Rockford Semillon Local Growers 2017

This wine is a direct tribute to the growers who've helped sustain Rockford since founder Robert O'Callaghan established the winery in 1984 — specifically the Sibley and Kalleske families, whose knowledge and decades-long commitment to the land have kept Semillon, one of the Barossa's true pioneer grape varieties, viable in the region. In keeping with Rockford's hands-on, traditional approach, the fruit is entirely hand-picked, which lets the team select bunches at different stages of ripeness in a single pass — early-picked grapes contribute bright acidity, while later-picked fruit adds riper, more generous flavour. The wine is then matured in a considered mix of large seasoned oak casks and smaller hogsheads, alongside a separate unwooded component aged on fine lees for extra texture, before the various components are blended, bottled, and rested a further two years in the cellar prior to release — a genuinely patient process for a wine at this price point.

The result is classic, full-bodied Barossa Semillon: ripe lime, honey, and floral notes meet green melon and a touch of cinnamon, with a distinctive grainy, waxy texture and a slight green-herb undertone running through to a rich, satisfying finish.