It is said great wine starts in the vineyard. Langmeil's commitment to 100% premium Barossa wine certainly upholds this philosophy. Paul Lindner, chief winemaker, is involved in the winemaking process from vine to wine. Through liaison with growers, he sees how the seasons affect the fruit; he learns then recommends the best practices to ensure optimum quality. By keeping individual vineyard parcels separate throughout the winemaking process, he can assess each vineyard for consistency and quality every vintage. Such differentiation also highlights the varietal characteristics of each subregion. This process is crucial in ensuring wellbalanced wines with subtle complexities. Langmeil obtains much of its fruit from old, prephylloxera and own root vineyards throughout the region, in order to guarantee the quality and consistency of its wines. Pruning methods vary according to variety and region within the Barossa. The most common methods are Rod and Spur (Cane Pruning) and permanent arm Spur Pruning. Langmeil dry grows many of its own vineyards and encourages its growers to do the same. Because they are not irrigated, the vines search for water and push their roots deep into the ground. Thus they produce fruit of outstanding quality, with depth, colour and flavour not found in other, irrigated vines. Australia is the driest continent in the world and South Australia, the state in which the Barossa is located, is the driest state of Australia. Yet it is possible to produce in the Barossa outstanding wine from dry grown vines. www.langmeilwinery.com.au
