Chain of Ponds `Corkscrew Road` Chardonnay 2008 (6 x 750mL), Adelaide Hills

Winery Background

The business was established in 1985 when a small pilot block was planted at Gumeracha to test the suitability of different grape varieties in the then newly emerging cool climate Adelaide Hills wine region. The vines planted included Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc both of which have become signature wines of the Adelaide Hills, and a number of traditional Italian varieties including Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo all of which were demonstrated to be ideally suited to the Adelaide Hills. The winery takes its name from the township of Chain of Ponds which was established in 1864, on the banks of the River Torrens in the hills above Adelaide. The little town thrived until the 1970’s when it was razed to expand the adjacent Millbrook reservoir which now provides much of Adelaide’s water supply.Philosophy We source the best fruit from the best vineyards in the Adelaide Hills and take care and pride in making the quality wines with a difference. We continue to make traditional varietal wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon but we also use Greg's winemaking expertise to produce some fabulous and not so well know varieties such as a Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Pinot Grigio. The RegionThe Adelaide Hills is arguably Australia's most vibrant premier cool climate wine region and is well known around the world for its distinctive premium wines, viticulture and stunning scenery.It is located in the Mount Lofty Ranges just east of Adelaide, stretching in a narrow band some 70km long. The boundaries of the Adelaide Hills are registered with the Geographic Indications Committee with the highest vineyards sited at close to 600 metres altitude in areas such as Summertown, Piccadilly and Carey Gully.Just a 20-minute drive from Adelaide can transport you to the Adelaide Hills Wine Region, offering the rare combination of proximity to a capital city with the feel of being a world away.The ClimateRegardless of the diversity of the region the climate can be generally described as a high rainfall region in comparison to other Australian wine regions, however this rainfall is mainly during the winter months. The summer months are generally warm and dry compared to winter, however the average temperatures are considerably cooler than regions outside of the Adelaide Hills. The SoilThe geography and climate of the AHWR has contributed to soils that are highly variable in structure and chemistry. However in general terms they can be described as a mixture of sandy loams, loams and clay loams over clay subsoils that vary in structure, although it is not unusual to find these soils combined with shale and ironstone. They are generally acidic and in some cases neutral in pH, but rarely alkaline.