Parker Coonawarra Estate
2006 Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa First Growth
About
In 2001, the purpose built maturation facility and cellar door building was completed. Made strikingly from Mt Gambier limestone and steel girders, the temperature-controlled facility stands tall amongst the Abbey vineyard and reflects John Parker’s uncompromising approach to grape growing and winemaking. A short drive to the west from Coonawarra, lies the beautiful South Australian coastal town of Robe. To the east are the statuesque Grampians mountain range, and the stunning Great Ocean Road begins approximately one hour’s drive to the south of Coonawarra. We welcome you to visit Parker Coonawarra Estate, to sit and savour our regional flavours, and to enjoy our beautiful vineyard and winery setting.
Location Description
Parker Coonawarra Estate is situated in the south of the Coonawarra region, in the centre of South Australia's Limestone Coast.
It is approximately three and a half hours south of Adelaide, South Australia, and approximately four hours west of Melbourne, Victoria.
Features
- 'An uncompromising commitment to quality producing fine wines from the Terra Rossa soils of Coonawarra'
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
As the youngest son of two wine industry icons, Peter and Margaret Lehmann, Phil’s path into the Australian wine industry may have been somewhat predetermined. Initially weathering the irresistible pull of the wine industry, Phil took a detour from wine and completed an Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering at Adelaide University, intermingled with a few harvest stints with his family’s business at Peter Lehmann Wines.
The allure of a career in winemaking could only be ignored for so long, and Phil’s began with a two year international winemaking pilgrimage throughout Napa, Stellenbosch and Burgundy. It was during this time he realised wine could be far more than simply a drink, or a job, but rather an essential part of a life’s rich tapestry, weaving the seasons, culture, people and history of a region, into a greatly fulfilling life. After heading back to Australia, Phil promptly completed formal winemaking study with a graduate diploma in Oenology at the University of Adelaide.
For the next ten years, he refined his winemaking skills at Yalumba, and again in the family business, Peter Lehmann Wines, as well as with Kym Teusner at Teusner Wines. The lure of joining the Hesketh Family, who’s patriarch Robert was instrumental in the 1979 creation of Peter Lehmann Wines (originally Mastersons), and the opportunity to build on the solid winemaking foundations of Parker Estate proved compelling, and in July 2013, Phil joined Parker Coonawarra Estate as our Senior Winemaker.
The allure of a career in winemaking could only be ignored for so long, and Phil’s began with a two year international winemaking pilgrimage throughout Napa, Stellenbosch and Burgundy. It was during this time he realised wine could be far more than simply a drink, or a job, but rather an essential part of a life’s rich tapestry, weaving the seasons, culture, people and history of a region, into a greatly fulfilling life. After heading back to Australia, Phil promptly completed formal winemaking study with a graduate diploma in Oenology at the University of Adelaide.
For the next ten years, he refined his winemaking skills at Yalumba, and again in the family business, Peter Lehmann Wines, as well as with Kym Teusner at Teusner Wines. The lure of joining the Hesketh Family, who’s patriarch Robert was instrumental in the 1979 creation of Peter Lehmann Wines (originally Mastersons), and the opportunity to build on the solid winemaking foundations of Parker Estate proved compelling, and in July 2013, Phil joined Parker Coonawarra Estate as our Senior Winemaker.
History
John and Faye Parker established Parker Coonawarra Estate in 1985 after a career-long interest in the region. Today, the privately owned Parker Coonawarra Estate is committed to John Parker’s standards of excellence, and producing the most faithful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from the celebrated Terra Rossa soils of the Coonawarra growing region.
In the mid 1980’s, with help and advice from longtime friend Doug Balnaves, John and Faye Parker identified the best locations on Coonawarra’s Terra Rossa strip, which resulted in the purchase of land from the Abbey family, just north of the Penola township. In 1985 they planted their first vines using the Reynella Selection cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon - the original cuttings from Bordeaux - sourced before Phylloxera decimated the vineyards in France in the late 1800’s.
The winery’s first release of the 1988 vintage of First Growth was met with outstanding success, winning the Penfold Hyland Trophy in Perth.
It was also judged the 6th highest rated Bordeaux-Style in the 1991 International Wine Challenge in London. This was the first step in establishing Parker Coonawarra Estate’s reputation for producing wines of outstanding quality and longevity. In 2001, the purpose built maturation facility and cellar door building was completed. Made strikingly from Mt Gambier limestone and steel girders, the temperature-controlled facility stands tall amongst the Abbey vineyard and reflects John Parker’s uncompromising approach to grape growing and winemaking.
