Collection: CASTAGNA

Julian Castagna is an erudite and totally committed disciple of biodynamic grapegrowing and winemaking. He acknowledges that part of biodynamics has to be intuitive but also seeks to understand how the principles and practices enunciated by Rudolf Steiner in 1924 actually work. He purchased 2 egg-shaped, food-grade concrete tanks, each holding 900l. They are, he says, ‘the most perfect shape in physics’, and in the winery they reduce pressure on the lees and deposit the lees over a larger surface area, which, he believes, will eliminate the need for batonnage. His son Adam is responsible for the 400 dozen or so of Adam’s Rib made each year, complementing the production of Castagna. Exports to the UK, France, Spain, Denmark, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan. -JAMES HALLIDAY

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The vineyard was planted in 1997 on what was previously grazing land. Five different clones of Syrah are grown, all of which are progeny of the original 1850s stock imported into Australia from the Rhone. Australia is indeed fortunate to have available such wonderful rare material.

The land has been farmed biodynamic from the very beginning and it is this farming method that allows the minerality that is in this ancient granitic soil to show through in the wine. The vineyard is fully certified both organic and biodynamic and we are also proud to be one of only four Australian producers invited to be a member of La Renaissance des Appellations.

There is no doubt the old-world wines have had a great influence in creating our benchmark. We make classic old-world wine with new-world fruit.

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