JIM BARRY WINES VINEYARDS

The Land

Located on a north-west facing slope at an elevation of 367 metres and bisected by the Armagh Creek, the western half of the vineyard is an alluvial flat, while the eastern half gently slopes towards the creek. The 70-acre property was previously owned by Duncan McRae Wood and used to graze dairy cows before being purchased by Jim and Nancy Barry in 1964. Located two kilometres northwest of Clare on the opposite side of the hill on which the Jim Barry Winery is located, it is home to the famed The Armagh, The Benbournie Cabernet Sauvignon, and The McRae Wood Shiraz. The vineyard derives its name from a nearby hamlet of Armagh, established by Irish settlers in 1849 and named after the lush, rolling hills of their homeland. In 1964, Jim Barry first plated 900 Malbec and 2500 Cabernet Sauvignon vines, followed by a further eight acres of Shiraz vines in 1968

Soil Profile

The area where the Armagh vineyard is found contains the region's oldest rock from the Rhynie Sandstone Formation, dating back more than 800 million years. The Armagh vineyard is characterised by a light brown, sandy clay topsoil with a pebbly alluvial layer overlaying a mottled clay subsoil.

The Fruit

Planted with shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, the 50-year-old Shiraz vines follow the contours of the north-west-facing slopes to prevent soil erosion and ensure winter rains soak in. The combination of low-fertility soil and good exposure aids the natural devigoration of the vines, producing small-berried and intensely flavoured bunches. Receiving an average rainfall of 580mm per year, the vineyard requires minimal intervention to maintain yields of below 1.5 tonnes per acre, producing rich and concentrated fruit of the rare quality required to create exceptional wines with ageing potential.

The Land

Located fifteen kilometres south of the Clare township in the tiny village of Watervale, the famous Riesling vineyard was planted to Palomino in 1946 for making Fino Sherry and replanted to Riesling in 1962. The birthplace of Leo Buring Watervale Riesling, Florita was where legendary winemaker John Vickery sourced grapes for his great Watervale Rieslings of the 1960s and 1970s. The 80=acre vineyard was sold by globally-owned, multi-national company, Lindeman's, to Mark, Peter and John Barry on June 20, 1986. A property of gently rolling hills with its best fruit coming from vines planted in the shallow loamy soils, the vineyard has good air-drainage which alleviates the risk of frosts.

Soil Profile

The Florita Vineyard is characterised by a medium brown, loamy topsoil over a khaki-grey, calcareous siltstone of the Mintaro Shale Formation.

The Fruit

The vineyard is dominated by 50-year-old Riesling vines, but also has a planting of Assyrtiko.

The Land

A pastoral run dating back to 1839, and named Wolta Wolta, the 329 acres is situated on the Eastern Ranges, five kilometres east of the Clare township. It was purchased by Jim, Nancy, Mark and Peter in February 1977 and first planted with Riesling in 1979. Making the most of the site in the early days, before extensive planting of vines, Jim Barry established his horse stud on the property.

Soil Profile

On the north side of the ridge at 514 metres above sea level, the shiraz vineyard is characterised by 40 to 50 centimetres of chocolatey loam topsoil over grey siltstone. The weathered siltstone and clay with some thin calcareous siltstone makes it the ideal environment for low-yielding Shiraz vines. On the south side of the crest at 497 metres, the Riesling vineyard is brown loamy topsoil over siltstone. The cracks between the sheets of siltstone providing passage for the vine roots and free drainage, are filled with rich soil and provides good water holding capacity. The alkaline siltstone limits root development, making it the ideal environment for growing intensely flavoured, finely structured Rieslings. The Riesling vines are planted on south-facing slopes and only receive full exposure to the sun in the cool of the morning, while Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec vines occupy north-facing slopes, with longer and warmer exposure to sunlight.

The Land

Situated on the southern boundary of Coonawarra (Aboriginal for Honeysuckle), the old Penola Cricket Ground first saw a ball bowled in anger and the flashing cover drives of local champions in 1950, but was retired in 1996. The Barry family purchased the 30 acres of vacant land from John Abbey in 1997. To preserve a little piece of Coonawarra cricketing history, the original pavilion was retained, and the vines, first planted in 1999, were positioned around the cricket pitch.

Soil Profile

The Famous Coonawarra 'Terra Rossa' soil is a fertile red loam overlaying a thin calcrete layer and chalky limestone. The limestone underlying the area is porous and has an excellent water holding capacity, providing a very good source of supplementary water during the dry summer.

Climate

Some 500 kilometres south-east Clare, the vineyard is only 65 kilometres from the sea and the region is heavily influenced by a cold-water upsurge off the coast called the Bonney Upwelling. This naturally-occurring seasonal event lowers the sea surface temperature by two to three degrees and, in turn creates a moderating influence over the maritime climate, lowering the land temperatures in the Coonawarra during the growing and ripening season. This results in slow ripening fruit with intense flavours, retained acid, and unique tannin structure, that is ideally suited for Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Fruit

The rows are orientated north-south to allow the vines to catch the afternoon sun, with the long summers and cool nights helping to develop flavour intensity and allowing tannins to ripen.