2008 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz

Rockford is in the South Barossa Valley. It was founded and is still owned by Robert O’Callaghan, whose grandparents on both sides of his family were grape growers. In 1971 O’Callaghan bought five acres and a 19th century cottage in the heart of Barossa Valley. Though acclaimed winemaker Chris Ringland made the estate’s wines in the 1990s, today O’Callaghan and Ben Radford share winemaking. Australian wine writer James Halliday has written that “Rockford can only be described as an icon…It has a devoted band of customers who buy most of the wine through the cellar door or mail order.”

South Australia is the nation’s most important wine region. South Australia is to Australia what California is to the U.S. About half of Australia’s wine comes from South Australia and many of the country’s most acclaimed producers are there. Wineries based in South Australia include Penfolds Grange, Torbreck, Amon Ra, Henschke and Jacob’s Creek. The prestigious Barossa Valley is located in South Australia, and is often compared to Napa Valley because it is gorgeous topography covered in grape vines. First farmed by 19th century German-speakers who immigrated from what is now Poland, the Barossa Valley is the crown jewel of the region. South Australia has widely varying climates, from very hot, dry areas to cooler, high altitude areas. There are more than 150,000 acres of vineyards in South Australia, with more being planted each month. Shiraz is king, though the region also produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Mourvedre, Chardonnay and Semillon.

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.