Barossa Valley Red Wines

The 2024 Barossa Valley Grenache is a blend of premium components of old vine Grenache from our Koonunga, Ebenezer and Lights Pass vineyards. These vineyards produced outstanding fruit in the wonderful 2024 growing season.

We have long considered vineyard blends an opportunity to showcase Barossa Grenache. In 2024, we had the opportunity to do this with the Barossa Valley Grenache taking on a select group of the single vineyard components to form a blend, a Barossa blend. Red fruits, medium bodied with inherent power to produce a beautifully balanced Grenache.

A classic Barossa Grenache, from an exceptional year, this wine carries the hallmarks of outstanding old vine fruit. This wine is bright, with lifted florals, red fruits, with a medium bodied pallet supported by fine tannins.

This wine has the balance that blending brings. Drinking beautifully on release.

A 100% Old Vine Grenache grown on our Certified Organic home vineyard in Stone Well in the Western Barossa Valley. Block 2 is a special Grenache Block, planted in the 1940s, and is going from Strength to Strength.

A classic Barossa Grenache that carries the hallmarks of our special patch of old vines in Stone Well in an exceptional albeit low yielding vintage. Half our normal crop!

This wine is bright, lifted red fruits, medium bodied pallet supported by long fine tannins. A wine that is drinking very well on release and will continue to do so for many years.

The 2024 Fromm Grenache was once again sourced from the very old Fromm Family Vineyard in Williamstown, in the southern Barossa Valley. 100 % Old vine Grenache from the wonderful 2024 vintage. Farmed by the Fromm’s for over 100 years, it is an isolated block that produces special grapes.

Hand picked, the fruit was de-stemmed before being transferred to our small fermenters. Once dry, the wine was transferred into a single seasoned French oak puncheon for maturation prior to being bottled in early 2025.

This wine carries tremendous balance, bright red fruits, very fragrant, medium bodied, all the hallmarks of the Southern Barossa in a wonderful vintage. Drink now or for 5 years or more.

The 2024 Mader Block Grenache was sourced from the very old Mader Grenache vineyard in Lights Pass, in the Central Barossa Valley. 100 % Old vine Grenache from the warm dry 2024 vintage. Farmed by the Mader’s for over 150 years, it is a wonderful old vineyard traditionally farmed that produces special grapes year in year out.

Hand picked, the fruit was de-stemmed before being transferred to our small fermenters. Once dry, the wine was transferred into seasoned French oak puncheons for maturation prior to being bottled in early 2025.

A lifted vibrant style of grenache, lifted red fruits dominate the nose, medium weight, fresh and bright. A lovely wine now but could be cellared for a few years should you desire.

Glenn Becker’s dry grown bush block in Ebenezer is one of the true treasures of the Northern Barossa. A lost block of less than 2 acres planted generations ago. Traditionally farmed with no access to supplementary water, highly exposed and subject to frost more years than most. The vineyard is a true reflection of Glenn and his personality.

The yield in this vineyard is invariably very low, but with good winter rains such as experienced in 2023 the vineyard can sometimes yield two barrels or perhaps a little more as was the case in the 24 vintage.

The resulting wine is highly perfumed, yet savoury, combining great length of flavour and persistence that this great block can produce in the very good vintages. A special site that produces special wines.

Ian Becker’s old bush block in Koonunga is caught in time. Farmed by Ian Becker for many years, an isolated place that produces special grapes. Adrian Hoffman took over the management of the vineyard for the 2020 vintage. Yields are typically low, the 5 acre block producing less than 5 tonne, but the fruit was once again exceptional.

The Koonunga Block produces classic Barossa flavours, highly perfumed, unusually powerful for grenache, with substantive fruit weight, grip and tannin. A wine of intensity and grip that reflects the vintage year to perfection. This can be enjoyed for many years

The Prayer Garden is a special place, dry grown very old bush vines in Ebenezer in the Northern Barossa Valley. Like its neighbouring Glengrae, the Prayer Garden is a lost block of a mere 2 acres planted generations ago. Traditionally farmed with no access to supplementary water, highly exposed and subject to frost more years than not. Known as the Prayer Garden as a result of the short statue of the vines, kneeling the preferred method of approaching the vines whether picking or pruning. Hard work, but worth every effort.

The resulting wine is highly perfumed, medium bodied. Beautifully balanced, red fruits, fine tannin and acid, all in balance. Wonderful grenache in an exceptional year.

A blend of old vine Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro grown on our vineyards in the Northern Barossa parishes of Ebenezer and Koonunga, and in Williamstown in the Barossa’s South. Matured in older French oak puncheons before being bottled in early 2025.

