• Riverland Uprising producers on what to expect at ProWein

    If you have any room in your diary for an extra few meetings at ProWein then here’s why you should spend some time and go over to Wine Australia’s stand and pick out the five producers who are making the journey from South Australia to represent the Riverland wine region as part of the Riverland Uprising initiative to shine the light on the alternative winemaking scene in what is largely regarded as one of the country’s biggest sourcing areas for bulk wine. If you do there are five producers just waiting to meet you.

    If you have any room in your diary for an extra few meetings at ProWein then here’s why you should spend some time and go over to Wine Australia’s stand and pick out the five producers who are making the journey from South Australia to represent the Riverland wine region as part of the Riverland Uprising initiative to shine the light on the alternative winemaking scene in what is largely regarded as one of the country’s biggest sourcing areas for bulk wine. If you do there are five producers just waiting to meet you.

    mm By March 17, 2023

    You can find the five producers from Riverland Uprising at ProWein on Wine Australia’s stand (Hall 14, C10). Phil Reedman MW and Jim Markeas of Mallee Estate will be hosting a masterclass on March 19 at 2.3opm-3.15pm. Here’s what to expect.

    Oxford Landing 

    Carolyn Macleod, senior brand manager 

    Tell us about your business, the kinds of wine you make and your target customers?  

    Oxford Landing is proudly South Australian and a proud Riverland wine producer. Our vineyards were first planted in 1958 and Oxford Landing was launched in 1990. Whether it’s red or white, we let the variety shine. Our wines are modern interpretations of your favourite varietal wines. We focus on capturing the fruit flavours from the vineyard. We don’t shy  way  from natural texture and welcome artisanal techniques when it enhances the wine experience. Most importantly, our wines (all of them) are utterly approachable, moreish, crowd pleasers.

    Oxford Landing places a lot of emphasis on sustainable winemaking

    What changes have you been making in your vineyards and winery to make better quality wine?  

    Our winery is SWA Accredited and all of our wines are SWA certified from 2023 vintage. We use lightweight bottles and recyclable cartons to reduce our environmental impact. We proudly recycle 100% of our winery wastewater and use drip irrigation and drought tolerant rootstock. All of our wines are also vegan friendly.

    Why are you exhibiting at ProWein?

    As a Riverland producer we are keen to support the Riverland wine region and help to put the region on the map globally as a quality wine producing region. We are looking for increased global brand exposure, potential new market opportunities for Oxford Landing and new markets and distribution for our new collection, Riverlife by Oxford Landing, networking opportunities.

    Why should people come and see you? 

    Our Riverlife by Oxford Landing collection is a disruptive new collection targeted at younger consumers. These wines feature an augmented reality experience which tells our sustainability story, whilst engaging younger consumers. We are passionate about recruitment, and these wines intended to bring new and young consumers into wine. These wines represent great value and deliver on quality.

    How important are exports and the UK market for you?  

    Oxford Landing was founded by the late Wyndham Hill-Smith in 1958

    The UK market is our number one market, and we are committed to growing other export markets.

    How is the 2023 harvest going and what do you expect in terms of quality and pricing? 

    The 2023 vintage has kept us waiting at Hill-Smith Family Estates. A lovely wet winter and spring, and a cool start to summer meant that the vines were in no hurry to set their grapes or ripen them. Oxford Landing is underway with whites, a couple of weeks later than typical, and the juices are looking great. While we are patiently waiting, the weather is perfect – dry and warm – and the vineyards look fantastic – promising that when it comes, the vintage will result in some terrific wines.

    Anything else to say?  

    Riverlife is a drop of wine that calls to the days spent basking in the sun, leaving wakes on the water and easing into a night around the fire. That perfect balance between peace and exhilaration. When you take Riverlife by Oxford Landing to your next event, you’re not just bringing a bottle of delicious Riverland wine with you, you’re bringing the playful tranquillity of the Riverland lifestyle. You’re bringing an emphatic support of the Riverland wildlife. You’re bringing the life to the party. Bring the life.

    Sixty Eight Roses

    John Koutouzis, winemaker 

    Tell us about your business, the kinds of wine you make and your target customers?

    We are a new business making wines that are easy to drink, with minimal intervention and styles that suit today’s ‘drink now’ pallet. We are targeting the 25 to 55 drink now audience who are looking for fresh, organic and vegan wines. We want to make modern, on trend, alternative wines.

