Old Plains Wine Co was founded in 2002 by Dom Torzi and Tim Freeland, driven by a shared vision to preserve some of the last old-vine vineyards of the Adelaide Plains in South Australia. Many of these vines were planted in the post-WWII era by Italian migrants and returned servicemen, becoming an enduring legacy of the region’s rich wine heritage.
While much of this precious old vine material was lost during the mid 1980s to make way for market gardens, almond orchards and housing developments, pockets remained - often just an acre or two or a few cherished rows kept by families to make their own wine. Today, Old Plains sources fruit from these surviving plots, crafting wines that celebrate the unique character and generosity that only old vines can deliver.
Since their first vintage, Torzi and Freeland have focused on hand-made, small-batch Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet, all brimming with deep, dark fruit flavours and true varietal expression. Traditional vinification is at the heart of their approach: sustainable vineyards, hand picking, whole berry fermentations, gentle basket pressing and gravity-fed ferments, all handled with minimal intervention.
This wine was hand picked and fermented as whole berries in a single 5-tonne open-top fermenter, with around 15% whole bunches to build complexity. After a 24-hour cold soak, fermentation proceeded for seven days at 28°C on skins, using soft pump-overs and light hand plunging. A gentle basket press extraction finished in barrel, where the wine matured for 18 months in 100% French oak, with only one careful racking before bottling unfiltered.
Deeply coloured and concentrated in the glass, it reveals pure raspberry alongside a medley of black fruits, layered with Morello cherry, savoury spice and a touch of bitter cherry intrigue. The palate is plush yet balanced, with silky smooth tannins and a long, lingering finish that speaks of place and patience. A standout expression of what these old Adelaide Plains sites, and thoughtful hands, can achieve.
