Reillys Wines, a proudly South Australian owned and operated winery since 1993 which specialise in producing premium red and white wines sourced from our estate vineyards in the Clare Valley.
The name Reillys stems from our rich history dating back to 1856 when Irish shoemaker Hugh Reilly settled in the township of Mintaro, building his home 'Reilly's Cottage' from the local slate.
Justin & Julie Ardill With a background in pharmacy and medicine, owner and winemaker Justin Ardill saw an opportunity to indulge his passion for wine by purchasing a small parcel of 12 acres of vineyards in Watervale in 1993. Along with these vineyards, he and wife Julie purchased a humble cottage to be their cellar door and winery on the main street of Mintaro known simply as Reilly’s Cottage.
It is this building and its 1856 owner Hugh Reilly that inspired the wine label ‘Reillys Wines’. Beginning in 1994 with 10T of fruit, their first wines were created. Of this, 3.6T of Old Bushvine Grenache was crushed, open fermented and basket pressed by hand by Justin and Julie on the verandah of Reillys Cottage. The first vintage yielded 300 dozen of each of Riesling, Shiraz and Old Bushvine Grenache.
The dry grown vines with vine age 51 years are expertly managed to ensure low cropping of 2T per acre, with fruit being handpicked at optimal ripeness. Traditional methods of open fermentation for 10 days and hand plunging extract maximum colour and flavour before maturation in French oak for 24 months.
The result is a full-bodied wine with distinct regional characteristics of mint and eucalyptus with rich blackcurrant and chocolate. It has well-integrated oak with firm tannins and lingering palate.
Enjoy now or cellar until 2030.
Alcohol Level : 15%
Awards
GOLD MEDAL ~ 2018 Cairns Wine Show Awards
4.5 STARS ~ Winestate Magazine
