If any one wine we produce most exemplifies what Torbreck is, then it's this wine, our ode to the great old vines, planted at the turn of last century, that survived the vine-pull scheme of the 1980’s. Thankfully there are still many great vineyards remaining that are planted to Grenache, Mataro (Mourvedre) and Shiraz the traditional Barossa varieties. From cuttings brought back from James Busby’s 1831-2 trip to France and Spain and planted on their own roots (due to the absence of phyloxerra in the Barossa Valley) these vineyards are some of the most precious in the world. Share-farming agreements with the Barossa’ s best growers has enabled us to gain access to these vineyards and their fruit each season. From there we crush, ferment, gently press and mature the wine in seasoned oak casks for 18 months before bottling without filtration. Most importantly, there are about 45 different parcels of fruit that compose The Steading which are all fermented and matured separately , being brought together only at blending where their individuality is assessed prior to the composition of the final blend. The Steading is the reference point for Grenache dominant blends produced in the Barossa Valley and is made for the dining table. 'On a highland farm the collection of barns, stables and outbuildings is known as a steading. The varieties Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz all stand in their own right. However, in blending, their strengths create a complex wine of solid earthy structure'. David Powell
