The
Hunter Valley.
The heart and soil of Pepper Tree, the Hunter Valley provides grapes for some of our most loved wines. It’s one of Australia’s oldest wine regions with vineyards planted back in the 1830’s. Today its famed for two celebrated styles, Semillon and Shiraz both of which we focus on to make wines that reflect the region.
With a warm climate that enjoys high temperatures in the summer the region benefits from coastal breezes that give the vines some relief from the heat.
As well as Semillon and Shiraz the Hunter also produces Chardonnay and Verdelho and increasingly the region is now being planted to alternative varieties better suited to the climate.
"I CHOSE THE HUNTER VALLEY BECAUSE OF ITS SUITABILITY TO GROW GRAPES.
THE COMBINATION OF RED SOILS OVER LIMESTONE HAS HELPED CREATE SOME OF OUR BEST WINES."
-John Davis
More on this Vineyard:
General Climate:
Warm Climate Coastal
Degree Days Per Growing Season:
1800 - 1900
Elevation:
130 - 200m
Sunshine Hours per Year:
1650
Area Under Vine:
76.5 Acres (30.6 Ha)
Main Plantings White:
Chardonnay (7.2 Ha), Verdelho (5.45 Ha), Semillon (4.6 Ha)
Main Plantings Red:
Shiraz (8 Ha)
Lesser Plantings White:
Fiano (1.1 Ha), Vermentino (1.06 Ha), Alborino (0.45 Ha)
Lesser Plantings Red:
Merlot (0.6 Ha), Sagrantino (0.91 Ha), Tempranillo (0.9 Ha), Petit Verdot (0.4 Ha)
Soil Types:
Terra rossa clay loams over limestone/red duplex loams over marly shales and sandstones/alluvial brown loams on creek flats.
Winegrowing Characteristics:
Australia’s oldest winegrowing region famous for its long lived Semillon whites and soft savoury, earthy Shiraz reds. More recently full flavoured Chardonnay and Verdelho have become local favourites.
Planting Dates:
1991 - 1993
Orange.
The cool climate of Orange provides the fruit for some of our outstanding single vineyard whites at Pepper Tree.
Due to its high altitude, diversity of elevation, climate and topography it offers vineyard sites the suitability to grow whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay. About 270km west of Sydney, the vineyard soils are dominated by the extinct volcano Mt Canobolas with the highest vines planted at 11oom above sea level.
The Pepper Tree Orange vineyard is located in the Boree Lane area 12 kms west of Orange on the midslopes of Mt Canobolas. The vineyard site sits in a small subvalley protected on 3 sides with a sunny northerly aspect. Elevations vary from 740m to 800m and the site is capable of ripening all the main red varieties as well as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Wines typically have a lighter more elegant structure than those of warmer areas with light lifted fruit acids lengthening the palate. Chardonnay is the main white variety on the vineyard and as in other parts of the Orange region produces wine of very high quality.
More on this Vineyard:
General Climate:
Cool - Cold High altitude
Degree Days Per Growing Season:
1250 - 1400
Elevation:
740 – 800m
Sunshine Hours per Year:
1850
Area Under Vine:
79.6 Acres (31.85 Ha)
Main Plantings White:
Chardonnay (8.8 Ha), Sauvignon Blanc (5 Ha )
Main Plantings Red:
Cabernet (5.1 Ha), Merlot (1.9 Ha), Shiraz (4.0 Ha )
Lesser Plantings White:
Verduzzo (0.6 Ha), Pinot Grigio (1.45 Ha), Riesling (1.4 Ha)
Lesser Plantings Red:
Aglianico (0.5 Ha), Pinot Noir
(3.1 Ha)
Soil Types:
Red/brown volcanic clay loams and light-medium clays
Winegrowing Characteristics:
Exciting new vineyard area producing elegant complex wines from all cool climate varieties. The area is gaining reputation as one of Australia’s top Chardonnay areas and also produces exceptional white wines from Riesling, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. High quality red wines are being produced from all major varieties. The high altitude (over 750m) of the area gives rise to unique sensory characteristics
Planting Dates:
1997
Wrattonbully.
It’s probably the least well-known region of the Limestone Coast and South Australia yet it’s the site that Pepper Tree sees as having the most potential. It adjoins Coonawarra in the southern part of the Limestone Coast. Made up of beach ridges and dunes the area is primarily covered in crumbly Limestone which over time breaks down to produce the distinctive red clay loam soils or ‘terra rossa’ that is so prized in the region. While Coonawarra is predominantly flat – the extra elevation in Wrattonbully due to the dunes allows for cold air drainage and reduces the risk of frost during the growing season.
The cooler climate ensures good conditions to grow Cabernet and Merlot. Shiraz also prospers with high sugar and flavour levels yet producing wines with cool climate characters that are uncharacteristic for warmer climes. Wrattonbully also produces Chardonnay of distinction and flavour.
Wrattonbully is still a nascent region with most vines only twenty years old, yet the potential shown from these young vines hints at an extraordinary future and are sure to rival neighbouring Coonawarra.
More on this Vineyard:
General Climate:
Cool
Degree Days Per Growing Season:
1350 - 1550
Elevation:
65 – 80m
Sunshine Hours per Year:
1650
Area Under Vine:
225 acres (90.2 Ha)
Main Plantings White:
Chardonnay (8.2 Ha), Pinot Gris (4.0 Ha)
Main Plantings Red:
Cabernet (35.0 Ha), Merlot (18.2 Ha), Shiraz (14.6 Ha)
Lesser Plantings White:
Viognier (2.0 Ha), Fiano (0.6 Ha)
Lesser Plantings Red:
Petit Verdot (1.4 Ha), Tempranillo (1.0 Ha), Malbec (2.6 Ha), Cabernet Franc (1.2 Ha), Barbera (0.6 Ha), Aglianco (0.6 Ha)
Soil Types:
Classic terra rossa clays loams over limestone. Minor duplex brown loam over subsoils of red/orange clay and ironstone gravels.
Winegrowing Characteristics:
Adjoining Coonawarra to the north the first vines in the Wrattonbully area were planted only 40 years ago. The area contains ancient beach dune systems which give rise to the classic Terra Rossa soil/limestone substrate association so prized for premium vineyards. In its brief history to date the region’s red wines are already challenging its more famous neighbour to the south. Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are also showing enormous potential.
Planting Dates:
1997 - 1998
Coonawarra.
Responsible for some of Australia’s and South Australia’s most distinctive and long- lived Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra is another essential piece of the jigsaw for Pepper Tree.
The region is long and thin and shaped like a cigar but it’s all focussed around a long strip of ‘terra rossa’ soil over a limestone ridge that is famed for making wines that are regionally distinctive. Our Coonawarra vineyards comprise 8h of Cabernet and 4ha of Merlot located midway between Penola and Coonawarra.
Soils in this area consist of dark brown and grey clays interspersed with limestone fragments, The shallow soil overlies soft crumbly limestone at depths of as little as 10cm so that the vines effectively grow in limestone rock.
