The 2025 Tapanappa Tiers 1.5M Vineyard Chardonnay is a distinctive single-vineyard Chardonnay from the iconic Tiers Vineyard in the Piccadilly Valley of the Adelaide Hills. Produced by Tapanappa under the guidance of legendary Australian winemaker Brian Croser, this wine showcases an innovative vineyard planting that delivers a richer, earlier-ripening expression while remaining unmistakably true to the celebrated Tiers terroir.
The Tiers 1.5M Vineyard was established in 2003 when 1.3 hectares of the original 1979 Tiers Vineyard were replanted with French Bernard clones 76 and 95 on rootstocks at an unusually close 1.5-metre row spacing. This unique planting density produces naturally fuller-flavoured Chardonnay and has been bottled as a separate wine since the 2015 vintage.
The 2025 vintage was the warmest, driest and earliest on record in the Piccadilly Valley. Despite the warm conditions, there were no heatwaves, allowing the vines to ripen evenly while preserving freshness. Harvest took place on 6 March, three to four weeks earlier than average, producing fruit with exceptional concentration and natural balance.
Hand-harvested grapes were chilled to 2°C before whole-bunch pressing using gentle airbag presses. The juice was transferred to French oak barriques, one-third new, where it underwent a slow two-month fermentation. The wine matured on full lees until October before bottling in November, building texture and complexity while preserving purity and precision.
The wine displays a brilliant green-gold hue with expressive aromas of ripe peach, pear and dried fig, complemented by subtle brioche and cinnamon complexity from extended lees ageing and French oak maturation. The palate is rich, layered and beautifully textured, carrying generous stone fruit flavours balanced by vibrant grapefruit acidity and a distinctive quince-like finish. Long, precise and mineral, it captures both the warmth of the vintage and the unmistakable identity of the Tiers Vineyard.
With its remarkable balance of richness, freshness and structure, the 2025 Tiers 1.5M Vineyard Chardonnay is superb on release and will continue to evolve gracefully over the next 10–15 years.
Winery: Tapanappa
Region: Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Vineyard: Tiers 1.5M Vineyard
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage: 2025
Alcohol: 13.6%
Maturation: French oak barriques (33% new), matured on full lees
Closure: Stelvin Screwcap
Production: 575 dozen
Food Pairing: Butter-poached lobster, roast chicken, grilled John Dory, seared scallops, creamy mushroom risotto, or aged Comté.
