Superb Pikes Traditionale riesling and Clare Valley reds revive drinks family

The Pikes of Clare Valley have a story like no other – and we’ve got a super deal to celebrate their fightback.

A captivating Clare Valley collection from the Pike family.

Boom, bust, boom, boom! It’s a drinks story like no other – the family that first brewed beer in Australia in 1886, built a soft drinks and cordials empire, fell on hard times in the 1960s and re-emerged to create a wine business famous for one of our most iconic rieslings.

Today, the Pikes family of Clare Valley are still innovating: planting alternative varieties like sangiovese, fiano and albarino, releasing new-age red blends, opening a hatted restaurant, brewing beer again — and winning James Halliday’s People’s Choice award.

“We were a lot smaller when I started here in 2003,” Pikes chief winemaker Steve Baraglia told me. “We’re constantly trying new things, you have to keep evolving.’’

The Australian Wine Club this week salutes the optimism, resilience and vision of the Pikes, with a great mixed-dozen deal that combines one of Australia’s most drinkable rieslings with three stylish red wine blends – including an exclusive offering – from the outstanding 2018 vintage.

Clare Valley winemaker Andrew Pike in the family vineyard.

Pikes Traditionale Clare Valley Riesling 2021

It was family patriarch Henry Pike who put an English pike fish on the label of the first ales he sold after arriving in the Adelaide Hills from Dorsetshire, England, in 1878. It’s a tradition that continues today, as any self-respecting Aussie riesling aficionado will tell you. Pike’s Traditionale Riesling – with the fish on the label – is the foundation stone of the family’s wine business, being released for the first time in 1985 as Pikes Polish Hill River Riesling

It was Henry Pike’s great great grandsons Andrew and Neil and their sister Heather who kickstarted the family’s drinks business after a serious wild yeast infection in the old brewery effectively ended operations in the early 1940s. A chain of hotels owned by the family had kept business ticking over but they went backwards and were sold off in 1971.

Andrew, Neil and Heather, along with Andrew’s wife Cathy, fought back, buying 27ha of prime viticultural land in Clare in the mid-1980s.

Today, The Traditionale makes up more than 50 per cent of Pikes wine production and the 2021 is on a gold-medal-winning run, with accolades rolling in from the Clare Valley Wine Show and the Adelaide Wine Show.

All of the classic Clare characters jostle for attention in the 2021: lime zest, lemon sorbet, citrus blossom and ripe stone fruits, backed by a refreshing line of talcy acidity.

“Pure joy here!” wine critic Erin Larkin wrote for James Halliday’s Wine Companion, handing out 93 points and a red star for special value for money. An absolute steal. 11.5% alc. RRP $26 a bottle. SPECIALS $21.99 a bottle in any dozen; $19.99 in Pikes mixed-dozen deal.

Pikes Wilfred’s Block Clare Valley Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Exclusive to our wine club, the Wilfred’s Block comes from what winemaker Steve Baraglia describes as “a super good vintage for reds in Clare”. Inky cabernet leads this silky blend, with rich plums, blueberries and blackcurrants to the fore. Shiraz brings a lovely softness and there’s plenty of fruit flavours running through this medium-bodied wine. Will cellar for a good 10 years but pleases palates right now. 14.5% alc. RRP $40 a bottle. SPECIALS $18.99 in Pikes reds-only deal; $19.99 in Pikes mixed-dozen deal.

Pikes The Assemblage Shiraz Mourvedre Grenache 2018

This plush northern Rhone-style blend strikes that sought-after balance between sweetness and savouriness. Grenache brings soft blueberry, mulberry and plum aromatics, while shiraz delivers a powerful yet soft mid-palate, before the savoury five-spice of mourvedre rounds out a truly delicious wine. Halliday’s team handed out its “special value” red star and 92 points. 14% alc. RRP $26 a bottle. SPECIALS $18.99 a bottle in Pikes reds-only deal; $19.99 in Pikes mixed-dozen deal.

Pikes Los Companeros Clare Valley Shiraz Tempranillo 2018

 

Under the leadership of Andrew and Neil, the Pikes estate has grown to more than 100 hectares over the past 36 vintages and now features more than 20 different varieties, including savagnin, albarino, nero d’avola, fiano, montepulciano and tempranillo. Such has been the popularity of this shiraz/tempranillo blend (80/20), it’s now produced in bigger volumes than any other Pikes red. Plum, cherry and red licorice flavours drive this juicy wine, while the tempranillo brings rustic tannins. It’s a delicious combination and a bargain to boot. 14% alc. RRP $22 a bottle. SPECIALS $18.99 a bottle in Pikes reds-only deal; $19.99 in Pikes mixed-dozen deal.

PIKES DEALS Three bottles of each wine (including riesling) for $19.99 a bottle or four bottles of each red for $18.99.

Order online or telephone [phone] Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm AEST. Deals only available while stocks last. The Australian Wine Club is a commercial partnership with Laithwaites Wine People.