Member10 Shiraz Wine

The Growers' Cut

The Growers' Cut is a special release, cellar door only wine, that pays homage each year to a selected grower whose particular vineyard has best exemplified the season or produced an extraordinary parcel of wine.

The grapes each year for this wine will be of the traditional Torbreck and Barossa varieties Grenache, Shiraz or Mataro.

Tammy and Stuart Schutz are the recipients of the Growers’ Cut Award with their 2022 Stonewell district Shiraz . Planted in 2002 on red clay and ironstone, the wine exhibits black summer fruits and western ridge intensity, and is a worthy winner of the Growers' Cut Prize.

Current Vintage 2022

The 2022 vintage was characterised by above average winter rains making up for a dry autumn, leading to full canopies and healthy vines for the harvest. A severe hail storm across some parts of the Valley in late October resulted in lower average yields. The summer was remarkably mild with very few days above 30 degrees. Slow ripening in the cooler conditions made for a gentle and drawn out vintage season, resulting in wines with higher natural acidity, rich colours and fine tannins. The wines from 2022 will reward those patient enough to cellar them away.

Current Vintage 2021

The 2021 summer growing season was mild, with even and cool daily temperatures throughout. Enhanced by good rains provided during the winter and spring of 2020, our vineyards grew wonderful canopies and developed well-formed grape bunches. As a result of this long flavour development cycle in the vineyard, 2021’s signature is wines of high aromatic lift with densely coloured tints and exceptional balance

Current Vintage 2020

Strong winds at flowering at the beginning of the growing season reduced berry and bunch count in many vineyards. The difficult seasonal conditions continued up to harvest- a dry winter and spring were followed by very hot and dry December and January. 2020 was a difficult season to manage for both grower and winemaker with yields much lower than anticipated. Older vineyards with deeper roots remained steadfast under these conditions and produced small volumes of deeply concentrated wines from the lower yields. While the yields have been small, the overall quality has created deeply coloured and textured wines that resonate their place of origin.

Current Vintage 2019

The growing season was defined by a continuously warm to hot summer with no effective rainfall, wind and hail at flowering, and followed with three major frosts - resulting in an earlier and much smaller harvest than average. These tough conditions produced smaller clusters of intensely dark berries with thick fleshy skins contrasted against brown mature stalks. Whilst yields were down, once these vineyards were fermenting in our cellar the concentration of colour, tannin and aroma of the 2019 vintage was revealed.

Current Vintage 2018

An above average winter rainfall led into a below average spring and summer rainfall, producing small bunches and small berries, leading to a reduced yield. Quality was certainly high, particular amongst our red varieties of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro. 2018 wines will be remembered for their impressive colour, structure and longevity.

Current Vintage 2017

After a cold and rainy winter in 2016, the Barossa had one of its wettest springs on record, replenishing sub-soil moisture and setting the vineyards up for a healthy summer. Mild conditions during veraison and light rains in January and February 2017, were followed by an extended warm, dry Indian summer, creating perfect ripening conditions through to April 2017. An outstanding vintage producing bright, aromatic whites and intense, well-structured reds.

Current Vintage 2016

Despite a dry winter during 2015, rains in January and March 2016 freshened the older vines and provided long, slow ripening periods in between, which led to a stand-out vintage with high quality fruit.

Current Vintage 2015

John and Trevor Hongell are the winners of the 2015 The Growers’ Cut award with their unique ‘Block 4’ single vineyard Shiraz, located in the Barossa sub-region of Krondorf.

Current Vintage 2014

Marcus Schulz is the winner of the 2014 The Growers’ Cut award with his Primrose block Grenache, located in the Barossa sub-region of Kalimna.

Current Vintage 2013

The inaugural release and first recipient of this award is the Helbig Family and in particular their 2013 Block 2 Shiraz. The Helbigs have been supplying Torbreck with fruit since 1996, with Don Helbig being involved in the region and the grape growing community his whole life.