Posted
by Adam Morganstern
on Mar 18, 2008
in Victoria
Film Director, Julian Castagna and his wife, writer Carolann Castagna, own and run the Castagna Vineyard. Castagna is situated at an altitude of 500 metres five-and-ahalf kilometers outside the historic town of Beechworth in north-east Victoria, high in the foothills of the Australian Alps.The soil mainly consists of decomposed granitic-loam on a base of clay. The climate is distinctly Mediterranean with hot days and cool to cold nights. The land has been farmed biodynamically from the very beginning and their wines have quickly become icons of the new wave of Australian Shiraz. The vineyard is hand-pruned and the fruit is hand-picked and cropped at a bit less than two tons per acre. The winemaking is very traditional using only the vineyard’s indigenous yeast with minimal interference. Elevage varies between 18-20 months using only the very best, tight-grain French oak available, about half of which is new each year.Their intention is to make, as simply as possible, wine which is an expression of the place where it is grown.
read more
Posted
by Adam Morganstern
on Mar 18, 2008
in Victoria
“True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way. It can’t be gained by interfering.” – Tao Te Ching; Chap 48, Mitchell translation, 1988 Harper Collins.This simple philosophy has always pervaded both our grape growing and our wine making, because ultimately, every wine should be a true expression of the place and the season that created it.The esoteric nature of terroir is allowed to express itself purely by not interfering, and is exemplified by comparing our Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz and Emily’s Paddock Shiraz wines, from our two vineyards that are less than 1km apart.The organic viticulture that we have practiced for over twenty years, is now being taken to another level, as we further embrace the concept of Biodynamic agriculture; holistic, intuitive, proven, old fashioned ways of farming.Since inception in the mid seventies, Jasper Hill has always adhered to the three star charter of quality developed by Mr Nicolas Joly, with the extra dimensions of no irrigation of the vines and all vines are own rooted, that is, not grafted on to nonvinifera rootstocks, to give a pure manifestation of the variety.In the winery, we use minimal intervention to maximise the flavours and textures provided by the well balanced grapes. Our quest remains the production of honest wine that you want to drink, wine with a signature that says Jasper Hill, Heathcote, Victoria, Australia.In recent years we have developed a close friendship with Michel Chapoutier of the Rhone Valley and jointly planted a small vineyard of shiraz adjacent to Georgia’s Paddock. We both excitedly look forward to the results.
read more
