Leconfield Wines
About
LECONFIELD is home to three highly-respected Australian wine brands – Leconfield, Richard Hamilton and Syn, offering a range of premium quality wines.
Location Description
Winery & Coonawarra Cellar Door:
Riddoch Hwy
Coonawarra, South Australia 5263
McLaren Vale Cellar Door:
439 Main Road
McLaren Vale, South Australia 5171
Additional Information
- Meeting / Conference Facilities:
- Caves:
- Wedding Facilities:
- Picnic Facilities:
- Dog Friendly:
- Winery Tours:
- Wine Tasting:
- Art or Architecture:
- Organic / Biodynamic:
- Awards:
- Wine Club:
- Lodging / Bed & Breakfast:
Winemaker
Paul Gordon
Senior Winemaker
Paul's fascination with wine grew from researching for a school project at the age of 14. Oenology at Roseworthy College in South Australia followed, achieving his degree in 1979.
Since graduation Paul gained experience in all facets of winemaking working in the Barossa Valley, Mildura, Sydney and Coonawarra for the Southcorp group, including 12 years as winemaker and senior winemaker at Rouge Homme in Coonawarra until 2001. This period was interspersed with experience in Europe. He joined Leconfield as Senior Winemaker in December 2001.
Inspiration from wines of Alsace, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhone regions of France and the new generation of producers in Italy as well as Paul's oenology experience in Australia have refined his approach. "Great wine cannot be made without exceptional fruit. I pride myself on developing close relationships between both our winery and vineyard staff. We all constantly evaluate our wonderful vineyard resource to find innovative means of maximising fruit quality in our wines."
Based at the winery in Coonawarra Paul is responsible for all production aspects of Leconfield and Richard Hamilton, dividing his time between Coonawarra and McLaren Vale – most hectic during vintage.
Tim Bailey
Winemaker
Tim joined Leconfield in Coonawarra in 1997, following winemaking experience in Europe and the United States.
A talented winemaker and local sporting legend, he contributes dynamic enthusiasm, innovation and a discriminating palate to the winemaking team.
Combined with Paul's passion, experience, skill and maturity, this makes for a formidable combination.
Senior Winemaker
Paul's fascination with wine grew from researching for a school project at the age of 14. Oenology at Roseworthy College in South Australia followed, achieving his degree in 1979.
Since graduation Paul gained experience in all facets of winemaking working in the Barossa Valley, Mildura, Sydney and Coonawarra for the Southcorp group, including 12 years as winemaker and senior winemaker at Rouge Homme in Coonawarra until 2001. This period was interspersed with experience in Europe. He joined Leconfield as Senior Winemaker in December 2001.
Inspiration from wines of Alsace, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhone regions of France and the new generation of producers in Italy as well as Paul's oenology experience in Australia have refined his approach. "Great wine cannot be made without exceptional fruit. I pride myself on developing close relationships between both our winery and vineyard staff. We all constantly evaluate our wonderful vineyard resource to find innovative means of maximising fruit quality in our wines."
Based at the winery in Coonawarra Paul is responsible for all production aspects of Leconfield and Richard Hamilton, dividing his time between Coonawarra and McLaren Vale – most hectic during vintage.
Tim Bailey
Winemaker
Tim joined Leconfield in Coonawarra in 1997, following winemaking experience in Europe and the United States.
A talented winemaker and local sporting legend, he contributes dynamic enthusiasm, innovation and a discriminating palate to the winemaking team.
Combined with Paul's passion, experience, skill and maturity, this makes for a formidable combination.
History
Hamilton is one of the original Australian winemaking families. In 1837 Richard Hamilton founded the Hamilton Vineyards, just south of Adelaide in 1837. It was planted with stock brought by the family from South Africa, en route from England.
Five winemaking generations later, in 1972, Richard's great-great-grandson Dr Richard Hamilton established a small winery in McLaren Vale under the guidance of his father Burton, a noted viticulturist, and uncle, renowned vigneron, Sydney Hamilton.
Two years later, at the age of 76, Sydney bought land on the famous 'terra rossa' strip in Coonawarra and established 'Leconfield' to fulfil his life's ambition of growing and making a classic Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sydney retired in 1981 after 65 vintages and Dr Richard Hamilton purchased the company from him. Leconfield became the single winemaking facility for both the Richard Hamilton and Leconfield brands, securing the family connection to both Coonawarra and McLaren Vale.
Experienced Coonawarra winemaker Paul Gordon joined Leconfield in 2001. He and Assistant Winemaker Tim Bailey are the winemaking custodians of the Richard Hamilton and Leconfield labels.
Five winemaking generations later, in 1972, Richard's great-great-grandson Dr Richard Hamilton established a small winery in McLaren Vale under the guidance of his father Burton, a noted viticulturist, and uncle, renowned vigneron, Sydney Hamilton.
Two years later, at the age of 76, Sydney bought land on the famous 'terra rossa' strip in Coonawarra and established 'Leconfield' to fulfil his life's ambition of growing and making a classic Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sydney retired in 1981 after 65 vintages and Dr Richard Hamilton purchased the company from him. Leconfield became the single winemaking facility for both the Richard Hamilton and Leconfield brands, securing the family connection to both Coonawarra and McLaren Vale.
