Spring Gully Wine Journey – Clare Valley
A full day tour from vineyard to bottle.
This is a unique collaboration of three wineries along the Spring Gully Road Scenic Route in the beautifully picturesque Clare Valley.
Eldredge Vineyards – Train your Palate and Learn the Lingo
Eldredge Vineyards owner and award winning winemaker, Leigh Eldredge, will be on hand to take you through a personal Wine Appreciation Course, teaching you how to train your palate and understand the flavours of different wines. Leigh has been teaching wine studies for many years to all the Valley’s local wine enthusiasts.
As a fifth generation farmer from Clare, and working in the wine industry for the past 40 years, Leigh has dedicated his life to the art of growing grapes and making wine. He will share his wealth of knowledge on the history of wine production throughout the Clare Valley in an informative, engaging and sometimes hilarious way. Wine is Leigh’s passion, and wine education his mission. Leigh can answer any of you wine questions, so be ready to bombard him and you’ll leave Eldredge Wines feeling like a true wine expert.
Sussex Squire Wines – Get Hands on in the Vineyard
Sussex Squire owners Mark Bolan & Skye Page will delight in giving you a private tour of their vineyards – this is a behind the scenes look that the general public is not usually privy to.
Mark, a well-respected Vigneron, will furnish you with his in depth knowledge on why Sussex Squire focuses on dry growing their Shiraz. He will explain the different soil profiles of the vineyard, how these impact the fruit, and ultimately the wine in bottle. See how specific varieties of grapes have different vineyard features and the many conditions that come into play to produce the best fruit possible, resulting in the best wine possible.
During certain seasons, you might be able to try your hand at picking some grapes, or a bit of pruning might be on the cards. And don’t leave until you’ve given one of the Black Sussex Sheep a cuddle! Finish your Sussex Squire visit with a tasting of their range of wines – wines that come directly from the vineyards you have just toured.
Matriarch & Rogue – ‘Meet the Maker’ – Winery Tasting and Barrel Sampling Session with the Winemaker
At her winery, you will meet Marnie Roberts, passionate winemaker and owner of Matriarch & Rogue, an avant-garde wine brand established in the Clare Valley in 2014. Marnie will explain the concept and story behind her brand, and you will have the opportunity to taste wines direct from barrel, and depending on the time of year you may be able to blend or plunge new wines during ferment, crush or help press wines off skins. This is the opportunity to get hands on and appreciate all the love and work that goes in to creating small batch, premium wines. You will also have the opportunity to taste and purchase the full range of Matriarch & Rogue wines.
This is a rare opportunity to be a part of the inner workings of a small batch winery, while trying some yet to be released wines with the maker.
The Spring Gully Experience begins at 10am, with no set finishing time
A decadent Gourmet Hamper overflowing with local Clare Valley produce, will be supplied for lunch, and weather permitting, will be served at the Spring Gully lookout and Conservation Park.
Guests will also receive 6 bottles of wine to take home, guests can choose 2 from each venue. A ‘Wine Pod’ box will be supplied for each guest to keep their wines in (optional shipping is a available).