Macaw Creek Wines, established in 1992 by Rod Hooper and family, is a boutique winery located in the heart of the Gilbert Valley near the township of Riverton in South Australia.
The Gilbert Valley is situated between the Clare and Barossa Valleys with Macaw Creek being the first winery on the main north road for travelers from Adelaide heading up to the Clare Valley.
Although well known as one of South Australia's best wheat and grain producing regions, the Gilbert Valley has a history of wine production and grape growing dating back to the early 1880's.
The Wooroora Winery was established by The South Australian Company at Macaw Creek and with 200 acres planted to vines by the late 1890's, was the 2nd largest winery in the Clare / Gilbert district (the largest being Leasingham).
By 1901 under the skilful guidance of Thomas Hardy, Wooroora was producing 20,000 gallons of premium red wine for export to the UK.
Wooroora's life was cut short at the beginning of World War 1 when exports to the UK fell dramatically.
Today in the Gilbert Valley there are currently seven vineyards producing around 500 tonnes of grapes.
The grapes are generally dry grown from low yielding vines in an organic environment free from systemic pesticides and herbicides.
The Gilbert Valley terroir is perfectly suited to Rhone grape varietals such as Shiraz and Grenache although premium quality Cabernet and Riesling grapes are also grown.
Winter dominant rainfall moistens the predominantly terra rossa and Bay of Biscay soils, enabling optimum shoot growth in spring.
Limestone in the soil helps retain the 520mm of annual rainwater.
Hot dry summers create a disease free growing environment thus allowing organic viticultural methods.
The Gilbert Valley's warm dry autumns with cool evenings are ideal for slow fruit ripening and maximum flavour development.
The development of the flagship brand of the Gilbert Valley, Macaw Creek, has been very much a family affair from building the winery, to planting the vines, picking the fruit and making the wine. The cellar door and winery have been built in beautifully restored stables that were originally constructed in the 1880's on land that has now been in the family for 5 generations.
As one of Australia's most accomplished young winemakers and viticulturalists, it is Rod Hooper's vision to reestablish Macaw Creek and the Gilbert Valley as an important South Australian wine producing region.
At Macaw Creek, our wine making philosophy begins in the vineyard where the least amount of intervention possible is applied to the growing of terroir suited grapes of the highest quality. Dedicated to producing outstanding Rhone varietals such as shiraz and grenache, Macaw Creek also grows premium cabernet and dry white wine grapes including riesling and semillon. Some of the state’s first disease free viognier vines have also been planted at Macaw Creek.
Macaw Creek wines are elegant with clean ripe fruit expression and definitive palate structure.
They are eminently approachable at a young age but can all be cellared with confidence.
The flagship of the Macaw Creek range includes Macaw Creek Shiraz/Cabernet Reserve, a wine which won gold at the Adelaide Wine Show and was nominated for The George Mackie Trophy for Australia's finest exported wine, in its first estate grown vintage(1998).
A preservative free shiraz sold under the Macaw Creek label is designed for premium red wine drinkers who are either sulphide sensitive or simply wish to reduce their level of consumption of food preservatives and additives but are not willing to compromise on quality. The natural preservative qualities of alcohol and tannins will ensure that Yoolang will continue to improve with bottle age for at least 5-8 years.
Rounding out the Macaw Creek premium range is a very easy drinking grenache/shiraz, a stylish, richly textured shiraz, a very elegant semillon/sauvignon blanc and a classically crisp, fresh, citrusy riesling.