Rutherglen winery reviews
Check out some of the wineries in the region independently reviewed by wine writers Ben Canaider and Ralph Kyte-Powell.
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All Saints is wonderfully imposing as you drive past the elegant gates and carriage lamps, down the avenue of huge elms, and turn into the superbly tended garden in front of the old castle at the heart of the vineyards. The Brown familys touch has transformed it into a regional gastronomic centre and a wonderful base for any visit to Rutherglen. Taste the wines, and dont confine yourself to the superb fortifieds – table wines are good too. Enjoy the hospitality of The Terrace Restaurant, or visit the world-class Indigo Cheese Co. adjoining the winery.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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Campbell's is one of the biggest family-owned wineries in the region and consistently produces wines of stunning quality, which are always great value. Their Bobbie Burns Shiraz is considered a benchmark in the region and Campbells Barkly Durif is Rutherglen durif at its finest. Also worth seeking out are an excellent riesling and surprise, surprise, incredibly beautiful fortifieds.
Ben Canaider
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Max Cofield has been making wines since 1964 and has earned a well-deserved reputation for being a master at making sparkling shiraz. These days Max's son Damien oversees the winemaking and the wines are almost elegant in comparison to some of the more heroic styles of the district. The sparkling shiraz is, of course, brilliant and you should buy as many bottles of it as Max will let you put in the boot of your car.
Ben Canaider
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This century-old vineyard sits overlooking Lake Moodemere, a large billabong fed by the mighty Murray. The symphony of birds among the trees, the giant river red gums, pelicans on the lake, and good wines make it a great place for a picnic on a table overlooking the water. Table wines like the unusually complex chardonnay are recommended, and the light, sweetish biancone is a great refresher.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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The big, old 1890s tin shed at Morris is an essential port of call on any visit to Rutherglen. Pass through the field of gnarled old vines out front, enter the
earthen-floored winery past ancient oak casks and inhale the heady aroma of luscious, maturing fortifieds and hearty reds. The glass-walled tasting room sits in the middle of the working winery, and wine-savvy staff impart the romance of the place. Morriss fabulous fortifieds are justifiably famous, but dont miss the excellent reds, especially the regions premier Durif.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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They make a bit of everything at Pfeiffer including two varieties you wouldn't normally associate with Rutherglen – pinot noir and gamay. They also make a wonderful wine called The Piper which is released with a decade or more bottle age and contains the grape variety cabernet sanzey, which is so obscure it doesn't even rate a mention in the Oxford Companion to Wine. The fortifieds are wonderful and the hospitality peerless.
Ben Canaider
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The Rutherglen Estates winery makes a great base for a visit to Rutherglen. Attached to a complex comprising the Tuileries restaurant, vineyard and accommodation, it has something for everyone. The building is an historic
landmark itself with an impressive arched facade behind giant palm trees. Table wines are very good, especially those made from more unusual varieties.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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In a region as timeless as Rutherglen, its rare to see a new winery, especially a small one that pursues an agenda varying from the traditional. Out of the mainstream, in picturesque hills just south of Rutherglen town, Scion is
different. The drunken angle of the portico on the hospitable cellar door gives a quirky, contemporary feel, there are splendid views across a broad, pastoral panorama, and the wines, although made from traditional regional grapes like Durif and Muscat, are created in a fresh, modern style.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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Behind some imposing gates and a row of tall poplars, the St Leonards winery is a bit like a museum; old oak casks and open fermenters, quietly resting out of the mainstream. The place is very much alive, with an atmospheric tasting room and the St Leonards Café. Behind the winery and café theres a large lawn with tables facing the tranquil Murray River lagoon with well-treed banks. The wines are well-made, in particular the big reds.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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This is one of those wineries that sum up Rutherglens timeless charm. Park-like grounds front the old, red brick, timber and corrugated iron structures, and hospitable staff man the tasting room. The excellent red table wines restate the regions strengths in a balanced, contemporary style, and interesting new table wines made from Portuguese varieties point out a new direction. The fortifieds are all superb, but the outstanding vintage port
deserves special mention as a fitting memorial to the personal passion of late proprietor and winemaker, Chris Killeen.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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