Barossa bastion Torbreck with winemaker Ian Hongell – Monday 25th May

When Australian winery Torbreck burst onto the scene in the mid-1990s, it’s fair to say that it caused something of a stir.

At the heart of its approach was the revival of neglected old-vine sites in the Barossa Valley, brought back to life through share-farming agreements. The first vintage (1995) of the hedonistic, blockbuster Shiraz-Viognier blend RunRig was swiftly joined by a Grenache-Shiraz-Mataro (aka Mourvèdre) blend known as The Steading. The two wines were lauded by critics, most notably Robert Parker, and quickly attracted a large and devoted following.

There have been ups and downs for the label since, with changes of ownership along the way. Throughout it all, the reliance on old vines as the source of its flagship wines hasn’t changed, but perhaps more notably, the Torbreck identity has evolved into something less bombastic and more nuanced.

Today, Torbreck makes 19 different cuvées to continued acclaim, still largely from gnarly old, dry-farmed vines, the most venerable of which is approaching 165 years old.

As well as the still power-packed RunRig, there is the leaner, more chiselled Eden Valley Shiraz Gask; the single-vineyard cuvée Descendant; and the white Rhône blend Steading Blanc.

All come under the auspices of chief winemaker Ian Hongell, who took on the role in 2017 and is the custodian of numerous plots of old vines within Torbreck’s five estates on the western ridge of the Barossa Valley. Today, the wines stand as a tribute to the great wines of the Rhône Valley while remaining essentially Barossa.

We are delighted to welcome Ian to the club to guide us through the Torbreck range – including two vintages of RunRig – in what should be a fascinating evening.

The wines we’ll be tasting:
2022 The Steading Blanc, Torbreck, Barossa Valley, Australia
2021 Hillside Vineyard Grenache, Torbreck, Barossa Valley, Australia
2022 The Steading, Torbreck, Barossa Valley, Australia
2021 The Gask, Torbreck, Eden Valley, Australia
2020 The Struie, Torbreck, Barossa Valley, Australia (from magnum)
2021 Descendant, Torbreck, Barossa Valley, Australia
2019 Factor, Torbreck, Barossa Valley, Australia
2022 RunRig, Torbreck, Barossa Valley, Australia
2018 RunRig, Torbreck, Barossa Valley, Australia (from magnum)

St. James’s Room
Monday 25th May
18:30 – Welcome reception
19:00 – Masterclass starts
20:30 – Masterclass ends

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