Barossa and its Old Vine Heritage
The Barossa region in Australia is a special place for wine lovers. It has some of the oldest vineyards in the world. In fact, some grapevines here are thought to have been planted way back in 1843!
In 2007, a winery called Yalumba thought it was important to celebrate these old vines. So, they created something called the Old Vine Charter. Two years later, in 2009, the whole wine industry agreed to use it. The charter helps people know how old the vines made their wine. It also aims to keep these old vineyards safe so they can continue to produce great wines for us to enjoy.
The charter has four age categories:
Old Vine (35+ years): These vines have been around for quite some time and make wine with deep and rich flavors.
Survivor Vine (70+ years): These vines are tough! They've been around for a long time and still produce great grapes.
Centurion Vine (100+ years): These vines are very rare. They're a century old and produce some really special fruit.
Ancestor Vine (125+ years): These are the granddaddies of all vines. They're old and are a living piece of Australia's winemaking history.
Some standout wineries in Barossa use these old vines to make their wines. For instance, Yalumba makes a range of wines from these old vines. And Henschke makes an exceptional wine called "Hill of Grace" Shiraz using centurion vines.
The Swan Valley region, near the city of Perth, liked the idea of the Old Vine Charter too. They decided to use it to keep their old vineyards safe as well. Here, you can find wineries like Sandalford and Olive Farm Wines that also make wine from old vines.
These Old Vine Charters are very important. They help to protect Australia's winemaking past, and make sure these old vines are still around for future generations to enjoy their amazing wines.
The Barossa region in Australia has some of the world's oldest grapevine vineyards, some dating back to 1843.
Yalumba Winery created the Old Vine Charter in 2007 to safeguard these ancient vines.
By 2009, the Old Vine Charter had become a recognized standard in the wine industry.
The charter classifies vineyards into four age categories: Old Vine (35+ years), Survivor Vine (70+ years), Centurion Vine (100+ years), and Ancestor Vine (125+ years).
An "Old Vine" must be at least 35, and vines are fully mature.
"Survivor Vines" are those 70 or older, demonstrating their resilience and consistency.
"Centurion Vines" represent a century of rare growth, producing exceptional grapes.
The oldest category, "Ancestor Vine"” must be at least 125 years old, serving as a testament to Australia's winemaking heritage.
Notable wineries in the Barossa region that use old vines include Yalumba and Henschke.
Swan Valley in Perth has adopted the Old Vine Charter, demonstrating its commitment to vineyard preservation with key producers, including Sandalford Wines and Olive Farm Wines.
