Our Story
Jelka Vineyard is located in the hills overlooking the whole of the McLaren Vale. It is an old vineyard, and some original blocks of vines are over 90 years old.
We bought the 11 hectare (32 acre) vineyard in 1992 after being inspired by the wines we had been drinking, and by the rash ambition to establish a family vineyard that could last for generations. And to make and share our wine.
We had done our homework first though - we spent a year in the Barossa while attending Roseworthy to study viticulture, we visited and looked and considered vineyards for years, and finally found the vineyard we had dreamt about - in a premium grape growing area, established and with a proven ability to produce premium grapes and wines.
Over the following years the effort, the learning, the support, the disappointments, and the sense of achievement have been intense. And eventually came our wine.
These wines are the culmination of the effort and inspiration. When you taste the wine from the vines, taste the region, the sun, the stress - and you will taste the unique terroir of Blewitt Springs.
The 2006 wines were our first release. They and the following wines are our pride and joy. We hope that you will enjoy them as much as we hope they represent the beauty of McLaren Vale and its classic wines.