Alkina is crafting Grenache of rare precision, originality, and now, global significance.
Whether the critics are touting as among the world’s finest, likening to the greats of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, or praising as offering unparalleled value…
The message is clear -
Alkina has redefined Barossa Grenache.
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“Among the world’s finest grenache, this wine (Polygon No.3) and its sibling, the Grenache Polygon No. 5, are worthy of a place in the cellars…”
Ned Goodwin MW, jamessuckling.com, March 2024
“I've been blown away by the Grenache from Alkina – we're edging towards the Australian version of Rayas here.”
Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion, May 2023
“The wines speak for themselves. The excruciating attention to detail produces elegant, highly distinctive wines with unmistakable freshness.“
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com, Oct 2024
“Alkina’s Kin Grenache is easily Australia’s best $35 Grenache, in fact I can’t think of a better Grenache for under $50.”
Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate May 2023
“Alkina is potentially the most exciting new project to hit the Barossa Valley in recent times. It’s the originality of its approach to the traditional grape varieties and wine styles of the region that is so arresting”.
Huon Hooke, The Real Review, April 2024
Tuesday, September 16th
Hosted by Dan Coward, Alkina Sales, Marketing & Education
Masterclass: 5.30-7pm, 12 Wines with Canapes, $90
Dinner: 7.30pm, 12 Wines & 5 Courses, $185
ALKINA’S VINEYARDS
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Just over 6ha of Shiraz, planted in 1998, in deeper alluvial soils. The vines in this area were suffering from increasing eutypa so in 2021 we re-worked these blocks, cutting out as much of the dead arm disease as possible. They always deliver a powerful, rich, round style of Shiraz and will now be much more productive and healthy as well.
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Home to an interesting mix of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d’Avola. A large portion of this area is along the creek line and shows some similarities to the 98 Blocks: deeper alluvial soils without a lot of rock. We’d love to say that we have unlocked the potential of Nero on this site but so far it has eluded us!
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A fascinating part of the vineyard that has needed a lot of work. The western side of the vineyard, in general, is the rockiest and has the most interesting geology. In Owen’s West we have started a long process to raise this area to the potential we feel that it has, by pulling out a significant area of Petit Verdot, which isn’t suited to this site. Years ago this same spot used to be home to a terraced bush vine Grenache vineyard and so in late 2022 we plan to plant this again to Grenache, and according to mapping work we’ve undertaken with Pedro.
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Planted in the mid 1950s, the Old Quarter is home to gnarly old bush vines grown on fabulously diverse and rocky terroir. Remembering that this country has been calculated to have been formed between 600 and 700million years ago, we see significant changes in the soils and rocks across small areas. These ‘patch dynamics’ have evolved over this time largely due to tectonic plate movement and dramatic climatic change and weathering. There is just under 3 hectares, planted to Mataro (0.5ha), Grenache (1.3ha) and Shiraz(0.85ha).
The Grenache plantings we have split into 4 Polygons: 2, 3, 4 and 5, according to their diverse geology (see Polygon Project), and we pick and vinify all of these separately. Polygons 3 and 5 are bottled separately in tiny quantities, while Polygons 2 and 4 are the Grenache base for the wine we call Old Quarter. This is blended with some of the surrounding Shiraz and Mataro and the goal is to make the most beautiful wine that is representative of this special part of the vineyard. Thus far Grenache has always been the dominant variety in the blend and the wine always displays great energy, aromatic lift and velvet texture.
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The Creek Blocks are home to 1.86ha of Semillon plantings from 2017. Skirting the creek line these plantings are somewhat similar in soil composition to the low-lying 98s on the other side. In a curious twist a significant amount of Semillon here has mutated from its white form into a pink/red/gris variation. Even more strangely this seems to change vine-to-vine each season! Either way we love the opportunity to work with both versions of Semillon and it is home to our Kin Red Semillon.
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Greenock Creek runs right through the heart of the farm and is a vital piece of the biodiversity puzzle, as well as being crucial to the geology of the vineyard. Vineyard areas close to the creek tend to have richer, deeper, clay-based soils, while sites on slopes and hills further from the creek are more rocky. Also the creek is home to a great diversity of insects and especially native bees. We know from a recent study that the vertical banks of the creek are crucial nesting sites for white and blue-banded bees, as well as many other important pollinators.
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2017 plantings of Shiraz, Mataro and Grenache that have great potential. Kin Shiraz and Kin Grenache heartland.