A classic Barossa blend that carries the hallmarks of old vines in a wonderful season. A very versatile wine that will suit a variety of foods. A match for any occasion.

A blend of old vine Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro grown on our Certified Organic home vineyard in Stone Well in the Western Barossa Valley. This is a true field blend; picked from the interplanted Block 8, fermented and aged as a blend of the 3 red varieties that we grow in Stone Well.

A classic Barossa blend that carries the hallmarks of our special patch of old vines in Stone Well. A wine that carries the unique characteristics of our site, old vines, and the vintage year.

This wine is bright, displaying lifted florals, red fruits, with a medium to full bodied pallet supported by fine tannins. A wine that is drinking very well on release and will continue to do so for many years.

Our Three Kings is undoubtedly one of our favourites. And many of you love it too. The 2024 was always destined to be exceptional given the quality of the Grenache and Shiraz from the 2024 Vintage. This vintage is proving to be exceptional. The ‘Kings’ of the Barossa Valley, Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro were all truly exceptional. Taking the best parcels of each variety from the Northern ‘King Families’ of Becker, Schulz and Hoffmann we were able to blend a best of vintage Barossa blend.

Deep purple, beautifully rich red plummy fruit courtesy of the Becker Grenache, weight and mouthfeel thanks to the Hoffmann Shiraz and earth and spice thanks to the Schulz Mataro component. Great generosity, full and ripe backed by firm line of fine tannin. This wine is just starting its journey and will improve for many years. And with no 2025 to come, this is one to savour.

A 100% Old Bush Vine Mataro grown on our Certified Organic home vineyard in Stone Well on the Western Barossa Valley. This wine is a blend of our two mataro blocks, Block 3 and Block 4. Planted in the 1940s.

A classic Barossa single varietal that carries the hallmarks of our special patch of old vines in Stone Well. A wine that carries the unique characteristics of our site, old vines, and the vintage year. A low yielding year has brought a new level of intensity to this wine.

This wine is bright, displaying lifted dark purple and black fruits, medium to full bodied pallet supported by long fine tannins. A wine that is drinking very well on release and will continue to do so for many years.

Mataro from the right site, in the right vintage can be breath taking. But identifying the quality, particularly in respect to tannin ripeness and handling it appropriately in the winery can elevate the wine to another level.

In this case, old vine mataro from the Schulz Primrose Vineyard, a single barrel of pressings. Every ferment has essentially two types of juice, free run and pressings. Our long ferments undoubtedly extracts colour, tannin and ultimately goodness from the grapes. The pressings are normally blended back in with the free run. But in this case, the pressings component was kept separate, barrel aged longer and bottled separately.

Deep purple, beautifully rich red fruits, earth and spice. Medium bodied, elegant, ripe backed by firm line of fine tannin. This wine is just starting its journey and will improve for many years.

A 100% Old Vine Shiraz grown on our Certified Organic home vineyard in Stone Well in the Western Barossa Valley. A blend of our Estate Blocks. Our Estate Vineyard has varying soil types, but the soils are shallow, and the growing conditions tough. Matured for 24 months in a mix of new and seasoned French Oak, before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The wine has all the hallmarks of the Stone Well area - bright purple red hue, blackberry and earth, full bodied. The dense fruit running contrary to the vintage conditions. A wine that will improve for many years in the right cellar conditions.

100% Old Vine Shiraz grown on our Certified Organic home vineyard in Stone Well in the Western Barossa Valley. Block 1 is a special Shiraz Block, planted in the 1940s and dry grown for much of the time since. Matured for 24 months in new and second use 300l French Oak hogsheads, before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The soil in this section of the vineyard is deep gravelly loam over red clay and mottled clay.

The wine has all the hallmarks of the Stone Well area - bright purple red hue, blackberry and earth, full bodied. The dense fruit is balanced by abundant natural tannins. Brilliant Vintage, and one of our very best wines. A wine that will improve for many years in the right cellar conditions.

A 100% Old Vine Shiraz grown on our Certified Organic home vineyard in Stone Well in the Western Barossa Valley. Block 9 is a special Shiraz Block, planted in the 1940s, mid slope and facing South. Protected from the Western Sun (the rows run east west) and dry grown for much of the time since being planted. The soils are thin, the conditions very tough. Matured for 24 months in a mix of new and second use French Oak Hogseads, before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The soil in this section of the vineyard is very shallow gravelly loam over white clay and hard lime. This block runs east to west and naturally crops very low as a result of the limited topsoil and tough growing conditions.