    John Koutouzis is looking forward to shaking things up at ProWein next week. Photo Matt Wilson

    What changes have you been making in your vineyards and winery to make better quality wine?  

    We are moving towards sustainable and organic growing, so have been feeding the ground up with organic nutrients, hand pruning and hand picking when we can. We use drip irrigation and Murray water using digital systems. 

    Why are you exhibiting at ProWein?  

    I’m super passionate about wine, food and culture. It will be amazing for my business to have an opportunity to expand overseas and grow our businesses around the globe  showcasing our wonderful wines grown here in the funky sunny Riverland. 

    What do you hope to achieve? 

    We are looking for export opportunities and growth and the chance to meet amazing people in the wine industry. Networking is the way to drive business and success.

    Why should people come and see you? 

    We are looking to grow our brand with more new and exciting products using our grapes and other fruits we grow. I want to have the Sixty Eight brand overseas and grow together with other stake holders. Sixty Eight Roses is a fun and exciting business waiting to grow further. 

    How important are exports and the UK market for you?

    Very important. Australian wines are a hit and should be a hit in the UK. Our flavours are what the UK consumer is looking to buy – easy drinking wines with a bang of flavour.

    How is the 2023 harvest going and what do you expect in terms of quality and pricing? 

    The Riverland is a secret gem ready to explode and the UK is best placed to understand our wines and our culture. 

     

    Mallee Estate

    Jim Markeas, winemaker 

    Tell us about your business, the kinds of wine you make and your target customers?  

    Mallee Estate is a family-owned vineyard, winery and restaurant established by Peter and Eleni Markeas. The first vineyard was established in 1968 with three acres of Shiraz planted which is still in production.

    Mallee Estate: Looking to make a splash at ProWein. Photo Matt Wilson

    There are now three vineyards comprising of 120 acres all at separate locations in Renmark. This is to take advantage of the different soil types and to grow better and more distinctive grapes for winemaking.

    All the wines are 100% estate grown and bottled. The winery has state of the art processing equipment and incorporates traditional and modern winemaking techniques for the most distinctive styles.

    We produce organic wines, low alcohol wines and natural wines from 16 different varieties.

    What changes have you been making in your vineyards and winery to make better quality wine? 

    All vineyards are currently in organic conversion. 2024 will be the first certified organic vintage with classic varieties of Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. 

    In 2025 our new top grafted vine varieties will also be fully certified Organic with Vermentino, Albarino, Moschaton, Santoriniko, Saperavi and Montepulciano with more to come. 

    In the winery we have invested in reverse osmosis technology to produce low alcohol wines at 6-7% which are fresh and fruit driven.

    Mallee Estate has always produced environmentally friendly wine. It produces its day time electricity via solar, recycles 100% waste water and grape marc back into the vineyard.

    Mallee Estate is also currently going through certification with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and will be fully certified in September 2023.

    Why are you exhibiting at ProWein?

    To expand sales into Europe and UK with organic, low alcohol and natural wines. We are seeking importers and distributors who are also seeking to work with an innovative family company that is 100% organic and at the forefront of new in vogue styles for respective markets.

    Why should people come and see you? 

    We are a family company, We have great organic wines with traditional and alternative varieties from Australia.

    How important are exports and the UK market for you? 

    Exports are very important to Mallee Estate and so is the UK. We have a very long working relationship and we want to bring a new flare to world with our new wines.

    How is the 2023 harvest going and what do you expect in terms of quality and pricing?

    The 2023 growing season has been cool, we have had slower but steady ripening, fruit flavour and acidity have developed harmoniously. Early Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc look great so far and now we are looking forward to the first of reds to be picked with Pinot Noir leading the way.

     

    Unico Zelo

    Brendan Carter, chief winemaker

    Tell us about your business, the kinds of wine you make and your target customers?  

    Brendan and Laura Carter are quickly making a name for themselves in the Adelaide Hills

    We’re a family-owned winery based in the Adelaide Hills, although have a particular fascination with crafting wine from the Riverland. We started our winery in 2012 with the aim to explore the unknowns of Australian terroir through sustainable viticulture making dirt-first decisions & lo-fi winemaking.

