The Riverland lost significant areas of horticultural crops including winegrapes to severe frost a year ago.
Temperatures plunged to as low as -8℃ during the critical early bud stage of growth.
One year on from the most severe frost in decades, neighbours are still supporting neighbours in the Riverland.
Riverland Vine Improvement Committee (RVIC) approached 919 Wines with an offer of grapes after hearing they had lost 95 percent of their fruit on their Glossop vineyard.
919 Wines have produced two wines from this fruit including a unique and exotic white field blend, Cha Cha, which has been released one year on from the disaster.
The other is a blend sourced from the mother-vines of 919 Wines’ own plantings of Touriga Nacional which will be bottled later this year.
“It was a really exciting opportunity to work with RVIC on the back of such a devastating loss,” assistant winemaker Seamus Donaghey said.
“Given the opportunity to cut my teeth on a project of my own and see the ins and outs of the process of winemaking and wine marketing was an educational experience.
“It reinforced our collaborative relationship with RVIC for the future.
“Cha Cha is a blend of four rare Iberian varieties, the result being beautifully textural, complex and slightly sweet.”
Chief winemaker Eric Semmler said, “While the last 12 months have been particularly challenging for the regional community, we feel supported by our neighbours and colleagues.
“It’s been exciting working with Riverland Vine Improvement Committee, and the result has been some innovative and exciting wines that have expanded our wine portfolio.”
919 Wines and Riverland Vine Improvement Committee have collaborated for more than 15 years trialling the suitability of various new varieties for making high quality wines in warm regions, such as Tinta Barocca, Macabeo and Lagrein for their RVICs Cirami Estate label.
In 2015, the Cirami Estate 2015 Saperavi took out an award for Best Saperavi in the Georgian international Saperavi competition, in the heart of the birthplace of this variety.
Riverland Wine Centre has been collaborating with RVIC to secure its legacy and ensure this lovely wine is produced every year.
Photo: From left – Ian McKenzie (RVIC), Eric Semmler (919 Wines), Seamus Donaghey (919 Wines) and Patrick Showell (RVIC).
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