Chapel Hill Bush Vine Grenache 2013

Chapel Hill Winery in McLaren Vale was built on the site of the Seaview Chapel and school house. The 1865 ironstone Chapel still stands today and is an integral feature of the popular tasting room. The winery founder, Thomas Nelson hand planted the vineyard on the estate commencing in 1972 and the first vintage was in 1975. Perched on the edge of the spectacular Onkaparinga Gorge in the elevated northern end of McLaren Vale.

Shallow rocky soils are a feature of the site with some of the geological formations dating back 600 million years. McLaren Vale’s maritime climate, influenced by the nearby Gulf St Vincent, provides excellent ripening conditions and minimal disease pressure. Under the guidance of winemakers Michael Fragos and Bryn Richards, Chapel Hill strives to hand craft wines with purity and balance. To pursue this belief, all of our grapes and wines are handled gently in small batches with a restrained winemaking philosophy. As a result there are no additions of any fining.

The stoic hero of McLaren Vale, the history and tradition of our wonderful region can be enjoyed with a glass of this wine that is crafted from old bush vine Grenache.
These old, low yielding vines result in small berries, thick skins and open bunches which deliver bright fruit flavours and an invigorating rustic savoury texture.