The wine has all the hallmarks of the Stone Well area - dense fruit balanced by abundant natural tannins. Slightly bolder fruit then its fellow single Block cousins. A wine that will cellar extremely well in the right cellar conditions.

In some years, some vineyards just seem to produce grapes that ultimately make a wine that sits outside the norm, in this case the norm being the style we make at Hayes Family Wines. Sometimes these wines are exceptional in their own right. The 2022 The Marcus is such a wine. It is a wine of power and richness. Named in honour of Marcus Schulz, one of the great men of the Barossa.

The grapes for this wine were grown on the historic Schulz Home vineyard in Ebenezer district of the Northern Barossa. This vineyard has been farmed by the Schulz family for 7 generations (over 150 years) and is one of the truly special vineyards of the Barossa Valley.

This wine has taken full advantage of cooler but truly wonderful 2022 vintage, dark, dense, black fruited. It has all all the hallmarks of a wine that will benefit from a significant stint in the cellar - bright purple hue, powerful black and blue fruits, full bodied, the dense fruit balanced by abundant tannins. Drinking well now but will cellar very well.

(6 Bottle Limit)

Our 2021 Koonunga Ancestor Vine Shiraz from the great 2021 vintage comes from the old Becker Block in Koonunga, in the Barossa’s Northern reaches. The vines were thought to have been planted in the 1870s, but as was the case back then, documentation is scarce. The block was however part of the Becker purchase in 1893. Now managed by Adrian Hoffmann, the block goes from strength to strength.

The wine has all the hallmarks of Northern Barossa Shiraz is a great season - powerful bright purple red hue, blackberry and earth, full bodied. The dense fruit is balanced by abundant natural tannins which keeps everything in check. We have cellared the wine for 5 years but further cellaring will see the wine continue to develop and improve in the bottle.

Our 2022 Reserve Shiraz from the great 2022 vintage comes from the Northern districts of Koonunga and Ebenezer, one barrel from the Hoffmann Ancestor Shiraz block in Koonunga, the other from Block 15 of the Schulz Ebenezer vineyard.

The wine has all the hallmarks of Northern Barossa Shiraz is a great season - powerful bright purple red hue, blackberry and earth, full bodied. The dense fruit is balanced by abundant natural tannins which keeps everything in check. A wine that will cellar for as long as you like in the right cellar conditions.

Block 9 of our Estate Vineyard in Stone Well is a truly special section of our Estate Vineyard. The mid slope consistently produces our best shiraz. In 2022, it was truly exceptional and we took the decision to bottle the upper section of Block 9, or Hillside separately once again.

The Fromm’s have been growing grapes in Williamstown in the Southern Barossa Valley for over 100 years. The Old Block from which we source these grapes was planted in 1919. Current custodians, Ryan and Sally Fromm are wonderful people, some of my very best friends.

Ryan is also a wonderful grape grower, one of the very best. We are fortunate to share this old block with some of the most famous barossa producers. The fruit is exceptional year in year out. Stylistically different to the more northern vineyards, but still dense powerful red and blue fruits dominate the nose, new french oak plays its part, but the fruit dominates. the full bodied pallet is long, dense and supported by tannins that will carry this wine in the decades to come.

Block 15 is a special block farmed by Marcus Schulz personally for more than 70 years. Dense powerful black and blue fruits dominate the nose, new french oak plays its part, but the fruit dominates. the full bodied pallet is long, dense and supported by tannins that will carry this wine in the decades to come.

Marananga sits slightly west of Stone Well in the Central Barossa Valley. It shares similar characteristics with our Stone Well block albeit with typically denser fruit, more richness with perhaps less grippy tannin. The wines can be some of the best in the Barossa.

The Renshaw Vineyard has some very old centenarian shiraz. A famous block that I consider in the top 10 Barossa Vineyards. Each year we get access to a small parcel of fruit. Great fruit from a truly special vintage in the best oak that money can buy. A great wine to enjoy over the next 20 - 30 years

Drinking just beautifully on release and will do so for 30 years or more. Rich, ripe Hoffmann Ebenezer Shiraz from the wonderful 2021 Vintage. Picked ripe, fortified with Fine Barossa Brandy Spirit and bottled after 12 months in barrel. Deep purple colour with lifted dark berry / blueberries aromas. Complex flavours of dark fruits and a backbone of refreshing acidity gives balance and fine tannins lead to a persistent drier finish. Just lovely now or in 20 or 30 years.

Seek out classic matches such as aged blue cheese or nuts, or when young, find a big juicy steak. A truly great wine style for every dinner party.