In the mid 1980’s, with help and advice from longtime friend Doug Balnaves, John and Faye Parker identified the best locations on Coonawarra’s Terra Rossa strip, which resulted in the purchase of land from the Abbey family, just north of the Penola township. In 1985 they planted their first vines using the Reynella Selection cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon - the original cuttings from Bordeaux - sourced before Phylloxera decimated the vineyards in France in the late 1800’s.
The winery’s first release of the 1988 vintage of First Growth was met with outstanding success, winning the Penfold Hyland Trophy in Perth.
It was also judged the 6th highest rated Bordeaux-Style in the 1991 International Wine Challenge in London. This was the first step in establishing Parker Coonawarra Estate’s reputation for producing wines of outstanding quality and longevity. In 2001, the purpose built maturation facility and cellar door building was completed. Made strikingly from Mt Gambier limestone and steel girders, the temperature-controlled facility stands tall amongst the Abbey vineyard and reflects John Parker’s uncompromising approach to grape growing and winemaking.
The Team
Custodians - The Hesketh Family:
The Hesketh family assumed custodianship of Parker Coonawarra Estate in March 2013. With over fifty years’ experience in the wine industry, their philosophy is to retain John Parker’s vision for the Estate, focusing on the core elements that make Parker Estate superior. The most appropriate grape varieties and clones, grown on the right soil profile in the best locations within Coonawarra, to make the best possible wines from this exceptional growing region.
The Hesketh family believes that private aegis of Parker Estate is essential to its success, and their role is to nurture the brand and the winemaking to ensure the best possible wines are produced. Retaining the integrity of First Growth and Terra Rossa wines is integral to this philosophy, as is the development of new Coonawarra based varietals - replacing previous wines made from outside the region - restoring Parker Estate’s focus and unwavering dedication to Coonawarra.
Vineyard Management - Brett Williams:
The man behind the vines – Growing up in a farming household has given Brett a very hands- on approach to grape growing. He established his first vineyard in the mid nineties; a beautiful forty hectare property only five minutes by tractor from Parker Coonawarra Estate. The Williams vineyard now acts as the main source of fruit for our Coonawarra Series Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Brett takes great pride in his work, and the meticulous attention to detail he employs in the vineyard is reflected by how immaculate it looks, but more importantly, in the top grading that his fruit achieves year after year.
Having a dedicated and fastidious manager of the Parker Abbey Vineyard, with the passion and direction to grow the highest quality fruit, means our vineyards have never looked better and will continue to produce the highest caliber Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Charlie Ormsby:
Despite growing up with an active interest in wine thanks to a connoisseur family, Charlie decided to follow his strengths and study History and English at Adelaide University. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in the mid 90’s he pursued the career of a librarian before realising the demand for historians was never going to be great. His first vintage at Peter Lehmann Wines in 1998 saw him immediately hooked on the excitement and atmosphere of the cellar.
He stayed on at PLW for the following 12 years eventually becoming senior cellar hand and working closely alongside Phil Lehmann for five vintages. With his degree now well and truly ‘history’, he gave in to the industry lure and travelled over to California to work a vintage at Blackstone in Gonzales.
Still enticed by the wine making dream Charlie started up at Teusner Wines, in the Barossa, as cellar manager where he learnt extensively from a very hands on Kym Teusner; a role again in conjunction with Phil. With both Charlie and Phil sharing a synonymous view on winemaking it seemed inevitable that they would again team up; this occurred in 2014 when Charlie joined the Parker Estate family as winemaker.
Cellar Door - Kirsty Bailey & Erica Kay:
Kirsty and Ec not only share the Cellar Door management duties, but they also represent the heart and soul of Parker Coonawarra Estate.
Kirsty has been with Parker for more than 12 years, and knows more about the history and workings than anyone else, including the walls. Many things and people have come and gone, but Kirsty has been the one constant that greets visitors and keeps order at the cellars year after year.
Ec has been with us since June 2010, and has a wealth of knowledge having worked in the local industry for nearly fifteen years.
