New Barossa wine tasting experience unveiled

 

Want a little more than your average wine tasting experience?

St Hugo in the Barossa Valley has just introduced a new offering: From Vine to Vault.

This guided small-group tour, led by a knowledgeable wine host, meanders down the cork tree-lined driveway and through the historic grounds, including the original gravity-fed winery. 

The experience then continues at the St Hugo cellar door with the exclusive Ultimate Tasting.

This curated flight features "standout vintages paired with a thoughtfully prepared small-bite plate" designed to match each win.

The journey concludes in The Vault, where guests enjoy a rare and remarkable taste of history: a 100-year-old tawny, dating back to 1925.

The experience is available Friday-Monday at 10:30am for $115 per person and is part of St Hugo's Ultimate Winery Experiences offering.

See https://www.ultimatewineryexperiences.com.au/experiences/st-hugo-from-vine-to-vault/  

Meet Attunement: a new classic Australian red blend

A new-release from St Hugo is a serious discovery for lovers of aged, and age-worthy, Australian red wines.

It is a very impressive blend of Barossa shiraz and Coonawarra cabernet - a classic Australian blend.

"We’re delighted to welcome a brand new shiraz cabernet blend to the St Hugo portfolio: St Hugo Attunement Barossa Coonawarra Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2018," says St Hugo chief winemaker Peter Munro.

"We’ve made this classic blend driven by a singular ambition: to create a wine that promises complexity, elegance, power and refinement, resulting in a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

"As classic blends go I’d say this is more on the ‘robust end’ but as we know with all blends, it’s about the synergy and why we named this wine Attunement. Precision perfected."

The grapes for the blend, 64% shiraz and 36% cabernet sauvignon, were sourced from two vineyards in the Barossa for shiraz and one for cabernet and one for shiraz in the Coonawarra.

The split between the regions leans towards the Barossa at 52% and 48% Coonawarra.

I liked the immediate drinkability on offer here, the synthesis between the two grape varieties and regions, and the cellaring potential.

"Vintage 2018 was fantastic across South Australia, a little warmer than usual, resulting in pure fruit flavours from both regions," says Munro.

"The fruit was de-stemmed and crushed into static and open fermenters with pumping over regularly to achieve excellent extraction, flavour and tannin.

"The fruit was then drained and pressed followed by malo and ageing for 17 months in new French oak (76%). The team then sat down for the final blending; very much in true St Hugo style: all precision and attention to detail.

Attunement will cost you around $100 a bottle and will be available at selected Dan Murphy stores nationally.

Ricciardo puts pedal to the metal with a new wine release

Former Formula One racer Daniel Ricciardo is an outgoing sort of bloke, not scared of performing a "shoey" when he feels the time is right. 

 
But there is also an artistic side to Ricciardo, as evidenced by his wine collaboration with St Hugo. 

The latest release in the range is Daniel Ricciardo - 2024 Enchanté Rosé by DR3 with a very feminine label (right).

I'm not sure how much appetite there is among Australian wine devotees for a $40 mataro rosé but the story goes that the new release is "inspired by Daniel’s approach to life" and is described as "the youthful, adventurous and newest member in this prestigious portfolio".

It's a nice wine; blessed with bright, crunchy fruit but with a pebbly, dry finish; refreshing and perfect for serving chilled on a warm day. 

"The decision to create this wine with mataro grapes was made early on by Daniel and I - a distinctive choice in the local rosé market," says winemaker Trina Smith. 

"As you’ll taste, the mataro imparts a beautiful jasmine floral note to the wine, and a long, elegant finish. I’m proud to say it is a contemporary style rosé that is we feel is uniquely Australian.

"While this is a passion project for Daniel, it’s been crafted with the precision of a St Hugo wine and it’s been an honour to work together on such a uniquely delicious project."

The wine is being rolled-out nationally across Dan Murphy stores right now. 

New owner for major Australian and New Zealand wine labels

 

Some of the most famous wine brands in Australia and New Zealand have a new owner.

Labels including Jacob's Creek, St Hugo and Brancott Estate will now come under the Accolade banner, if government approval is forthcoming.

Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard reached an agreement concerning the sale of 10 key wine brands, Drinks Trade is reporting.

The deal, signed in Paris on Tuesday night, will see Accolade. Australia’s second-largest wine producer acquire Pernod Ricard’s Australian, New Zealand, and Spanish wine brand portfolios. 

“Combining Accolade Wines with the Pernod Ricard assets will create a more certain and financially sustainable future for the business, allowing us to better serve our customers, in more segments and more geographies," said Joshua Hartz, spokesperson for Australian Wine Holdco Limited (AWL).

AWL became the equity owners of Accolade Wines in February this year.

The transaction includes the sale of Australian brands Jacob’s Creek, Orlando, and St Hugo, New Zealand brands Stoneleigh, Brancott Estate and Church Road, and Spanish brands Campo Viejo, Ysios, Tarsus and Azpilicueta.

Accolade Wines will acquire all associated assets of each brand, which includes an integrated platform from vineyard to bottle alongside seven wineries, Drinks Trade says.

Accolade is an international wine business with headquarters in South Australia. It has been owned by the Carlyle Group, an American company, since 2018. Bain Capital now holds a controlling interest. 

It makes wines under labels including Hardys, St Hallett, Grant Burge and Banrock Station, as well as Mud House in New Zealand.

Aussie Formula One ace speeds into affordable wine space

Australian Formula One racer Daniel Ricciardo has teamed up with Australian winery St Hugo to craft the new Ric Red wine.

Ricciardo describes Ric Red as a ‘Secret Sauce’ - an approachable red blend ready to be enjoyed whenever and wherever.

Ricciardo said he wanted to create a delicious drop with a nod to his Italian heritage. He has teamed with chief winemaker Peter Munro to create a red blend that is described as "secret and unique".

The label is an artwork by Ricciardo's friend and helmet designer Ornamental Conifer (the alter ego of British artist Nicolai Sclater).



“Ric Red is what I pull out when I’m with my best mates and we’re sharing stories and laughs.”Ricciardo said.

“I believe that everyone should have a beautiful "go-to" red, so I was determined to create a social and shareable wine with St Hugo that is easily accessible for whenever the moment calls for it.

"I am super proud of what we’ve created together."

Ricciardo has been involved "every step of the way" from blending to the label design and tasting notes,

The partnership had previously resulted in two limited-edition vintage releases of fine wine range DR3 x St Hugo, which were first released in 2021, together with a hand-blown glass racing boot decanter that sold out in seven days.

Ric Red is an affordable extension of DR3 x St Hugo.

The wine is on sale from today with an RRP of $45 at www.sthugo.com/RicRed.