Clarendon Hills
Summary
Clarendon Hills is a family-owned producer in South Australia's elevated Clarendon subregion of McLaren Vale, specializing in single-vineyard Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot from old vines grown in ironstone and clay over limestone soils. Their winemaking combines founder Roman Bratasiuk's scientific background with European traditions, emphasizing hand-harvesting, extended maceration, French oak aging, and minimal intervention to create concentrated, structured wines designed for long-term aging.
Heritage & Leadership
Clarendon Hills was founded in 1990 by biochemist Roman Bratasiuk in the Clarendon subregion of McLaren Vale, South Australia. Before establishing the commercial winery, Roman began his winemaking journey as a home winemaker, with the first commercial vintage released in 1991. His scientific background as a biochemist provided a foundation for his approach to viticulture and winemaking.
The winery has maintained its status as a family-owned business since its inception. Roman's son, Adam Bratasiuk, has become involved in the winery operations, contributing to both the winemaking process and business management. This family continuity has helped maintain the consistent vision established by Roman at the winery's founding.
Roman's winemaking philosophy was influenced by the great wines of France, particularly those from Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley. This European influence helped shape the distinctive style that has come to define Clarendon Hills wines over the decades.
Vineyards & Wines
Clarendon Hills sources its fruit from several single vineyards located in the Clarendon subregion of McLaren Vale. This area is distinguished by its higher elevation compared to much of McLaren Vale, with vineyards situated between 200-400 meters above sea level. This elevation provides cooling influences that moderate the region's Mediterranean climate, contributing to the distinctive character of the wines.
Many of the vineyards feature old vines, some dating back to the 1920s, providing intensity and complexity to the resulting wines. The soils in these vineyards are predominantly ancient ironstone and clay over limestone, which influences the mineral profile and structure of the wines.
Shiraz (Syrah) stands as the flagship variety for Clarendon Hills, with Astralis Shiraz representing their most prestigious bottling. Beyond Shiraz, the winery produces varietal wines from Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The winery typically produces 8-10 different wines each vintage, focusing exclusively on single-vineyard, varietal expressions rather than blends.
The wines of Clarendon Hills are characterized by their full-bodied nature, concentrated fruit profiles, and structured tannins. They are crafted with aging potential in mind, often requiring several years in bottle before reaching their optimal drinking window.
Philosophy & Practice
Clarendon Hills adheres to a minimal intervention philosophy throughout the winemaking process. The approach begins in the vineyard, where grapes are hand-harvested and carefully sorted to ensure only the highest quality fruit enters the winery.
The production methods emphasize traditional winemaking techniques. The wines undergo extended maceration to extract depth of flavor, color, and structural elements from the grape skins. Aging takes place in French oak barrels, with the percentage of new oak varying depending on the specific wine and its requirements.
The fermentation process likely utilizes indigenous yeasts, though this aligns with their minimal intervention approach. The finished wines are typically bottled unfined and unfiltered, preserving their natural character and complexity.
This commitment to traditional methods and minimal processing has earned Clarendon Hills recognition from major wine critics, particularly for their Astralis Shiraz, which is regarded as one of Australia's benchmark wines. The focus on single-vineyard expressions allows each wine to reflect the unique characteristics of its site, showcasing the distinctive terroir of the Clarendon subregion.