De Bortoli Wines is adding a dark fruited, rich and soft Heathcote Grenache to its Woodfired range following success with its Heathcote Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sparkling Shiraz.
Crafted by Chief Winemaker Steve Webber and sourced from the vineyards in the northern sections of Heathcote, Woodfired showcases the unique geography, climate and growing conditions of this Victorian wine region of bold red. The range represents dense and complex wines with ripe dark fruits, cedar wood, and balance that pairs perfectly with char-grilled foods.
“There is a resurgence of woodfired oven cuisine and charcoal cooking in Australia, and we are always looking for wines to match. The combination of the really warm climate and rich deep red soils in Heathcote really come through in the Woodfired wines that perfectly suit the charcoal and smoke flavours,” says Steve Webber.
The Woodfired range first launched in 2015 and has won many awards, including trophies, gold and silver medals. Since its launch in 2015, the Shiraz has won 49 awards, with the Sparkling Shiraz awarded 19 following its introduction in 2017. Cabernet Sauvignon has taken out 26 awards since 2018.
Adding this fragrant wine to the range was the logical next step for De Bortoli, given the current demand for Grenache in Australia over the last few years. The Woodfired Heathcote Grenache is medium intense in colour with ripe blueberry and dark cherry characteristics and a soft mouth coating typical of Heathcote.
It was destemmed and fermented at 25-30°C over eight to twelve days before being pressed and matured in vats and casks for eight months, then racked and aerated regularly to soften the wine. The fruit was carefully selected for a balance of weight and ripeness.
“These wines are big, bold and go really well with charcoal flavours from the BBQ. I really love it because it is soft, round and plush," says Kate Webber, fourth-generation winemaker.
Woodfired Heathcote Grenache is distributed through independent retail at RRP $22
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