    We craft wines that are expressions of Australian culture, and simply wish to share that culture with the rest of the world.

    What changes have you been making in your vineyards and winery to make better quality wine?

    Reducing or removing irrigation, as a stressor to drive growers to plant more pragmatic and therefore, more culturally relevant varieties that are climatically appropriate. From there, quality wine is largely a given.

    Why are you exhibiting at ProWein?  

    Because as a smaller producer we rarely have the budget or time (given ProWein occurs at vintage/harvest in Australia) to attend. We’re being supported by Riverland Wine, which gives us a really unique opportunity to attend the world’s largest wine trade event, and hopefully introduce some really unique wines that most importers never get to see from Australia.

    What do you hope to achieve? 

    Simply an understanding of what it’s like at ProWein, and understand how Australian wine is represented on a global stage. As generally only the largest producers are represented on a world-wide basis, I’m interested to know the difference between what the world thinks of Australian wine, and what Australian wine is to Australians. I find that truly fascinating, and they’re often very different things.

    Why should people come and see you?

    People should come to see us because I can absolutely guarantee that they’ve never seen wines like this from Australia. People should come to see us, because what they think of Australian wines is vastly different to how things are now. If they want an honest take on where Australian wine is at, from a millennial perspective – they’ll learn more in 20 minutes than they could in most books.

    How important are exports and the UK market for you?  

    Huge. Much of our cultural identity is driven in export markets, although (I posit), often misrepresented. I’d like the chance to share a more up-to-date and culturally relevant side of Australia, and Australian Wine.

    How is the 2023 harvest going and what do you expect in terms of quality and pricing? 

    So far, interesting. Most growers were expecting bumper crops due to the plentiful water supply over winter. Unfortunately we’re seeing much variability in yield, most likely as a result from the extended cold weather into summer. This has delayed crops, but (as always), intellectual viticulture regins supreme. In a vintage like 2023, we’re given the opportunity to retain acidity, keep alcohol lower, while capturing phenolic ripeness. I foresee some next-level, amazing wines from 2023, although I believe you might need to look for them. I also suspect the entire harvest to be down significantly.

    Starrs Reach

    Sheridan Alm, business manager

    Sheridan Alm is looking forward to bringing Starrs Reach wines to Europe. Photo Matt Wilson

    Tell us about your business, the kinds of wine you make and your target customers?  

    Despite the Riverland being Australia’s largest wine region by tonnage produced, there is a small undercurrent of exciting and emerging talents and Starrs Reach Vineyard are one of those. The Riverland is pushing the boundaries using climate adaptive grape varieties and hardworking old favourites like Grenache, Mataro and Chardonnay to craft a new offering of uncomplicated, elegant and affordable wines.

    What changes have you been making in your vineyards and winery to make better quality wine?  

    Our vineyards place sustainability above all other demands and as our logo suggests we grow our wine with a strong awareness that what happens below the ground is equally important as what happens above the ground. The hot and dry climate of the Riverland allows us to produce our wine with minimal intervention in the vineyard and in the winery, allowing our wines to tell the story of the land on which they are grown.

    Why are you exhibiting at Prowein?  

    We want to get an introduction to the key European wine markets. We are looking for long lasting genuine relationships with customers who want to be part of a new movement in Australian sustainable and climate adaptive consumer friendly wines.

    Why should people come and see you?

    We have a great family business story and love people and sharing wine. Our wines are punching well above their weights in terms of quality and affordability.

    How is the 2023 harvest going and what do you expect in terms of quality and pricing?

    We expect the 2023 vintage to be a unique expression of a mild season, allowing us to test and run new techniques of harvesting grapes earlier rather than later to let Riverland fresh vibrant fruit flavours to shine in place of heavy tannic wines.

    Anything else to say?  
    The Riverland is naturally well  placed to take advantage of it’s  hot and dry climate allowing organic principles to shine and wines to require little intervention in the vineyard and in the winery to express a sense of place.

    • To meet the Riverland producers for yourself at ProWein go to Riverland Wine, Wine Australia Hall 14, C10, or email Lyndall Rowe at eo@riverlandwine.com.au.
    • Phil Reedman MW and Jim Markeas of Mallee Estate will be hosting a masterclass on March 19 at 2.3opm-3.15pm.    

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