The vineyards in the foothills behind McLaren Vale have always produced some of the regions finest wines, the soils enriched from the hills above and the cooler climate further tempered by the sea breezes off St Vincent’s Gulf, setting the scene for high quality wine grapes.
In 1981 the Australian Wine Industry was in bad shape. Classic old vines, used to make fortified and red wines, were being removed and big companies were pulling out of the industry. Twenty four year old Geoff Hardy had recently graduated from Roseworthy Agricultural College and had seen how the Californian’s were grafting old vines over to new varieties such as Chardonnay.
Geoff formed a partnership with Ian Leask who already had a solid history in viticulture and was then managing the Ryecroft Vineyards. The vineyard was available for sale and this is how “ Pertaringa” – an Aboriginal name meaning ‘Belonging to the Hills” - was born.
Their grafted vines, Chardonnay in particular, were an instant success and the Shiraz ironically sold to Hardy’s, Geoff’s family wine company, to make port and only in exchange for some wine as payment. A far cry from today when Pertaringa’s old Shiraz and Cabernet vines make two of the finest full bodied reds of the region. And much of the fruit is highly sought after by many of Australia’s leading wine companies for their award winning wines. The Sauvignon Blanc makes a beautiful and classy white and the Semillon, with the benefit of fermentation in new oak, is a real red wine drinkers white. Each individual Pertaringa Wine is made from select parcels of the best fruit from each variety grown in the vineyard.
In 1990, Geoff and Ian won the first “South Australian Vineyard of the Year” award, worthy recognition of their combined efforts. In 1997 a cellar door was added to the vineyard complex making a visit to the vineyard, today, even more rewarding.
Pertaringa wines have now found their way to Europe, North America and Asia where they have received much recognition. Pertaringa’s Shiraz has been chosen by Qantas to be served in their Business Class. Recently the Pertaringa Shiraz was awarded five stars by London’s famous Decanter Magazine outscoring other Australian Premium Shiraz such as The Eileen Hardy, The Armagh, Grant Burge Meshach and Rosemount Balmoral. The Wine Spectator from the US has also given both the Pertaringa Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz extremely high scores.
Pertaringa is a hands on boutique wine company where all the staff are dedicated professionals concentrating on producing the highest quality grapes from low yielding vines and wines of truly exceptional quality. Why not search out these great wines.
