Woodstock Shiraz 2023 is a classic McLaren Vale expression from one of the region’s longstanding family producers. Sourced from Woodstock Estate and neighbouring vineyards in Blewitt Springs, the wine draws on Shiraz grown predominantly on sandy soils, which Woodstock associates with the variety’s lifted aromatic character.
In the vineyard, Woodstock closely monitors the balance between foliage and fruit, aiming to achieve even ripening and full flavour development. The combination of estate and neighbouring McLaren Vale vineyards gives the wine a broader regional identity than a single-vineyard expression, distinguishing it from Woodstock’s more site-specific wines such as The Stocks Shiraz.
In the winery, the Shiraz fruit is destemmed into small open fermenters and pumped over twice daily for five days. The wine is then drained and pressed into oak hogsheads, where fermentation is completed before maturation for up to 18 months. Woodstock uses this period in oak to gradually soften tannins and integrate oak character with the fruit.
Within the Woodstock portfolio, this is the producer’s regional McLaren Vale Shiraz: a useful introduction to the house’s approach to the variety without stepping into the more concentrated, vineyard-specific territory of The Stocks. For drinkers looking for McLaren Vale Shiraz with genuine producer and regional identity, Woodstock Shiraz sits squarely in that role.
The hero variety of the region, Woodstock Shiraz is sourced from Woodstock Estate and neighbouring vineyards in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. These vines are all on sandy soils which contribute the floral aromatics to Woodstock Shiraz. The ratio between bunches and leaves are closely monitored to ensure vineyard balance, so that each vine can deliver full, ripe flavours to every bunch.
The Shiraz fruit was 100% de-stemmed into small open fermenters where it is pumped over twice daily for 5 days. The wine is then drained and pressed into oak hogsheads where it will finish fermentation and remain for up to 18 months. For this style, maturation in oak vessels provides gradual oxidation and softening of harsh tannins as well as the balanced incorporation of oak character.