Experienced Coonawarra winemaker Paul Gordon joined Leconfield in 2001. He and Assistant Winemaker Tim Bailey are the winemaking custodians of the Richard Hamilton and Leconfield labels.
Estate Vineyards / AVA
Hut Block Vineyard:
The Hut Block Vineyard is aptly named after the old pickers hut situated on the property. Located along McMurtrie Road in McLaren Vale the vineyard contains our oldest vines, the 120 year old Centurion Shiraz, dry grown and planted in 1892. These vines are amongst the oldest in McLaren Vale. The Chardonnay found in this vineyard is trellised on the unique 'Lyre Trellis' system. This specific type of trellis created by Dr Richard Hamilton is 'V' shaped. This trellis trains the vines in such a way that the foliage provides adequate shading for the fruit while still allowing for substantial sunlight infiltration; this aids in the ripening process and produces a higher quality fruit.
The soil structure in Hut Block Vineyard is sand over clay and limestone – black cracking – sandy clay loam.
The total vineyard area is 20.1 Hectares/48.6 Acres
Winery Block:
The Winery Block is located between Main and Malpas Roads, Willunga and is home to the oldest chardonnay vines in McLaren Vale, planted in 1972. The vineyard also contains non-trellised bush Grenache (1948) and Shiraz (1963) planted by Richard's father, Burton. A percentage of older vines in this vineyard are non-irrigated (dry grown). This produces, due to the lack of water, small intensely flavoured fruit; for which Richard Hamilton wines are renowned.
The site is home to the original Richard Hamilton Cellar Door. The winery, before operations moved to Coonawarra in 1982 was also located here. The Soil Structure of the Winery Block is grey silty loam over clay.
The total vineyard area is 15 Hectares /36.6 Acres
Farm Block:
Farm Block Vineyard surrounds the McLaren Vale Cellar Door, Head Office and McLaren Vale Vineyard Office, between the corners of Main and Johnston Roads.
The site produces the majority of our award-winning Shiraz. The soil structure of Farm Block vineyard is black cracking over calcareous clay and red loam over clay and limestone.
The total vineyard area is 22.2 hectares/54.9 acres
Little Road:
Little Road Vineyard is located between Main and Little Roads, Willunga and contains clones of Chapoutier Shiraz from France.
The soil composition in Little Road Vineyard is red brown loam with river pebbles over clay.
The total vineyard area is 7.7 hectares/18.9 acres
Cepielle:
The newest addition to the Leconfield Estate, the vineyard is located on the Main Road between McLaren Vale and Willunga.
The soil structure of Cepielle Vineyard is silty clay and loam.
The total vineyard area is 6.91 Hectares/28.98 Acres
The Hut Block Vineyard is aptly named after the old pickers hut situated on the property. Located along McMurtrie Road in McLaren Vale the vineyard contains our oldest vines, the 120 year old Centurion Shiraz, dry grown and planted in 1892. These vines are amongst the oldest in McLaren Vale. The Chardonnay found in this vineyard is trellised on the unique 'Lyre Trellis' system. This specific type of trellis created by Dr Richard Hamilton is 'V' shaped. This trellis trains the vines in such a way that the foliage provides adequate shading for the fruit while still allowing for substantial sunlight infiltration; this aids in the ripening process and produces a higher quality fruit.
The soil structure in Hut Block Vineyard is sand over clay and limestone – black cracking – sandy clay loam.
The total vineyard area is 20.1 Hectares/48.6 Acres
Winery Block:
The Winery Block is located between Main and Malpas Roads, Willunga and is home to the oldest chardonnay vines in McLaren Vale, planted in 1972. The vineyard also contains non-trellised bush Grenache (1948) and Shiraz (1963) planted by Richard's father, Burton. A percentage of older vines in this vineyard are non-irrigated (dry grown). This produces, due to the lack of water, small intensely flavoured fruit; for which Richard Hamilton wines are renowned.
The site is home to the original Richard Hamilton Cellar Door. The winery, before operations moved to Coonawarra in 1982 was also located here. The Soil Structure of the Winery Block is grey silty loam over clay.
The total vineyard area is 15 Hectares /36.6 Acres
Farm Block:
Farm Block Vineyard surrounds the McLaren Vale Cellar Door, Head Office and McLaren Vale Vineyard Office, between the corners of Main and Johnston Roads.
The site produces the majority of our award-winning Shiraz. The soil structure of Farm Block vineyard is black cracking over calcareous clay and red loam over clay and limestone.
The total vineyard area is 22.2 hectares/54.9 acres
Little Road:
Little Road Vineyard is located between Main and Little Roads, Willunga and contains clones of Chapoutier Shiraz from France.
The soil composition in Little Road Vineyard is red brown loam with river pebbles over clay.
The total vineyard area is 7.7 hectares/18.9 acres
Cepielle:
The newest addition to the Leconfield Estate, the vineyard is located on the Main Road between McLaren Vale and Willunga.
The soil structure of Cepielle Vineyard is silty clay and loam.
The total vineyard area is 6.91 Hectares/28.98 Acres
