Vineyard

Currently we have 9.5 hectares of vineyard at Purple Hen.  The largest planting is Pinot Noir followed by Shiraz. Other varieties are, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Terroir of the site is dominated by the moderating impact of the Bay and the basalt derived soils - clay loam topsoils over clay subsoils. Climatically, the site is ideal for Pinot Noir, with summer peaks in temperature being limited by the cooling effect of the Bay. That said, the site is quite vigorous and the vineyard requires considerable time and effort in canopy control, leaf plucking and the like. A feature of all the wines is their varietal clarity and for the reds, their supple tannins.