Possums Wines

Possums Wines

About

Possums Wines have been awarded as a 4.5 Star Winery in James Halliday’s wine companion. The wine have received numerous accolades and medals over the past 15 years. Possums Vineyards wines are estate grown and family owned by local South Australians.

Location Description

Located in the rolling hills of Blewitt Springs.

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

Pieter Breugem obtained his B.Sc. Agriculture degree, majoring in Oenology and Viticulture, from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

He was appointed winemaker/viticulturist at Nuy Winery in Worcester. At Nuy he had the privilege to work under highly acclaimed wine legend, Wilhelm Linde, who played a significant role in Pieter’s current approach to winemaking.

Pieter gained international experience in winemaking by working several vintages at Sutter Home Family Vineyards, St Helena in the Napa Valley, before relocating to Australia.

He began with Houghton Wines in Western Australia before transferring to Stonehaven Winery in the Limestone Coast as Production Manager.

Pieter took up the position as winemaker/viticulturist at Possums Vineyards in 2008. Having a small team he is totally hands on in all aspects of winemaking and viticulture on our properties at Blewitt Springs and Willunga.

His experience in old and new world winemaking techniques is invaluable to Possums Vineyards as we seek to produce the best quality wines from Dr. John’s vineyards.

History

Possums Vineyards were established by Dr John Possingham in 1984 where grapes harvested from Blewitt Springs were sold to neighbouring winemakers in the McLaren Vale wine region.

Almond orchards were purchased at Willunga in 1995 and planted to Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay to supply the growing demand for wine grapes in the region.

The first Possums Vineyard Shiraz wine was made in 2000 and became popular with wine critics both in Australia and Overseas. Construction of the Possums Winery began in 2004 at Blewitt Springs, the same year the Trophy winning Possums Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was created.

The Team

Dr John Possingham – Owner/CEO:

Dr John Possingham is a research graduate of the University of Adelaide, Australia and Oxford University, England and has spent sabbatical periods at a number of Institutions and Universities including Edinburgh, Dusseldorf, Okazaki (Japan) and Bangladore (India). He was responsible for formulating and directing the Federal Governements (CSIRO) program of horticulture research for 30 years.

Dr John implemented the mechanisation of vine trellising, harvesting and pruning in Australia in the 1960′s. He is a member of the Order of Australia (AM), a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Sciences (FAIAST), a member of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences and a life member of the International Soceity for Horticultural Science. He is the author of some 250 published articles in grape growing, general horticulture and plant nutrition and has been a grape grower for over 25 years.

Carol Summers – Owner/Director:

Carol is responsible for wine sales into Hong Kong, China, Germany, U.K, Poland and Canada. She travels the globe extensively promoting Possingham & Summers wines at wine events and trade dinners. Her passion for fine wine has seen Quality in the vineyard and the winery become the primary focus. Carol enjoys talking to cellar door customers whilst serving at the McLaren Vale Visitor Centre and is equally comfortable presenting our latest vintages to a delegation of buyers in Hong Kong and China.

Carol provides important customer feedback to the winemaking team regarding wine styles and how to continually produce wines that exceed expectations. She has been a strong advocate for the winery to have the best resources available to produce award winning wine. This has been vindicated by a host of accolades from prominent wine writers and multiple awards at both Australian and International wine shows.

Ever the avid gardener, Carol holds an MBA, Law degree and spent her former years as the Deputy Divisional Director of the Flinders Medical Centre in South Australia. Carol is constantly followed by “wine dogs “Jules and Jussi, two very lucky King Charles Cavalier Spaniels.

Estate Vineyards / AVA

Deep sand is beneficial for drainage but also copes well in drought conditions and assists in light reflection during ripening. In wet years the crop must be ‘bunch thinned’ in order to increase concentration of flavours and control yield.

Distance from the ocean eases maritime influence whereas gully breezes cool the fruit which is always harvested at night.

The Grenache and Shiraz vines here were saved from the 1980′s vine pull scheme and age up to 70 and 50 years old respectively.

Flavours of red berries, licorice and Satsuma plum are evident in our red wines whereas white wines from this vineyard are aromatic and fleshy. The tannin profile of our wines from Blewitt Springs is sublime and elegant.

Awards

2004 Possums Vineyard Shiraz

Silver Medal Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2005
Bronze Medal McLaren Vale Wine Show 2006
First Class Cathay Pacific Airlines 2007
2004 Possums Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Hamburg Sud Trophy Winestate Wine of The Year Awards 2006
Gold Medal Winewise Small Vigneron Awards 2006
Bronze Medal Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2006
2004 Possums Willunga Shiraz

First Class British Airways 2006
2005 Possums Vineyard Shiraz

Bronze Medal Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2007
Bronze Medal Hong Kong International Wine Challenge 2009
2005 Possums Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Bronze Medal Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2008
2006 Possums Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Silver Medal Hong Kong International Wine Challenge 2009
2006 Possums Vineyard Shiraz

Weekend Australian top 100 wines 2009
2006 Possums Willunga Shiraz

Gold Medal Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2007
Weekend Australian top 100 wines 2008
2006 Possums Willunga Chardonnay

Bronze Medal McLaren Vale Wine Show 2006
2006 Possums Blewitt Springs Unwooded Chardonnay

Bronze Medal Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2007
2007 Possums Viognier

Trophy McLaren Vale Wine Show 2007
Gold Medal McLaren Vale Wine Show 2007
2008 Possums Blewitt Springs Unwooded Chardonnay

Bronze Medal Winewise Small Vignerons Awards 2008
2008 Possums Viognier

Silver Medal Hong Kong International Wine Challenge 2009
2010 Dr John’s Wines Pinot Gris

Gold Medal Royal Sydney Wine Show 2011
Possums Vineyard Reserve Shiraz

Silver medal @ the China International Wine & Spirits Awards
P&S 2010 Shiraz

Silver medal @ CIWSA
P&S 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

Gold Medal @ CIWSA.
Summary:
2 Trophies; 5 Gold Medals; 5 Silver Medals;
8 Bronze Medals

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Address

1/203 Adams Rd
Blewitt Springs, South Australia 5171
Australia

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