The road out the front of Rusden was a gravel track when Christian was a kid. In summer, the white sand would blow over it when the council grader hadn’t visited for a while, which made it a treacherous affair negotiating the sandhills and potholes on bikes from the top of Rocky Valley Road down the hill to the family farm.

At the entry to the property is a small plot of Trousseau. More often found in France, it’s well suited to the alluvial sand and cooling afternoon breezes that make Vine Vale such a unique terroir.

Tasting Note: Intense nose with lifted black fruit, star anise, eucalyptus and faint cedar tones. The palate shows spice, black tea, fruit cake & a liquor-soaked berry sweetness that is matched by a lingering sourness. It’s that ‘sweet vs sour’ aspect of the palate that makes this variety so interesting & unique.

Origin: Barossa, Australia

Blend: Trousseau