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Family owned and estate-grown winery, Chalk Hill have been crowned as the 2020 Bushing Monarchs with their 2019 Alpha Crucis Old Vine Grenache.
“It’s a pinch-yourself moment but we’ve been working towards this position over the past 10 years, it doesn’t just happen overnight,” says director of Chalk Hill Tom Harvey.
“The Chalk Hill family have put in the hard yards and we’ll continue to strive for balance and purity in our approach to winemaking. To be acknowledged is a humbling honour for my family but also a tribute to the hard work by our small team,” he continues.
John and Diana Harvey established Chalk Hill in 1964, they own six vineyards in the McLaren Vale region.
“The ethos behind our Alpha Crucis range is to allow the fruit variety and region shine bright. We produce small-batch, high-quality wines, which focus on the typicity of varieties and reflects a sense of place. McLaren Vale is a well-suited region to produce high-quality Grenache fruit,” says Harvey.
Harvey toasts the Old Vine Grenache to Winemaker Renae Hirsch and General Manager Stu Mosman, “this wine sums up Renae and Stu, their style, delicate palates and years of hard work… but don’t mention Stu (he says with the widest of grins).”
With minimal intervention, Chalk Hill have sourced grapes from 85-year-old bush vine Grenache located in Blewitt Springs.
“Tasting straight from the 85-year-old heritage vines in Blewitt Springs we knew the purity, concentration and complexity of the fruit was award-winning,” says Stu Mosman.
Tom Harvey acknowledges the significant impact the industry has faced throughout 2020.
“What a rollercoaster this year has been, for the region, industry and for Chalk Hill. We’ve been able to adapt and we’ve showed resilience as a whole in these trying times,” says Harvey.
The Harvey family opened their newly established cellar door, only to quickly close.
“The lockdown period was challenging for all but we’ve been able to bounce back and open our cellar door to seven days a week, which a few months ago felt doubtful,” explains Harvey.
“To be included in the same calibre as previous Busing Monarchs is an honour and privilege,” finishes Harvey.
Limited stock is available of the 2019 Alpha Crucis Old Vine Grenache.
Chalk Hill’s cellar door is open daily until 5pm and trades until 10pm on Friday’s.
Find Chalk Hill at 56 Field St, McLaren Vale.
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