Food Drink

Private, zen tasting room opens in McLaren Vale for award-winning ‘In Praise of Shadows’ winery

In Praise of Shadows, have a zen new home in McLaren Vale, perfectly curated for private tastings, group bookings and more.

Boutique family-owned winemakers, In Praise of Shadows, have a luxurious new home in McLaren Vale, perfectly curated for private tastings, group bookings and more.

In Praise of Shadows was founded by Brett Trewartha in 2018. After consultant winemaker Rob Mack joined the team in 2019, the pair has been producing wines in McLaren Vale ever since.

Brett grew up in a farming family on South Australia’s west coast but always found winemaking to be of interest. Brett worked in hospitality and hotels, and after spending a few years as the director of a Margaret River winery, this keen interest only grew. In 2013 Brett moved back to SA and In Praise of Shadows was born.

“I’m a country boy. I really followed the path, grew up on a farm in rural SA, started in hospitality at the family business, and moved into wine distribution and marketing. This led me to be on the board of wineries as a sales and marketing director,” Brett shared.

“I grew up on the farm, so the lure of working in agriculture was always there, so naturally I went into wine.

After starting as a small side business, Brett soon switched his full attention to the winery.

“Over Covid I had time to think and breathe and decided to step away from the other businesses I was involved with and decided to follow my heart. This started as a philanthropy project to get involved with the community and raise awareness of those with special needs.

It has been a slow project over time, I always had the intention of opening a tasting space, a Zen space rather than a cellar door. My mates have been helping me build it over time.”

The inspiration behind the winery came from Japanese author Junichiro Tanizaki and his 1933 essay named In Praise of Shadows. Simply, the piece highlights the ideal of a perfectly imperfect life and finding beauty not in things themselves, but in the patterns of shadows, light and darkness.

Like many others in the region, In Praise of Shadows has become known for its Grenache winning gold at the 2023 James Halliday Australian Grenache Challenge and McLaren Vale Wine Show.

In Praise of Shadows’ Grenache comes from two vineyards. Springs Hill Vineyard in Blewitt Springs and Smart Vineyard in the Clarendon subregion of McLaren Vale. The dry-grown Grenache bush vines from Smart Vineyard were planted in 1921 by Frederick Alfred Smart, and are still managed by the Smart family.

In Praise of Shadows also sources grapes from a certified organic vineyard, Edgehill Vineyard. These vines were originally planted in 1986 and include native Mediterranean grape varieties.

Aside from Grenache, In Praise of Shadows’ current lineup includes Shiraz, Tempranillo, Cabernet, and a Sakura Rose. As for whites, they have 2023 and 2024 Fiano and a Sparkling Pinot Noir.

These wines can be enjoyed in a laidback style, with Brett at the new tasting room by appointment only. Learn from Brett in an intimate setting, and enjoy a selection of their wines. Bookings are essential and can be made through their website.

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