Something old, something new. From the Riverland, with love
These growers deliver head-turning alternative variety drops to your door, writes Katie Spain.
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The list of alternate grape varieties Ashley Ratcliff grows is quite the mouthful: grenache blanc, zibibbo, negroamaro, aglianico, tempranillo, monvedro, alvarinho, tinta barroca, and tinta cão to name a few. There are 35 in total.
Ashley and wife Holly grow the varieties in the Riverland, where they’re best suited to the warm, dry climate.
“These are varieties that have a great future,” he says.
During a long wine industry career, Ashley spent 16 years at Yalumba (doing everything from viticulture to importing vines, marketing and selling).
The pair purchased their first vineyard in Barmera during 2003 and in 2015 Ashley won Gourmet Traveller Wine’s Viticulturist of the Year award. Not bad for a bloke born in Essex, UK.
“My parents met at Scotland Yard, where my dad was a detective,” he says.
“We emigrated when I was young and I grew up on a farm in the Adelaide Hills.”
Now based at Angaston, the couple run Ricca Terra Vitners (10 individual vineyards located in Barmera). Their small-batch wines fall under the labels Ricca Terra, Terra do Rio (Portuguese varieties), and 22 Degree Halo, which provides a stepping stone into exotic varieties by blending the likes of cabernet sauvignon with nero d’avola.
They also produce a Soldiers’ Land grenache made with fruit sourced from 90-year-old vines. Three dollars from every bottle sold is donated to the RSL. “They’re not making money from Anzac Day pins or fundraising this year,” Ashley says. “If we can help even a little, that’s great.”
Now, in COVID-19 times, he delivers wine and local produce to the Barossa and Adelaide metro.
“We’re just trying to do something a bit quirky,” he says. “You have to put yourself out there.”
RICCA TERRA
2019 / ARINTO
Riverland
Arinto, where have you been all my life? Portugal, that’s where. You can almost imagine this white grape sunbaking in its warm, faraway homeland and when viticulturist Ashley Ratcliff encountered it in 2012 he was smitten. It loves the Riverland’s heat and this is a stunning example of what can be done with it. It’s crisp, refreshing and smooth and packs plenty of punch. Pear flavours, mouthwatering acid and plenty of depth. Wow!
$27
TERRA DO RIO
2019 / TOURIGA NACIONAL
Riverland
Beware this Portuguese beauty – it’ll seduce you. Despite best intentions to savour just a glass, the mid-weight red charms its way into your heart with whispers of vanilla and a massage of blackberry and cherry, and a dark chocolate finish. There’s a lot to love about the bright fruit flavours. This ain’t no holiday fling. Delicious. Drink poolside – Algarve villa style.
$30
