WOOLSHED CREEK FIZZ | WOOLSHED CREEK WHITE | WOOLSHED CREEK PINK | RIESLING | PINOT GRIS | CHARDONNAY | PINOT NOIR | DINNY'S BLOCK | MERLOT | GRACIANO | SHIRAZ | TSG | TEMPRANILLO
When we planted the North block in 1999, there was not yet today's clear understanding that Shiraz is consistently the best-performing variety in most parts of the Canberra District, and our decision to plant an acre of this variety was considered a trial. We were concerned that our elevation may be too cool to ripen Shiraz, and therefore we chose the warmest, most northerly aspect of the site for this variety.
We are now in the process of enlarging our Shiraz area, delighted with the quality and character of the wines made so far.
While the soil in this end of the vineyard is the same red volcanic, with limestone boulders scattered throughout, there is a slightly thicker (up to 15cm) cover of brown topsoil on the lower sections.
The first planting of Shiraz was of the PT23 clone, and we certainly love what this is producing. Grafting in 2004 used budwood from two blocks at Clonakilla, one the fairly widespread clone 1127, the other clone known as Bests Old Block, which may be the same clone as the St Peters vineyard of Seppelt. These grafted vines were first harvested in 2007 and are not yet shown on the map.