ripened fruit. The viticulturist and part owner of Toolleen Vineyard is the highly vocal Tom Krakowski, previously Sommelier of University House at the University of Melbourne.

Image courtesy of www.nicks.com.au

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