Winery & Vintage Info
Shaw + Smith was established by winemaker Martin Shaw and Master of Wine Michael Hill Smith in 1989. With a vision to make exciting, refined wines exclusively from the Adelaide Hills that reflect our sites and climate.
Shaw + Smith own three vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, at Balhannah, Lenswood and Piccadilly, totalling 59 hectares. The vineyards are planted to varieties that perform particularly well in the region, namely Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz.
Another cooler than average season with some influence from La Niña weather patterns. The season was cool to begin with, which meant a smaller crop formed during fruit- set. Then it was a mild summer that warmed up towards the end, adding flavour and ripeness to the fresh acidity.
In December the vines looked like they were going to be very late to the party. It’s always a nervous moment, as with the crops out there for longer, fruit can be subject to a number of negative factors. Happily, conditions stayed mild and relatively dry, apart from a few well-timed showers that kept the vines healthy.
Hand-picked grapes are pressed as whole bunches, and then squeezed gently but firmly in an air-bag press. The juice goes into barrels made of the finest French oak, for fermentation. After about 9 months in oak, first fermenting, then going through the magical ‘malolactic’ ferment, the batches are blended to stainless steel tanks before bottling.
