Nepenthe Wines

Discover Nepenthe Wines

Location Description

Nepenthe’s Cellar Door is located in the picturesque Adelaide Hills only 25 minutes’ drive from Adelaide.

Features

  • Distinctive wines with complexity, subtlety, balance and length.

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

Nepenthe Winemaker Alex Trescowthick holds a winemaking degree at Charles Sturt University (BAppSc) and has extensive winemaking experience, working at wineries in Margaret River, Strathbogie Ranges, Barossa Valley and Hunter Valley prior to his commencement at Nepenthe Wines.

Growing up in the Strathbogie Ranges, where his family has a small vineyard growing predominantly premium cool climate Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cab Sauv, his mother’s side of the family is based in the Adelaide Hills, which is considered his second home.

Alex became an integral part of the Nepenthe winemaking team in 2008 when he was appointed Assistant Winemaker. In 2008, Alex added a vintage at Beaulieu Vineyards ‘BV’ in the Napa Valley, California and in 2010 a vintage with Stephane Tissot, in Arbois, in the Jura, France to his winemaking credentials. After three years as Assistant Winemaker, Alex was promoted as Winemaker for Nepenthe in June 2011.

History

In 1994, the Tweddell family purchased a premium property in the sub-region of Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills. The property was carefully selected and planted to 24 hectares of vines with the intent of producing premium wine. Proven varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were planted, as well as interesting varieties such as Zinfandel and Pinot Gris. In 1996, Nepenthe received approval to build its winery, only the second in the Adelaide hills at the time (the first being Petaluma in 1978).

In the backdrop of the cool heights of the Adelaide Hills, we started producing some soul reposing potions of our own: uncompromising wines of outstanding quality and internationally recognised distinction. Wines that, strangely enough, have been impressing both critics and consumers with their varietal faithfulness and subtle Adelaide Hills nuances.

From the beginning, our wines have received positive review from the press and numerous medals on the show circuit.

In the first few vintages, Nepenthe wines featured in James Halliday’s Top 100, The UK Times Top 100, The Advertiser Top 100, The International Wine Challenge as well as many other feature media articles.
The success of the wines is evident in the market place. Currently, Nepenthe sell nationally and our wines are exported to the United Kingdom, USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Canada, Switzerland, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and Croatia. In all these markets the press and public have warmly received Nepenthe wines.

Due to this demand, in 1997 Nepenthe acquired a property in Charleston within the Adelaide Hills and has planted a further 43 hectares of vineyard. Then in 2002 a 25 hectare vineyard was acquired in Balhannah (where our cellar door is located), and in 2005 Nepenthe acquired its latest vineyard, 38 hectares in Hahndorf, with room for further expansion.

Nepenthe also sources fruit from a variety of vineyards throughout the hills. Most fruit Nepenthe receives is managed by Nepenthe Viticulture, part of the Nepenthe Group. This company ensures that Nepenthe only receives the highest quality fruit, ensuring strict control of the grapes that make our award winning wines.

The Team

MURRAY LEAKE
Group Viticulurist

Murray Leake, BSc (Viti), has been with Nepenthe since 1998 and is responsible for the viticultural management of all Nepenthe owned and managed vineyards as well as vineyards where fruit is grown for Nepenthe Wines by third party growers.

Murray's early background included growing up in the Sunraysia region in Victoria before moving to Adelaide to complete a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Viticulture, at the University of Adelaide as a mature age student. During that time he received a scholarship which allowed him to be involved in research carried out through the University of Adelaide at the Waite institute.

Murray's involvement at Nepenthe and in the Adelaide Hills has been extensive. He has designed and established a number of premium vineyards and through his consulting in the region has introduced viticultural management and cultural changes which have been adopted by many growers in the region, improving productivity and quality.

Murray was the chair of the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Viticultural Sub-committee for 3 years and during that time was responsible for providing information to growers and running research projects. Murray is one of the most highly respected viticulturists in the region, and his involvement at Nepenthe and with other growers has helped to improve and sustain the high quality fruit expected from the Adelaide Hills wine region.

Practices & Techniques

Nepenthe Viticulture manages vineyards from planting through to maturity using the best available resources and materials. We can come in at any stage of vineyard life and manage it as if it was our own, either in part or fully, depending on your requirements.

Nepenthe currently manages both large and small vineyards from Padthaway to the Barossa Valley in South Australia.

Nepenthe Viticulture delivers full on-going vineyard operation and management services or specifically tailored vineyard management programs as required.

In the case of full management, our technical services staff provide the viticultural support to the operational managers ensuring tasks are carried out efficiently and in a timely manner.

Estate Vineyards / AVA

BALHANNAH:

The 25 hectare Balhannah vineyard, is located on rolling hills mid-way between Balhannah and the historic town of Hanhdorf.

It is here that the Nepenthe cellar door facility is located, offering a warm and cosy welcome in winter and a wonderful summer entertainment facility with spectacular views of the Mount Lofty ranges.

This is a warmer site due to aspect and altitude (360-430m). Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are the largest planting, each occupying 33% each. Chardonnay and Pinot Gris each occupy 17% of the vineyard.

CHARLESTON:

Situated in broad sweeping hills on 43 hectares dotted with huge eucalypts.

Offering a north easterly aspect with sweeping views of the Mount Lofty escarpment, the Charleston Vineyard is home to Nepenthe Viticulure's base in the Adelaide Hills. Nepenthe Viticulture provides the management of company vineyards, as well as management to numerous vineyards in the region.

This management of vineyards (both company owned as well as our growers) ensures that only the highest quality fruit is delivered into our Winemakers hands.

The Charleston vineyard site was specifically chosen because of its outstanding viticultural qualities. North easterly aspects combined with uniform soil types and high quality water compelled Nepenthe to acquire this site in 1998. Altitude 410-470m but with lower rainfall than Lenswood.

Largest planting is Sauvignon Blanc which occupies over 50% of the area.

HAHNDORF:

The 38 hectare Hahndorf Vineyard is the latest acquisition for Nepenthe, aquired in May 2005.

Located just outside the historic Hahndorf township, the fruit from this vineyard has been sought after by Adelaide hills winemakers year after year, and now contributes to the Nepenthe range.

Whilst the vineyard is close to Balhannah it is slightly higher in altitude and of a more westerly aspect. Altitude 390-470m.

Sauvignon Blanc planted on lower sections of vineyard on heavier soils while Shiraz is on higher sections of lighter well drained soils.

LENSWOOD:

The first established was the 24 hectare Lenswood vineyard in 1994, which meanders over small hills and into valleys.

Lenswood is undulating, at the higher altitude of the four vineyards, and carries a huge variety of natural vegetation. With under half of the property cleared, Lenswood constitutes a number of small vineyards separated by tracts of natural scrub which is heritage listed.

Lenswood is the highest altitude vineyard (circa 500m). This is the highest and therefore coolest and received the highest rainfall of our vineyards.

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Hours

Daily: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Address

93 Jones Rd
Balhannah, South Australia 5242
Australia

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