The Hesketh family assumed custodianship of Parker Coonawarra Estate in March 2013. With over fifty years’ experience in the wine industry, their philosophy is to retain John Parker’s vision for the Estate, focusing on the core elements that make Parker Estate superior. The most appropriate grape varieties and clones, grown on the right soil profile in the best locations within Coonawarra, to make the best possible wines from this exceptional growing region.
The Hesketh family believes that private aegis of Parker Estate is essential to its success, and their role is to nurture the brand and the winemaking to ensure the best possible wines are produced. Retaining the integrity of First Growth and Terra Rossa wines is integral to this philosophy, as is the development of new Coonawarra based varietals - replacing previous wines made from outside the region - restoring Parker Estate’s focus and unwavering dedication to Coonawarra.
Vineyard Management - Brett Williams:
The man behind the vines – Growing up in a farming household has given Brett a very hands- on approach to grape growing. He established his first vineyard in the mid nineties; a beautiful forty hectare property only five minutes by tractor from Parker Coonawarra Estate. The Williams vineyard now acts as the main source of fruit for our Coonawarra Series Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Brett takes great pride in his work, and the meticulous attention to detail he employs in the vineyard is reflected by how immaculate it looks, but more importantly, in the top grading that his fruit achieves year after year.
Having a dedicated and fastidious manager of the Parker Abbey Vineyard, with the passion and direction to grow the highest quality fruit, means our vineyards have never looked better and will continue to produce the highest caliber Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Charlie Ormsby:
Despite growing up with an active interest in wine thanks to a connoisseur family, Charlie decided to follow his strengths and study History and English at Adelaide University. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in the mid 90’s he pursued the career of a librarian before realising the demand for historians was never going to be great. His first vintage at Peter Lehmann Wines in 1998 saw him immediately hooked on the excitement and atmosphere of the cellar.
He stayed on at PLW for the following 12 years eventually becoming senior cellar hand and working closely alongside Phil Lehmann for five vintages. With his degree now well and truly ‘history’, he gave in to the industry lure and travelled over to California to work a vintage at Blackstone in Gonzales.
Still enticed by the wine making dream Charlie started up at Teusner Wines, in the Barossa, as cellar manager where he learnt extensively from a very hands on Kym Teusner; a role again in conjunction with Phil. With both Charlie and Phil sharing a synonymous view on winemaking it seemed inevitable that they would again team up; this occurred in 2014 when Charlie joined the Parker Estate family as winemaker.
Cellar Door - Kirsty Bailey & Erica Kay:
Kirsty and Ec not only share the Cellar Door management duties, but they also represent the heart and soul of Parker Coonawarra Estate.
Kirsty has been with Parker for more than 12 years, and knows more about the history and workings than anyone else, including the walls. Many things and people have come and gone, but Kirsty has been the one constant that greets visitors and keeps order at the cellars year after year.
Ec has been with us since June 2010, and has a wealth of knowledge having worked in the local industry for nearly fifteen years.
Practices & Techniques
Parker Coonawarra Estate’s winemaking philosophy pays complete respect to these unique soils, as well as the quality and age of the vines, producing wines that maximize the full potential of this spectacular growing location.
Estate Vineyards / AVA
Parker Coonawarra Estate’s ‘Abbey’ vineyard is located on the highly regarded southern end of Coonawarra’s famed ‘cigar strip’ of terra rossa soil. The 20Ha vineyard is Cabernet Sauvignon predominant, with small pockets of Merlot and Petit Verdot. The Cabernet Sauvignon is planted to Reynella vine selection; original cuttings from Bordeaux, sourced before Phylloxera decimated the vineyards throughout France in the late 1800’s.
Coonawarra’s terra rossa strip of soil is one of the most renowned growing locations of the New World, and the oldest of the Limestone Coast soils. Comprised largely of rich aolian clay over limestone, these infamous red soils are most notable for their free draining ability and success growing the resilient Cabernet Sauvignon grape.
Coonawarra’s terra rossa strip of soil is one of the most renowned growing locations of the New World, and the oldest of the Limestone Coast soils. Comprised largely of rich aolian clay over limestone, these infamous red soils are most notable for their free draining ability and success growing the resilient Cabernet Sauvignon grape.
Awards
For over a quarter of a century, Parker Estate has achieved numerous wine show medals, trophies and accolades, including a Five Star rating by James Halliday, Langton’s Classification V for Excellence, and many high rating reviews by major wine media both within Australia and internationally.
