Winery: Yalumba

Yalumba, in Barossa's Eden Valley, is one of Australia's oldest family-owned and run wineries and a member of the First Families of Australian Wine. Their "Signature" blend was one of my "research" bottles that convinced us Barossa must be on our visit list. We also picked up their Pewsey Vale Contour dry Riesling, and they then became a must-visit winery. These bottles led us to an incredible visit, organized by Jessica, the 6th generation of the Hill-Smith family, where we discovered their impressive line up of wines.

The Story:

Yalumba was founded in 1849 by an Englishman, Samuel Smith, the winery name meaning, all the land around. They started with 30 acres in the town of Angaston, which borders Barossa and Eden Valley. Being a family-run company, they've been able to keep a long term vision that has influenced their decision making. They've focused on sustainability, which encompasses what they do in the vineyards and in their solar-powered facilities.

Samuel Smith also started a nursery, growing seedlings and stocking many of the first grape varieties brought to the Barossa by James Busby, the father of the Australian wine industry. The Yalumba nursery is a supplier to wineries throughout Australia today. The nursery leads the way with new and emerging grape varieties in Australia by supplying rootstocks such as Vermentino, Pinot Gris, Fiano, Marsanne, Roussane, and Tempranillo.

Yalumba has an on-site cooperage which has been operational since the early 1900s. This has given them the ability to have greater control over the quality of the oak used to age their premium wines. They even went so far as creating their own barrel, a 100-liter octave, which is an 8th of the size of a regular barrel, and it houses their premium "Octavius" Shiraz. Touring the cooperage was a unique opportunity, where we learned about the 6 hour process it takes to make a barrel. The coopers select the best wood from France, America and Hungary. The seasoning is done in-country for almost two years before being transported to Australia. Yalumba makes about 300 barrels a year and supplies some of the other Barossa producers. We found it to be an interesting and unique art in crafting these barrels.

Louisa Rose (Lou) has been Yalumba's head winemaker since 2006, she is both the custodian of Yalumba tradition and an innovative force. She's been named Australia's winemaker of the year, along with many other awards. She has become an inspiring figure in Australia's wine industry. The winery has a big family feel, where we heard stories about employees who worked for Yalumba their entire career. In 1975, the family started a tradition to honor this dedication by naming their Signature Shiraz after the employee of the year. They have a barrel room which showcases each year with the person's name. I'm not sure I've seen another winery of this size do something so heartfelt for its employees, or where they’re seen as extended family.

The Hill-Smith family has become one of the most respected names in the wine industry. In the past thirty years, they've expanded their vineyards in Barossa and across Australia to include; Tasmania, King Valley in Victoria's high country, Margaret River, and also acquiring vineyards in New Zealand too. They seek to craft wines that reflect a thoughtful interpretation of the grape, terroir, and style. The family is also dedicated to the recognition and preservation of old vines. They drove the definition of the Old Vine Charter to establish a foundation for promotional criteria. They want to acknowledge Australia's history and survival of these vines.

The Wines:

Yalumba produces eight different collections of wine; Rare & Fine, Distinguished Sites, Second Generation, Samuel's Garden, Organic, Individual, Fortified and the Y Series. This includes 17 different grape varieties. If you're anything like us, you will find many bottles you'll want to bring home.

Viognier:

Yalumba is one of worlds most influential producers of Viognier. They first planted the grape in 1980 at a time when the grape was virtually unknown outside of France. The Yalumba nursery has since imported 11 clones that are utilized across the country. In 1998 they released "Virgilius" which has become a benchmark for Australian Viognier. Lou has become renowned for her knowledge of the grape, and she even designed a wine glass for the varietal. If you are going to do a horizontal tasting, you must include a Yalumba Viognier.

2017 Virgilius Viognier: Peach and apricot aromas, resulting in a bright, creamy medium-to-full bodied wine.

Riesling:

We tasted through 4 different Rieslings from the Pewsey Vale vineyard, which they purchased in 1961, containing vines planted in 1847. The vineyard sits at 450-500 meters in Eden Valley, that's 250 meters above the Barossa Valley. In 1961, after studying the climate and soil types in this vineyard, they converted the site to focus on Riesling and is now planted with 85 acres. The cooler temperatures result in a long ripening period. The terroir is providing a natural mineral acidity, characteristics of these wines. I was happy to see a "sweetness" indicator on the back of their bottles, which is so helpful. If you are a Riesling fan like myself, do yourself a favor and add these to your purchases.

2018 1961 Block Riesling: The wine from the first vineyard plantings, it was steely and lovely.

2013 Contours Riesling: This remained my favorite and came home with us. It’s aged 5 years in the bottle adding to the complexity with a touch of toastiness.

Grenache:

Yalumba has been expanding its Grenache repertoire since 2011, seeking a lower alcohol point, fresh and light with plenty of flavor. The new labels include Carriage Block Grenache and Vine Vale Grenache.

2015 Tri-Centenary Grenache (Rare & Fine Collection)

Named for a vine whose life has spanned three centuries. A single vineyard of over 800 gnarly old bush vines planted in 1889. The nose was so aromatic; violets and roses with strawberry and raspberries. A medium to full-bodied wine that was savory with a lot of depth and concentration. It became my favorite and certainly gained a spot in my suitcase.

Shiraz:

The Yalumba journey is synonymous with Barossa Shiraz. Initially used in fortified wines, today these plants which are some of the oldest in the world, make their flagship Octavius Old Vine Shiraz.

2015 Octavius Old Vine Shiraz: 22 months in their coopered oak barrel. A full-bodied, rich wine with lots of depth and hints of chocolate with tannins on the finish. My Cabernet loving husband enjoyed this wine.

Shiraz and Cabernet:

Yalumba has maintained a long tradition of blending Shiraz and Cabernet, made continuously since 1962. Some of Australia's most legendary wines have been made in this style, with the Shiraz complementing the Cabernet by offering a velvety richness.

Yalumba's Signature has undoubtedly set a benchmark and is among one of our favorite wines. It pairs the complexity of a Cabernet with the lushness of Shiraz, resulting in a powerful and voluptuous wine.

As you can see, there is so much to discover at Yalumba. It was an enjoyable experience and a fantastic way to uncover all that Barossa has to offer.