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Younger vine bush vine Grenache and Mataro, planted along the contours, stretches up the side of the hill to the highest point of the vineyard. In early 2022 we identified two ridges within this area where the schist bedrock is extremely close to the surface. We have isolated these narrow, awkward areas of vines and vinify the fruit from these c. 200 vines separately...
The Wine List
On Arrival…
Kin Semillon 2022, Our Price $35
93 Points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
First Bracket
Kin Grenache 2024 (Current release), Our Price $35
93 Points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
Estate Grenache 2024 (New release), Our Price $50
17.5/20 Points, Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com
94 Points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
94 Points, Ryan Montgomery, jamessuckling.com
Second Bracket
Birdsong Shiraz 2022, Our Price $48
Estate Shiraz 2024 (New release), Our Price $50
94 Points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
94 Points, Ryan Montgomery, jamessuckling.com
Striato Shiraz 2023, Our Price $93
97 Points, David Sly, Decanter
17/20 Points, Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Third Bracket
Old Quarter, Grenache, Shiraz & Mataro 2020, Our Price $93
93+ Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Old Quarter, Grenache, Shiraz & Mataro 2021, Our Price $93
96 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
96 Points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
17+/20 Points, Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Old Quarter, Grenache, Shiraz & Mataro 2022, Our Price $93
18++/20 Points, Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
95 Points, James Halliday, The Weekend Australian
95 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
95 Points, Ned Goodwin MW, James Suckling
Old Quarter, Grenache, Shiraz & Mataro 2023 (Just released), Our Price $93
96 Points, Ryan Montgomery, jamessuckling.com
17/20 Points, Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
95 Points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
95 Points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review
Fourth Bracket
Polygon 3 Grenache 2023, Our Price $278
97 Points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
18/20 Points, Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
17.5+/20 Points, Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com
96 Points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate
96 Points, Ryan Montgomery, jamessuckling.com
Polygon 5 Grenache 2023, Our Price $278
18.5/20 Points, Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
96 Points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate
96 Points, Ryan Montgomery, jamessuckling.com
96 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
ALKINA OVERVIEW & TIMELINE
The farm at Alkina was established in 2015 when Argentinian vintner, Alejandro Bulgheroni purchased a property near Greenock in the Barossa Valley. The property consisted of a vineyard planted in the 1950s and old stone buildings built in the 1850s. Together with local winegrower, Amelia Nolan, they both loved the rolling hills and the promise of the geology that lay beneath, as well as the area of old Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro and Semillon vines that we now call the Old Quarter.
The old stone buildings recalled the area’s period of German settler history and the establishment of a farm on this country by the Schulz family in the 1840s. Working with local tradesmen and artisans, we have lovingly brought these buildings back to life, using stone dug up on the property to ensure the authenticity of the restoration.
We have 43 hectares of organically farmed vines with younger plantings accompanying the old, still focusing on the heritage varieties that have found their natural home in the region. We grow and make all Alkina wines on the farm, hand picking the fruit and moving them to our small winery, which is also housed in an original 1850s building. In addition, the Homestead (1900), the Cottage and Tasting Room (both 1850) make up our ‘village’ situated right in the heart of the vineyard.
TIMELINE
Below is a recent set of events that we know about in the area. Pre-dating these are the Ngadjuri Dreaming and Creation stories that have been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years.
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1840s – The Schulz family arrives
1850s – Family dwelling built (now the cottage), as well as the barn (winery) and woolshed (tasting room)
Mid 1950s – 5ha of old vines planted, the area we now call The Old Quarter
1998 – plantings of Shiraz on the other side of Greenock Creek
2015 – A property called Greenock Farm purchased by Alejandro Bulgheroni
2016 – Significant new plantings of vines
2017 – Owens Vineyard (20ha of contiguous vineyard behind original farm) purchased
2017 – Alberto Antonini introduces us to his friend, Pedro Parra, who visits for the first time. The Polygon Project starts to take shape.
2017 – We pick and crush our first grapes in our small winery
2018 – Original part of vineyard receives organic and biodynamic certification through NASAA
2018 – First Alkina red wines produced: Polygons 3 & 5Grenache and Field Red
2019 – First Alkina white wine is produced: Field White, as well as the first vintage of Old Quarter
2020 – Building work is completed and the Tasting Room opens to the public on 1 November
2021 – First wines exported to USA and Europe
2022 – Back blocks (Owen's East and Owen's West) receives organic and biodynamic certification through Southern Cross Certified