The Vineyards
McLaren Vale
Osborn Estate
The original family property located at Osborn Road, McLaren Vale this 113ha (280acre) Estate has 73ha (180 acres) planted with various varieties made up of old and new plantings. Shiraz planted in 1912, bush vine Grenache and Mourvèdre planted from 1918 through to Cabernet Sauvignon (1950s), Chardonnay, Marsanne, Viognier, Chambourcin, Sauvignon Blanc. Soil profiles are a mix of three McLaren Vale subregions, McLaren Vale, Seaview & Blewitt Springs. Primarily Ironstone & chalky rock with a thin covering of clay loam on the higher slopes of the vineyard with deepening clay layers as you venture down the slopes to creek bed clays as found in the valleys. Also found is sandy loam on marley limestone soils.
The Pedler’s Divide Vineyard
Adjoining the vineyards below the Osborn Estate Vineyard at the corners of the Twentyeight Road & Chalk Hill Road it runs towards Kangarilla Road. Pedler’s Divide Vineyard is a 35.5ha (88 acre) vineyard on 40ha (100 acres) ranging from 60 to 80 meters above sea level. It was purchased and developed in the late 1990’s to varieties best suited to the various soils on the property to maximise the wine styles consistent to d’Arenberg such as Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, Souzao, Tinta Cao, Marsanne, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Rousanne. The soil profile on the highest reaches of the vineyard is very similar to the sandy loam over clays typical of the Blewitt Springs. The sloping sandy hill then falls onto the flat where soils range from grey clays over limestone to grey/brown loams over limestone or clay.
The Mustard Block Vineyard
Mustard Block is a 32ha (70 acres) vineyard property located on Tatachilla Road, on the shallow capped soils of the Pedler Creek Ridge to the seaward side of McLaren Vale. Varieties include Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sangrantino, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Verdelho and Viognier. The vineyard is called the Mustard Block due to the widespread infestation of Mustard Weed through the property. Located on the western face of the McLaren Vale subregion, the vineyard consists of shallow red and brown earths over lime. Elevation ranges from 65 to 45 meters above sea level.
The Bamboo Ridge
A prime Blewitt Springs property located on a high sandy ridge along Whittings Rd. The 19.47ha (48.2 acres) property is planted to Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Semillon, and Merlot with excellent old vines of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache and Shiraz which are the highlights of this property. All soils are deep sand.
The Ege Vineyard
The Ege Vineyard (named after its founder Egerton Dennis) located on Moritz Rd; McLaren Flat was recently purchased from the Dennis family, a noted historical family of McLaren Vale and long standing friends of the Osborn family. It is set on a 36.6ha (90 acre) property close to McLaren Flat in a valley below the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges. It is planted to 19.56 ha (48.4 acres) of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Grenache and Sauvignon Blanc. Soils vary from sandy loam over clay to loam on clay, coupled with the 108 year-old vines is an exceptional addition to the d’Arenberg collection of vineyards.
The Wilcadene Vineyard
The Wilcadene property is located along Douglas Gully Road, Mc Laren Flat which is close by to The Ege Vineyard. The vineyard comprises of 6ha planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Grenache and Shiraz of which the oldest vines were planted in 1958. The landscape is undulating with deep glacial sandy soils which are very different in comparison to its neighbour, The Ege Vineyard.
The Little Venice Vineyard
Little Venice is situated 1 km east of the winery at the top end of Foggo Rd. It is a beautiful 20 hectare (49.5acre) property planted in the late 1990’s to 7.5 hectares of Shiraz with an elevation of 130mts. This property again was set up by the previous owner before d’Arenberg and is set on two very distinctive soils types, 4 hectares of sandy loam over clay and 3.5 hectares of brown to grey loam over marly limestone clay. Both of these soils are suited to dry grown quality production.
The Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills is a premier cool climate wine region producing premium, distinctive Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Merlot in an area of stunning scenery which we source for a small number of our wines. The region stretches in a narrow band some 70km long from the south of the Barossa Valley, bypassing Adelaide to the northern edge of Clarendon then continuing in a easterly arch along the hill top above Kangarilla and continuing south along the Willunga hill tops to finally finish south of the Kuitpo Forest region up above Sellicks Beach which is also McLaren Vales southern boundary.
Climate:
Regardless of the diversity of the region the climate can be generally described as a high rainfall region in during winter with summer being generally cool - warm and dry. Average daytime and in particular evening temperatures are considerably cooler which is ideal for the varieties d’Arenberg sources for the Hills. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir we source come from some of the highest and coolest parts of the region.
Soils:
A mixture of sandy loams, loams and clay loams over clay subsoils that vary in structure, although it is not unusual to find these soils combined with shale and ironstone. Soil depth is also variable due to topography which can range from steep slopes to undulating hills, resulting in shallow stony soils on the the top of hills and deeper loams/ clays at the bottom of hills. The variation in topography and hence soil type can affect vine growth and contributes greatly to wine style. Low lying areas with heavy soils provide potential for greater vigour, whereas higher well drained stony soil allow better vigour control, both of which can be utilised depending on the variety and wine style required.
Growers:
The Osborn family as yet doesn’t own any vineyards in the Adelaide Hills region but we purchase on average 280 tonnes of fruit which is mainly Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Merlot and Pinot Noir.