The criteria for the selection was based on three critical factors:
The stability of climate: Grape growing, like growing any fresh produce, is subject to the weather. Either too little or too much rain at the wrong time can cause ripening and disease problems. Mountadam experiences little or no rain during the critical ripening period.
The cool climate: David knew that to produce elegant yet powerful wines, the vines should not be subject to the stress of hot conditions. At 550 metres above sea level, it is sufficiently cool to preserve the delicate flavours of the grape through-out its entire ripening process.
Well drained soils: Shallow soils over base rock provide perfect drainage and soil dryness to minimise vigour and maximise fruit concentration. Preparations for planting Mountadam commenced in 1970 with many years spent developing and improving the property.
A new beginning: A number of ownership changes have taken place in recent times. However it was not until the winery and vineyards were purchased by South Australian businessmen and farmer, David Brown in 2005/2006, that Mountadam began to retain its former glory.
David quickly went about invigorating the vineyards and winery, and enlisted the winemaking skills of former chief winemaker of Petaluma, Con Moshos.
Moshos has extensive experience making Chardonnay and Riesling, as well as South-Eastern Australian red varieties such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. He has also gone about renovating the winery with new equipment and processes, and casts a keen eye over the management of the vineyards.
The current new releases are promising indeed, and include the:
Table of Contents
Barossa Range
Unoaked Chardonnay 2005
Cabernet Merlot 2004
Shiraz 2004
Eden Valley Range
Riesling 2006
Chardonnay 2004
Pinot Noir 2002
The Red 2002
Patriarch Shiraz 2002
