Pewsey Vale Vineyard

Pewsey Vale is a winery located in the Eden Valley in South Australia and focuses on Riesling from one enclosed single vineyard. It is the only winery in Australia to work by this one-grape, one-vineyard philosophy for its entire production.

The vineyards were first planted in 1847 by Englishman Joseph Gilbert and some of the vines that exist today have been propagated from the same 19th century plantings. In 1961, Geoffrey Parson purchased the Pewsey Vale estate and, after realizing that his newly purchased lands contained some of the earliest vines planted in the region, he enlisted the help of friend and fellow vigneron, Wyndham Hill Smith, to help him re-establish the vineyards.

They initially planted 56 hectares (138 acres) in contoured rows in a single plot in the Eden Valley, and today a portion of these vines remain as the Pewsey Vale vineyards. Millions of years ago, a river ran through the site of the vineyards, which washed away the top soils, exposing the minerals and sand below. This has left soils in which Riesling flourishes. 

Pewsey Vale produces three main wines: the Prima Riesling, Pewsey Vale Riesling, and the Contours Riesling. The Prima is produced in an off-dry style and is made from the earliest-picked grapes on the estate. The Pewsey Vale Riesling is bone dry with aromas of lemon and lime alongside floral and herbal notes. It can age in bottle for 10 years after vintage. The Contours Riesling is the pinnacle of the collection and produced from the older vines on the coolest slopes of the vineyard. It is kept in bottle for five years after vintage to age. When it is released it shows notes of toasted brioche, lemongrass and intense lemon and it able to age for many years after its release. Its name comes from the contoured rows in which the Riesling grapes are planted.

Pewsey Vale also produces small quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer.