Dandelion Vineyards Enchanted Garden of the Eden Valley Riesling

Dandelion Vineyards is the venture of self-titled 'typist' Zar Brooks, his winemaking wife Elena and growers Carl Lindner and Brad Rey, with wines made from the Barossa and Eden Valleys, Fleurieu and McLaren Vale. Nick Stock, one of Australia's leading journalists, has described Dandelion as follows: 'Brooks has teamed up with his winemaking wife Elena, a woman whose talents are outweighed only by her tolerance, in an exciting new venture called Dandelion Vineyards. The approach is remarkably simple and sees Elena making wine from a suite of beautiful old vineyards identified by Carl Lindner and Brad Rey across that blessed curve that runs from the Barossa, up through the Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills and down into McLaren Vale.

Vineyards

Dandelion Vineyards are proven plantings that have stood the test of time, encouraging the humble Dandelion amongst the vines as they suppress winter weeds, provide mulch in summer, and proffer their Wishing Clocks in spring to blow off and make the Dandelion wish come true. The Enchanted Garden was planted in 1910 and thrives to this day, a seven acre Eden Valley Vine Garden lovingly tended by Sue and Stuart Woodman.

Vinification

Whole bunches were hand picked on the 11th of March then de-stemmed without crushing the fruit to fill the press exactly. Juice from the free run and pressings were separated and fermented in small tanks between 11 and 13°C. The wine was bottled directly with minimal fining and filtration.

Tasting Notes

Bright in the glass with tinges of green and white-gold. Classic aromas of citrus zest, candied peels, dragon fruit and hints of herbs and rye seeds. This is an attractively textural wine displaying the variety's intense purity. Bone-dry, its structure and length is underpinned by bracing acidity.