Cumulus Vineyards, the new owner of the Cumulus Wines portfolio, has ambitious plans for its brands, which include Rolling, Climbing, Luna Rosa and Block 50.
Cumulus Vineyards owns the renowned Boomey Vineyard near Molong in NSW and had sold its fruit under contract to the Cumulus Wines (Wine Insights) business for the previous four years.
It purchased a number of assets and trademarks from Cumulus Wines following its winding down in April 2019.
Cumulus Vineyards is a privately owned business, with shareholders including a number of Australian investors and the Berardo family of Bacalhoa Vinhos de Portugal.
Its wines are made by Robert Oatley Vineyards in Mudgee by Debbie Lauritz, who oversaw winemaking for Cumulus Wines at its Cudal facility until last year.
Tamburlaine Organic Wines purchased the former Cumulus winery facility in the Orange wine region last month.
Lauritz spent over 10 years as a Senior Winemaker at Cumulus Wines before accepting the role of Chief Winemaker at Robert Oatley Vineyards.
“Debbie brings an unparalleled level of expertise to our winemaking capabilities,” said Cumulus Vineyards CEO Tim Jones.
“We believe this relationship will strengthen our partnership with Robert Oatley Vineyards, as well as with our sales distributors OFWM."
Cumulus Vineyards releases ALTE
Cumulus Vineyards has announced the release of a new premium range of wines, ALTE, the first step in a new direction for the high-altitude vignerons from Orange, NSW.
ALTE, from the Italian ‘Terra Alte’, means High Lands. Orange is one of Australia’s premier cool-climate wine regions and the only one that is defined by altitude.
Jones explained: “As custodians of a 508-hectare estate in the Orange wine region, our goal was to create a premium wine that showcases the potential of our winemaking region and the importance of altitude.
"ALTE offers a point of difference to our established Rolling and Climbing ranges that we know will introduce our wines to an entirely new consumer.”
The grapes are grown from 25-year-old vines that sit at a cool 600 metres above sea-level where the fruit enjoys intense, high-elevation sunshine.
They are carefully handpicked before being treated to maturation in a blend of new and old French Oak barriques.
Lauritz noted: “The Orange Wine Region is renowned for producing elegant, aromatic Chardonnay and softly textured, yet complex Shiraz; these wines are no exception.”
"These wines have enormous potential; they provide consumers with an affordable gateway to the super-premium market whilst also enhancing the profile of one of Australia’s fastest growing wine regions, Orange," Jones concluded.
"Cumulus Vineyards are excited about its next chapter and are looking forward to working with production and distribution allies OFWM and the expertise they provide to the market."
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