BARRITT, BAROSSA SINCE 1852
The Barritt family are 6th generation growers in the Barossa Valley dating back to the 1850s. Small parcels of their grapes have been used to develop a range of stunning wines. Showcasing modern and traditional ideals side by side they are seamlessly blending the past with the present as they explore the world of wine...
History
Joe Barritt and his family are direct descendants of two of the earliest settlers in the Barossa Valley, Carl Sobels and Joseph Barritt. Joseph Barritt arrived in South Australia in 1839, was a member of parliament for the district of Barossa, and he and his descendants have been growing grapes in the Barossa Valley since the 1850’s.
Carl Sobels came as an experienced professional winemaker from France to be the first contract winemaker in South Australia. By 1850 he was living in Tanunda, making wine for other pioneers as well as selling his own wine in London. His son was co-founder of Quelltaler Wines which remained in the family until 1969.
Joe’s father, Greg is fifth generation. He was born and bred on the family property in the Barossa Ranges –working with sheep, cattle, crops and, most importantly, 100-year-old vines! With a range of interests he later became a research scientist and now spends his time between research and running the vineyards of the Barritt family estate.
Lenore Barritt, Joe's mother also had a career in research science and Biology education over an expansive career. Her love of nature and understanding, appreciation of science behind viticulture has provided passion and drive in the running of Barritt Vineyards. Lenore also shares her delight and knowledge through our wines at many a tasting.
"Passion took us to this, producing the finest fruit grown in the soils of the southern Barossa ranges creating only premium unique wines. A ROAD LESS TRAVELLED. Jb"
Joe is sixth generation. He studied Viticulture at The University of Adelaide, then spent 10 years working in the wine industry in Australia, France and The USA learning the craft of winemaking. While starting up JB Wines with Greg and Lenore in 2007, Joe diversified to a decade long career in the brewery industry and after building his home in Rowland Flat among the vines is reigniting JB Wines in his own style, showcasing premium
Barossa wines.
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History
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Unique Varities
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Viticulture
Unique Varieties
European Varieties
Clairette
One of the oldest varieties in France, dating back to Roman times. It is found around Minervois, and small appellations in the Hérault, and Bellagarde Clairette in the southern Rhône. Then it is used to make sparkling “Clairette de Die” or blended with other varieties. It is one of the permitted grapes in Châteaueuf du Pape. It is also used to make vermouth, which explains the wonderful savoury back palate of fennel, peach and herbs. Our Clairette has been described as the ‘red wine drinkers ’white wine!’
Pinot Blanc
Grown in Alsace and Burgundy, as well as in Italy and Europe, it is thoughts to be a mutation of Pinot Gris. There are very few other plantings of Pinot Blanc in mainland Australia! Our Pinot Blanc has a distinctive, characteristic nose clearly recognised by visitors from France and Italy.
Pinot Meunier
Grown extensively in France where, together with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it imparts distinctive characteristics to Champagne. Pinot Meunier is a mutant of Pinot Noir and was discovered in the 15th century. Pinot Meunier vines are noted for the whitish appearance of their leaves. At Church Road Pinot Meunier was planted specifically to combine with Chardonnay for our Heart bottle-fermented Vintage Sparkling, where it imparts fullness and delicious lingering strawberry flavour. In vintages we are not making a new sparkling, the grapes are used alone to make our wonderful dry and elegant Butterfly Corner Rosé.
White Frontignac
White Frontignac (Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains) is thought to be the oldest identifiable grape grown in France. It is now grown extensively in the Rousillon, Catalonia, Languedoc and southern Rhone regions where is famous for producing a golden sweet muscat. In Australia White Frontignac has also been traditionally used to make sweet wines. However, these grapes can be used to produce beautifully dry aromatic wines, such as ours. It has very low alcohol and a perfect aperitif!
Zinfandel
Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) is a variety of black-skinned wine grape. Originally from the Puglia region of Italy, the variety is grown in over 10% of Californian vineyards. The taste of the red wine depends on the ripeness of the grapes from which it is made. Red berry fruit flavours like raspberry predominate in wines from cooler climates, whereas blackberry, anise and pepper notes are common in wines made from warmer areas and in wines made from the earlier-ripening Primitivo clone.
Traditional Varities
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon, the finest and most intense of red grape variety, originated in the 17th century, notably from cross breeding in Nouvelle-Auitaine and the Borrdeaux regions of France. Some of the world best wines have been well regarded with distinction in the years since. The wine from this variety is high in tannins, grip to the mouthfeel with notable characteristics of pepper, black current and cherry. Planted in the Bethany Foothills in 1990, on SA126 rootstock, our 35-year-old Cabernet vines produce all these varietal flavours and more! Grown on black Biscay soil, with cooling gully breezes, this slow ripening variety, so suited to the Southern Barossa Valley produces one of our proudest and distinct wines. Old age wines made with modern methods.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay, with a history dating back to Burgundy, France, where Monks identified this variety, believed to be a clone cross between Pinot and Gouais with good resistance in terroir environments creating a wine that’s either suited to drink now or matured in oak, handling aging fabulously! Chardonnay was embraced by the Barossa in the 1960s with plantings on the range’s of the Valley and in higher altitude regions of the Eden Valley. Our elevated, sloping chardonnay vineyard sits high leading down to the Flat, creating crisp, slow ripening Chardonnay. Its rejuvenation in the world market, with subtle oak ferment and integration retain fresh fruit flavours of tropical fruits and richness with delicate oak.
Shiraz
Shiraz, Syrah has a complicated history. Origins from Iran in the 9th century the city of Shiraz seems to have no connection with modern day Syrah or Shiraz. Syrah synonymous with Southern France and grown throughout the new world wine regions due to its vigour under duress and leafy canopy to shade fruit in hotter regions. James Busby brought cuttings to Australia and New Zealand in the 1840s which then took hold as one of Barossa Valley, Australia premier varieties. Our vineyard was planted in 1972, contoured rows as the French white variety Grüner Silvaner (Silvaner) then grafted 1664 Shiraz Clone producing a unique Shiraz wine due to the terroir of the Sothern Barossa region, in particular the low acidity in the grape from these foothills.
Viticulture
Nicolai Road Vineyard
Nestled in the Bethany foothills our oldest vines include contoured rowed Shiraz planted 1972, Cabernet Sauvignon planted 1990 and Zinfandel in 2005. The unique flavours of grapes produced from this southern region of the Barossa are softer and more subtle while still retaining rich varietal characteristics. Our shiraz is grown in brown earth over clay soil holding water to feed the deep root system of these old vines and supporting canopy growth for shading bunches from the hot summer sun. Cabernet Sauvignon grows on the softer nutrient-rich Biscay soil renowned for Rifle Range Road and Bethany. The fruit from this block is small in berry size, minimal crop but the most intense cabernet flavours exhibited. 15 Hectares.
Church Road Vineyard
On the steep slope leading down to Rowland Flat, Church Road Vineyard has the perfect environment to grow Chardonnay, planted in the year 2000 and our European and unique known varieties - Pinot Blanc, Clairette, White Frotignac, Pinot Meunier and Zinfandel Grafted 2013. Planted at an altitude of 500m in light brown earth, these white varieties as well as Pinot Meunier and Zinfandel, are able to undergo slow ripening with cool nights and gully breezes creating fresh crisp-flavoured fruit, shaded by well grown canopy. 7 Hectares.