“Slight shifts in the micro-climate and season can have a big impact on the grapes,” explains Tim. “Spring weather and temperature can really affect the timing of budburst and the amount of fruit on a vine.” As result, we made our first straight Malbec in 2017 and it's now available online.
Challenging vintages seem to make the wine more memorable. Vintage 2017 presented the type of curve balls that call for critical decision making in order to protect the grapes as harvest approaches. In spring 2016 the start of the growing season was characterized by unusually low temperatures which held the vine phenology (growth stages) back. The normal seasonal milestones such as bud burst, shoot expansion and flowering occurred up to 30 days later than in typical years. Going into summer it was apparent that we would have a later harvest of whites and reds than we had seen in well over a decade. Mild temperatures, summer rains and up to four-day stretches of relative humidity ranging from 95 to 99%...
The Grace Farm style of sauvignon blanc semillon (SBS) favours complexity over simplicity by integrating the freshness of stainless steel tank fermentation with the flavour, structure and texture provided by 10% barrel fermentation in new French oak. The style offers the possibility of enjoying the fresh fruit character of each variety when young, and showcases the strength of each in the blend, but it also allows the wine to age beautifully and develop texture as it ages. BUY NOW The 2016 SeasonHot, dry weather in late January was a gift following a 70mm down pour that fell mid-way through the month. The white grapes were beginning to soften as the rain came down and threatened to split the delicate skins....
Grace Farm is featured twice in the February/March edition of Australia's most widely read wine magazine, the Halliday Wine Companion. The introduction to the feature on Margaret River can be seen below. We are thrilled with the coverage and honoured to be mentioned alongside some of Margaret River's finest producers such as Voyager Estate, Ashbrook Estate, Clairault-Streicker, Flowstone, Arlewood Estate, Marq Wines and Deep Woods Estate. Thanks for the kind words! "Tim Quinlan’s phone number is on the Grace Farm sign for all to see. If the viticulturist is out in the vineyards when a passer-by calls up to drop in, Tim will stop what he’s doing if he can and meet them at the house onsite. There, he will pour the...
This month sees the release of our most highly-awarded wine, the 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet sauvignon is arguably the flagship varietal of the Margaret River region and certainly one that Grace Farm prides itself on. Viticulturist Tim Quinlan and winemaker Jonathan Mettam share their thoughts on what makes the Grace Farm Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon so exquisite:"Margaret River cabernet is particularly special because the maritime climate and dry summers allow for physiologically ripe grapes which are rarely herbaceous and provide a sweet core of blackcurrant fruit with exceptional texture and structure."Careful shoot thinning and leaf removal in the vineyard expose the bunches to day-long sunlight and even ripening through all areas of the vine canopy. From picking through fermentation,...
