Coonawarra Winery Review – Balnaves

Another installment in our ongoing series covering the Great Wineries of the prestigious Coonawarra Region.

This week JDE reviews Balnaves of Coonawarra.

Balnaves is a small family owned wine company located in the heart of the famous Coonawarra Terra Rossa strip.

Since the planting of the first 5 hectares of vines in 1976, the vineyard has grown steadily and now covers a total of 56 hectares of Coonawarra Terra Rossa soil. The principal variety planted is Cabernet Sauvignon, which accounts for 70% of the area whilst the addition of Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Chardonnay make up the total vineyard area of 58 hectares.

The vineyard is divided into small blocks of between one and two hectares, which take into account depth of soil, trellis design, vine clone and row direction. The quality of wine produced from these small blocks is evaluated each year and recorded. This practice proves the validity of the French concept of “terrior” or the effect that microclimate; geological features and other factors have on the quality of the wine produced. Such effects are clearly seen in the small Balnaves vineyard at Coonawarra.

Over the years Balnaves has received considerable recognition amongst it peers by receiveing the following awards:

2008
- James Halliday – Winery of the Year
- Best Chardonnay Trophy Limestone Coast Wineshow

2006
- Best Wine in First Class – UK Business Traveller “Cellars in the Sky” Competition
- Best Chardonnay Trophy – Limestone Coast Wine Show
- Best White Wine – Limestone Coast Wine Show
- Hyatt/Advertiser Cabernet of the Year

2005
- Penguin Wine Guide- Best Cabernet Sauvignon
- Best Chardonnay Trophy – Limestone Coast Wine Show
- Best White Wine – Limestone Coast Wine Show
- Pete Bissell Qantas/Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year

2004
- Best Shiraz – Limestone Coast Wine Show
- International Judges Award Trophy- Limestone Coast Wine Show
- Hyatt/Advertiser Cabernet of the Year
- Best Chardonnay Trophy – Limestone Coast Wine Show
- Rydges Capital Hill Best Cabernet Sauvignon – National Show Canberra

2002
- Hyatt/Advertiser Consumers Chardonnay of the Year
- Hyatt/Advertiser Cabernet of the Year

2001
- Best Museum Wine Trophy -Limestone Coast Wine Show
- Hyatt/Advertiser Wine of the Year
- Hyatt/Advertiser Cabernet of the Year

1998
- Camperdown Cellars Trophy – Best Cabernet- Sydney Show
- Columbus Line Trophy – Cabernet of the Year – Winestate
- Riedel Glass – Best Chardonnay Trophy – International Top 100

1997
- Architectural Award – BHP Colorbond Steel Award Royal Australian Institute of Architects
- SA Chapter ‘Award of Merit’ for the winery

1992
- Royal Australian Institute of Architects- SA Chapter Commendation for Cellar Door Sales Building
- Packaging Award- Award of Excellence Design Annual ‘Packaging’ for Karin Seja of Ian Kidd Design
- Fasson Award- Australasian Winner Creative for the Balnaves of Coonawarra Wine Carton Label

1991
- National Bank Trophy – Best 1-year-old red – Adelaide Show
- Adelaide Art Directors Club Silver award for recognition of Outstanding Contribution to Advertising, Promotion, Publishing and Design of Balnaves of Coonawarra ‘Wine’

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