CATEGORY SUMMARY

Vintage 2024 is just around the Corner

Vintage 2024 started back in September 2023 with the first signs of growth and renewal. Since then, we have had rain and warmth at the right times and the vines and the resulting crop has progressed to plan. At this stage, things shift to vintage preparation and planning. We are now probably 2-3 weeks from the chardonnay arriving at the winery, We have some wines to bottle, some cleaning to do and we will be ready for what vintage 2024 brings to the table.

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Sustainability - A journey in the Vineyard, Winery and Cellar Door

At Hayes Family Wines we have always sort grow the grapes and make the wine at the best quality level we possibly can. Part of this we see as an obligation to minimise the environmental impact we have on our soils, vines and people. We are seeing consumer preferences evolving, new and older generations are expecting businesses to take actions that are consistent with their own expectations and care for the environment and interest and knowledge in what they are eating, drinking and consuming. But this is a journey, not and end point, and Hayes Family Wines is making some progress.

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Wines, Behind the Scenes Brett Hayes Wines, Behind the Scenes Brett Hayes

Primrose Chardonnay - A special block against all the odds

The Schulz’s have been growing grapes in Ebenezer for more than 150 years. Primrose is their family home, and also a wonderful vineyard. Planted to Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro, Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay, it is a diverse block with diverse soils. Our Sections are now Certified Organic and Certified Sustainable. The Chardonnay block is much smaller than it once was, but we are so very lucky to have the remaining 8 rows, or half an acre. It claims its own piece of Barossa History.

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New Infrastructure for the Dry Year Ahead

Having Pruned and Reworked our Old Stone Well Blocks, we took the opportunity to replace the sub-mains, dripper tube and wires after 30 plus years of service. We have not needed supplementary water for the past 3 years, but now, with hot dry conditions forecast, we may need access to a reliable source of external water for the summer ahead.

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Behind the Scenes, Events Brett Hayes Behind the Scenes, Events Brett Hayes

Growers Dinner 2023 - The Heart of our Business

Our Estate Vineyards and our family owned Grower Vineyards are the hart of what we do. We have access to some of the best grapes in the world. All of our growers are multi-generational and have been on their land growing grapes in the family for over 100 years, many more than 150 years. They know their land and we all benefit from the knowledge that has been passed down for generations. Once a year we get together and drink the fruits of their labour, and what a night it is!

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Winter in the Barossa Valley - It’s Pruning Time

Pruning is without doubt the most important activity of the year. It requires great skill, persistence and special people. Mandy has been in charge of pruning for years at Hayes Family Wines, we trust her implicitly. Vintage 2024 and 2025 is dependent on her work. Conditions are tough but the vines appreciate it!

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Vintage 2023 - A Very Busy Week - Lots Of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro

Vintage 2023 has finally kicked into gear with more than 60% of our predicted harvest arriving in the winery in the space of 7 days. Our Estate Fruit, Block 15, Primrose Reds, and the 1919 Shiraz all arriving inside a week. Many of our very best blocks are now safely in the winery, crushed and fermenting away. With a few key blocks still to come from the North and East, we still have a month to go but with good quantities and very good quality, both Growers and Winemakers have cause for happiness.

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Vintage 2023 - We Now Get Serious - Our First Shiraz

After a slow start to Vintage 2023, today, 3 April marked the start of vintage at Hayes Family Wines for the dry red destined fruit. The first pick, Block 1 from the Estate Vineyard in Stone Well. Beautiful clean fruit, excellent cropping levels (best in some years). A picture perfect start to vintage 2023 for the reds. We expect we will see a lot of fruit over the coming days with Southern Fruit expected from Williamstown tomorrow. Busy times ahead.

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Wines, Behind the Scenes Brett Hayes Wines, Behind the Scenes Brett Hayes

Schulz Block 15 - One of the Great Blocks of Ebenezer

The Schulz’s have been growing grapes in Ebenezer for more than 150 years. At the helm is 4th generation members Marcus Schulz and his wife Roslyn. Their home block has been the source of great grapes for generations, Grange, RWT, Runrig and many others. The key blocks being Block 14, 15 and 16, legendary Shiraz. Block 15 is the source of some our very best wines, and we are very proud to receive this wonderful fruit.

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