Producer

Katnook Estate’s winemaking history stretches back to 1896, when Coonawarra’s second vintage was made in the Katnook woolshed by Scottish immigrant John Riddoch. In 1971, the Yunghanns family purchased Katnook and the first vines were planted soon after, with the first vintages of fruit sold to neighbouring wineries. In 1980, the first wines were made under Katnook Estate label. The multi-award winning Wayne Stehbens has made the wines since that first vintage, possibly making him Australia’s longest serving employed winemaker.

Vineyard

The grapes come from vines aged between ten and thirty-five years, spur pruned with a vertically managed canopy, and planted at 1,450 vines per hectare on classic terra rossa over limestone soil. They were harvested from mid-March to early April.

Winery

The must was fermented for 5-7 days at 22-27oC in stainless steel tanks. before being drained and pressed. Twenty percent of the wine was matured in a combination of older French and American barriques for three months.