Glaetzer

Feted winemaker Ben Glaetzer, with wine-apprenticeships at Tyrell's and Heathcote wineries, makes premium, low-yield  wines "a cut above the rest" in his Barossa Valley, boutique winery. All fruit for Glaetzer Wines is taken from the small sub-region of the northern Barossa Valley, called Ebenezer. The ancient dry-grown vineyards in the renowned Ebenezer district are an important part of Australia’s winemaking heritage and a living link to traditional Barossa viticulture. The most exceptional fruit is sourced from 80-110 year old, non-grafted bush vines which are extremely low yielding. The oldest vines bear only 0.5 to 1 tonne per acre. Younger vines produce 2.5 to 3 tonnes per acre. Most of the vineyards are non-irrigated. Ben Glaetzer believes passionately in making wines which reflect the unique character of the Barossa valley and has been rewarded with a clutch of prestigious awards in recent years. Not the least of these was Robert Parker naming him Wine Personality of the Year in 2005. Philosophically Ben favours a policy of minimal intervention in his winemaking and seeks elegance rather than power, with very restricted extraction and skin contact.