A Slow Wine?
15 February 2012Now that sounds intriguing doesn’t it? Located in the Murray Shire on the banks of the mighty Murray is Restdown Wines, a tranquil winery with a distinctive wine making process.
Jo Hearn, Restdown’s resident winemaker explains the process. “At Restdown we have adopted a ‘slow wine’ philosophy in both our wine making and our wine consuming, allowing the wines to express the full character of the grapes and the area within which they are grown.”
Jo further notes, “Minimal human intervention is our focus, so we avoid the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, use straw mulch to control weeds and conserve water and add minimal amounts of preservative to our wine. Many of our regular customers find that they can enjoy our wine without the allergic reactions they often experience from heavily sulphured wines.”
“Egg white fining is only used when absolutely necessary, with no chooks ever being harmed in the winemaking process!“ says Jo.
A good red wine is always enjoyed with a good cut of steak so how does their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon stack up?
Jo explains, “This is a newly released cabernet and a very special, limited edition wine from the drought effected 2007 vintage, with only 450 bottles produced. Tiny berries created intense flavours in our cabernet crop resulting in this excellent wine. Matured in French oak for 12 months, this wine will continue to soften with further cellaring, but is excellent drinking now with roast lamb, or vintage cheese.”
Jo is one of only a few female winemakers in the country and Restdown’s range of wines has grown to include Chardonnay and Semillon for the whites; a dry wild yeast fermented Rosé; Merlot, Shiraz, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon for the reds.
“We’ve also just begun producing Verjus, which is made from unfermented grape juice, and can be used many ways in cooking or as a non alcoholic drink” Jo said.
“Our wines reflect the care and attention we give to our vineyard, with our whites having fresh varietal flavours and being ready for immediate drinking. Our reds are rich and luscious, yet they are soft enough to be enjoyed now or can be cellared for many years.”
Restdown Wines will showcase their wines at the Farm Innovation Technology Expo on Friday 30 & Saturday 31 March as well as at the Friday night Jazz Networking Function to be held at Waring Gardens Deniliquin. Two events not to be missed!
Tickets are now on sale at $55 per head. Contact Murray Now’s Deniliquin office on 03 5881 3010 to purchase your ticket.
Just forty minutes from Barham, Deniliquin or Echuca/Moama, the Hearn’s are happy to receive visitors at Restdown with their cellar door and wetland walking trail open 7 days a week by appointment. Contact Jo or Don on 03 5489 7221, or check out their website at www.restdown.com.au
