Ricca Terra Soldier’s Land Shiraz 2021
Type: Red
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia, Riverland
Grape Variety: 100% Shiraz
Climate: Warm and dry climatic conditions
Terroir: Harvested from two separate hand pruned vineyards located in Berri, South Australia. Each vineyard was planted by returning soldiers from World War Two and was hand-picked in late April
Winemaking: Fermented in old oak barrels using yeast that was found in the vineyard (natural fermentation). Made in a fresh and youthful style, this wine spent five months in oak before being bottled
Color: Dark red
Nose: Aromas of black cherries, ripe tobacco, clove and dried flowers
Palate: Bright and youthful wine, that is medium-bodied and full of warm Shiraz hugs
About the Winery:
Ashley and Holly Ratcliff’s Ricca Terra Farms set out to shake up perceptions of the Riverland as a region that only grew grapes for generic bulk wine. They believed that by implementing quality-minded practices and focusing on climate-apt varieties, they would be able to unlock the region’s potential. By any measure, they have succeeded, elevating the profiles of grapes like Nero d’Avola, Fiano, Aglianico and Arinto in the process. But that wasn’t all, with the Caravel Vineyard planted relatively recently to largely celebrate Portuguese varieties, like Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cão and Tinta Barroca, along with some more Italians. The fruit goes to their own Ricca Terra and Terra do Rio labels, as well as being sold to top makers around the region.
Today’s Ricca Terra farms are planted to some classic French mainstay varieties, like with much of the Riverland, but many are old vine plots from soldier settlement schemes from WWI and WWII. Along with renovating old olive groves and farmhouses, this is as much about preserving history as anything, with a raft of Italian and Iberian varieties taking the progressive lead across the 10 sites, with 80 hectares of land under vine, and over 30 grape varieties represented.
