Petaluma Project Co 2009 Adelaide Hills Riesling

Petaluma routinely explores the boundaries of wine styles, grape variety and growing regions. From time to time the fruits of these trials warrant special release under the Petaluma Project Company label.

The ability of Riesling to distinctly reflect its surroundings warrants the 2009 release. A small vineyard just north of Balhannah in the Adelaide Hills has been chosen as our cold climate Riesling site.

A small portion of the vineyard was picked on the 7th of April with the intention of making an off-dry style. The fruit was hand picked and transported to the nearby Petaluma winery in the Piccadilly Valley. Destemmed and gently crushed without sulphur addition or protective inert gas, the dirty juice was then slowly fermented at between 10 and 13ºC on partial solids over two months. As the wine neared the end of fermentation, the perceived balance demanded significant residual sugar, in this case 30g/l.

The fermentation was stopped by chilling and sulphur addition, the wine cold settled, and then a light filtration to bottle on the 20th August 2009.

This wine displays our endeavour to explore the boundaries of winemaking style, and region, inspired by the noblest white variety, Riesling.