The Australian vintner Wirra Wirra has struck a deal to acquire Trott Vineyard in Blewitt Springs, South Australia.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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In a statement, Wirra Wirra said the vineyard, which sits on 2.5 acres of land, is one of Australia’s “most significant” Grenache sites.
The group is buying the vineyard from its founder Sue Trott, Matthew Deller, CEO of Wirra Wirra confirmed to Just Drinks.
The Trott family have longstanding ties to Wirra Wirra, the group noted in its statement, with Sue Trott and the late Roger Trott having “rebuilt Wirra Wirra with Roger’s cousin Greg in 1969”.
Upon completing the transaction, Wirra Wirra will take over ownership and day-to-day management of the site, which was planted in 1952.
Deller said: “Trott Vineyard is a rare asset in Australian wine. Its fruit produces a style of Grenache that stands comfortably alongside the great sites of the world.
As part of the deal, Thistledown Wines, which previously sourced fruit from Trott Vineyard, will continue to buy half of the fruit produced at the site through a long-term supply agreement. Wirra Wirra has also established a marketing agreement with the business, Deller told Just Drinks.
Four other wineries used to source their fruit from Trott Vineyard but Wirra Wirra has only set up an agreement with Thistledown, the CEO confirmed.
In Wirra Wirra’s statement, Deller said the company was “committed to protecting” the identity of Trott Vineyard, “and working with Thistledown, whose achievements with the vineyard have played a vital role in elevating McLaren Vale Grenache internationally”.
Thistledown, founded in 2010 and owned by Giles Cooke and Paddy Gilhooly, focuses on small-batch Grenache, Shiraz and Chardonnay. Its brands include The Vagabond, She’s Electric and the Grenache label Sands of Time.
Cooke said: “We have made single vineyard wines from Trott for 13 years, and its character defines Sands of Time.
“Working with Wirra Wirra secures the future of this site and allows us to accelerate its global recognition. Trott Vineyard deserves its place among the world’s leading expressions of Grenache.”
Wirra Wirra said vineyard operations will be overseen by its viticulturist Anton Groffen, with an emphasis on keeping original vine material and protecting the site’s structure and soil condition.
Deller also told Just Drinks it would be ending some of its grower partnerships to focus on Trott Vineyard, which links to its overall strategy of working with a smaller number of vineyards and “refining how we want to be working with only the best vineyards at McLaren Vale”.
Wirra Wirra’s portfolio of flagship wines includes Church Block, RSW Shiraz and The Absconder Grenache, which are sold domestically and exported globally.
Last May, Wirra Wirra acquired local Adelaide Hills producer Hahndorf Hill to add “depth” to its foothold in the Adelaide Hills.
The move followed its acquisition of Ashton Hills, also situated in the Adelaide Hills regions, over a decade ago.
