Grenache in French, or also known as Garnacha in Spanish, today is the day where we celebrate one of the wine world's most versatile and beloved grape varieties. A red grape known for its exceptional adaptability, resulting in a wide range of wine styles, from elegant rosés to robust reds, it is one of the most widely planted red wine grape varieties in the world. It ripens late, so it needs hot, dry conditions such as those found in Spain, where the grape is believed to have originated. The grape has its actual origin in the region of Aragon in northern Spain. This may be surprising to people as some of the best-known Grenache wines come from the Rhône region of France (hello Chateauneuf du Pape!)
Thanks to its intense flavours - think strawberries, raspberries and cherries and a sweet spicy component to it, it pairs perfectly with well-seasoned meat, such as a good beef stew or grilled quail. On the other hand, seafood or vegetables are best served with Grenache rosé. Grenache has low to medium acidity and low to medium tannins but feels medium-bodied yet refreshing and has a decent amount of heat (alcohol) to it as well.
2021 Glaetzer Bishop
Regular price £30.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Icon's of Barossa
Glaetzer Bishop is a true expression of Barossa Shiraz that is elegantly structured with a long finish.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep inky red with purple hues.
Palate
An explosion of brooding dark tones with bright cassis and coffee bean
hints. Subtle richness with flavours of dark plum and blackberry intermingled with dark chocolate and dried spice. Generous yet restrained tannin provides exceptional palate length and persistence

Background
Bishop is the family name of Colin's wife' Judith. Fittingly the sign of Venus, a symbol which has come to represent women and feminine energy, is the centrepiece of the Bishop label. In mythology, the symbol meant the Roman goddess Venus or her Greek equivalent Aphrodite. But the sign has also been linked back to ancient Egypt – a nod to Bishop’s link to Amon-Ra and Anaperenna.
About Glaetzer
This family-owned boutique winery was founded in 1995 and dedicates itself to the production of super-premium, site specific red wine made in small volumes. Originally from Germany, the Glaetzer family settled in Australia in the late 19th century and were some of the earliest recorded viticulturalists in the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley. Today the winery is run by internationally acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer, who is responsible for driving the brand’s considerable loyal following. Ben sources all their fruit from the northern sub-region of the Barossa, Ebenezer, which is known for its ancient dry-grown vineyards. Glaetzer’s most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year-old, nongrafted bush vines. In the cellar, Ben believes in minimal intervention and treating musts as gently as possible.
Though only limited Glaetzer wines are produced every year, the winery is known for producing wines that are unique and intense.
2019 Bishop from Glaetzer Wines on Vimeo.
Review
"The 2019 Bishop Shiraz is all Shiraz and all from the Ebenezer district of the northern Barossa Valley. Aged almost exclusively in second, third and fourth use oak (mostly French), it features slight herbal overtones to the black cherry and black olive notes. It’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, supple, generous and reasonably concentrated, folding in hints of peppery spice and mocha shadings on the velvety, mouthwatering finish." 91 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"This is a real delight - loads of dense fruits with spice, herbs and vanillin in support. Super smooth tannins give it great complexity, structure and length. A real triumph Barossan beauty. Well worth double the retail price!" January 2023
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
| Country | Australia |
| Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Cellaring | Great drinking now but this wine will also benefit from 10—12 years of careful cellaring. |
| Features | Vegan and Vegetarian |
| Origin | Barossa Valley |
| Appellation | South Australia |
2019 Smalltown Vineyards Clovella Mataro Grenache
Regular price £19.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
It starts with cassis, a nose full of promise. Clove and black pepper spice. The palate is dark and sultry with a dried fruit appeal. It finishes with a gentle lick of oak from the time the wine spends in oak.

Production
Clovella is a field planting of roughly 60/40 Grenache and Mataro. It is a 40 year old vineyard from the Gomersal sub-district of the Barossa Valley that Rolf Binder has been cultivating himself for many years. The wine spends 22 months in older French oak. The purpose of this wine is to show Mataro and Grenache with some development rather than the super-juicy-young-bright Grenache of the moment.
Producer
Smalltown Vineyards express many of the Barossa’s prized districts form Gomersal, Kalimna as well as the Eden Valley and beyond. We work with exceptional vineyards simply expressed using minimal intervention, basket press where relevant, natural ferments in open-top fermenters to best capture the Barossa’s magical flavours. We have a lot of fun with labels because, well because we can. It’s only wine after all…
A note about Sustainability
As of the 1st July, 2019, Australia changed from its previous sustainable programme called EntWine to Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Smalltown Vineyards is a participant in this programme, which assists with tools and resources to enhance business sustainability, meeting customer sustainability requirements and sustainability claims made by participants.
Specifications
| Year | 2019 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 60% Grenache, 40% Mataro |
| Country | Australia |
| Alcohol content | 14.5% alc vol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Braises and stews: long slow cooked roasts of pork or lamb. |
| Origin | South Australia |
| Appellation | Barossa Valley |
2015 Lost Buoy Cliff Block Grenache
Regular price £29.99 Sale price £24.99 Save 17%This wine is truly exciting showcasing the incredible potential of McLaren Vale Grenache.
Tasting Notes
Forgotten IDA Grenache is light crimson in colour, generous raspberry and rhubarb tart bouquet with subtle fruit sweetness and creamy but textured palate.
History

The closest vineyard to the sea in Australia, the Lost Buoy vines grow within 50 meters of the cliff edge, high above the rolling waves of the Great Southern Ocean. The maritime influence refreshes the vines to create a naturally healthy growing environment.
The Lost Buoy vineyard is planted with eight acres of Grenache and seven acres of Shiraz vines. With an average age of 15 years, the vines’ roots are anchored deep into the Pliocene Hallett Cove Sandstone and Burnham Limestone of the cliff head, bringing an intricate minerality to the wines. The elemental growing conditions and shallow soils produce a humble yield of perfectly balanced fruit, on average just 1.5 to 2 tonnes per acre.
Winemaker, Matt O’Leary, is on deck to steer the fruit through the winemaking process, producing a fleet of wines to showcase and respect the distinctive characters of the grapes and where they are grown.
Now that the Lost Buoy vineyard has been found again, the vines speak clearly of the ocean they overlook, producing wines with elegance, vitality, crisp maritime acidity and earthy mineral complexity.
Specifications
| Year | 2015 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Grenache |
| Country | Australia |
|
Alcohol content
|
14% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Match | Excellent with meat dishes such as lamb and venison. |
| Cellaring Potential |
An exceptional wine to be enjoyed now. |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Origin | Mclaren Vale |
| Appellation | McLaren Vale |