About
“I grew up with biodynamics on my parents’ Jurlique herb farms. To grow our grapes any other way was unthinkable.” – Erinn
Ngeringa has been certified biodynamic for more than 20 years. It is the biodynamic process that creates a balanced and healthy relationship between soil, plant and all living beings – and opens the vines to optimum expression of flavour in the glass.
Our five hectare Mount Barker vineyards, The Summit and The Rufus are the centrepiece of our 75 hectare farm, where we take a ‘whole farm’ approach to winegrowing.
The Iluma Vineyard, also planted on the original biodynamic soil of the Jurlique property, is just two kilometres away in Nairne.
Ownership of the vineyards from which our fruit is harvested ensures full control over the whole winegrowing process and the resulting fruit quality, each season.
2022 Vintage
Vintage 2022 was set up by a milder spring and summer with no severe heat spikes or extended hotter periods. Spring and early summer were wetter than usual resulting it good soil moisture and thus requiring only minimal irrigation just before picking. Flowering and set were good, if we don’t compare them to the dream conditions we had for the 2021 vintage! We had a few disease challenges with warm, wet weather, particularly one event where the vines had wet leaves for three days around the 10th of January. Our vine health was good and therefore resilient to these challenging few days. Finally, a long and slow ripening with cool conditions over harvest produced great delicate wines across all varieties.
2022 Chardonnay
A chardonnay with power and pure fresh stone fruit like yellow fleshy peach and citrus zest, yet also complex with nutty malo-derived savory notes. Fine French oak aromas balanced by ample fruit intensity, present with approachable acidity. Very drinkable now.
Vineyard
From our east-facing Summit Vineyard, collecting more of the morning sunlight and less of the intense afternoon heat. The altitude ranges between 330m and 368m above sea level. The soil consists of sandy loam over red-orange clay, sandstone and ironstone. The grapes for this wine come predominantly from the upper and lower sections of the Summit Vineyard while the middle section goes to our single vineyard Chardonnay.
The entire farm is certified Biodynamic, farmed with the rhythms of nature and working towards a self-sustaining farming system without the use of synthetic chemical inputs.
Winemaking
The Chardonnay grapes are gently hand harvested into small 15kg crates then whole bunch pressed, with minimal settling into new and old French oak barriques (228L) and puncheons (500L). Fermentation begins spontaneously with wild yeast from our vineyards and winery. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally. The wine matures on full lees for 10 months with no battonage. A small dose of sulphur is added at blending just prior to bottling. No enzymes, no fining, no filtration.
Closure: Stelvin screw cap
ABV: 12.5%
2022 Pinot Noir
A ruby red Pinot Noir that is medium bodied with vibrant, lifted red fruit aromas, along with fine herbal spice and earthy aromas derived largely from carbonic maceration. Fruit flavors include red plums and sour cherries. Texture is crunchy and fresh.
Vineyard
Grown in our east-facing Summit Vineyard, which collects more of the morning sunlight and less of the intense, direct afternoon heat. Altitude ranges between 330m and 360m above sea level. The soil consists of sandy loam over red-orange clay, sandstone and ironstone.
Fruit for this wine comes predominantly from the upper and lower sections of the Summit Vineyard, while the middle section goes to our Single Vineyard Pinot. The entire farm is certified biodynamic and is farmed with the rhythms of nature, tending towards a self-sustaining system without the use of synthetic chemical inputs.
Winemaking
The Pinot Noir is gently hand harvested into small 15kg crates and carefully tipped into one stainless steel fermenter, keeping the berries intact for a true carbonic maceration. The grapes are allowed to steep for seven days before a gentle press in to well-seasoned French barriques where the wines mature for 11 months. A small dose of sulphur is added at blending, prior to bottling. No enzymes, no fining, no filtration.
Closure: Stelvin screw cap
ABV: 12.5%
2022 Pétillant Naturel
This lightly bubbly Rosé has a delicious nose of exotic flowers and musk, pithy grapefruit and blood orange. On the palate there is hints of citrus blossom, and distinct iced tea flavours that are light, refreshingly fruity, with a dry, textured finish.
Vineyard
Site(s): Grapes from all 3 Ngeringa vineyard sites: Rufus, Summit and Iluma.
3 vineyard sites total 5 hectares and are on easterly and westerly aspects at the base of the Mount Barker Summit. They are part of a biodiverse 75 hectare biodynamic farm on the south-eastern edge of the Adelaide Hills. Mount Barker Summit defines these sites ranging from 330 to 420 meters of elevation. Our vineyard soils are loam over clay, with varying influences of ironstone and micaceous schist. Ngeringa has been certified biodynamic since the late 1980’s with no chemical sprays, fertilizers or insecticides applied.
Winemaking
A blend of whole bunch pressed Syrah and Pinot Noir Rosé, Viognier and Pink Semillon. The Syrah and Pinot were picked relatively early for freshness and acidity, whole-bunch pressed and fermented in barrels and concrete egg - shaped vessels. The Viognier and Pink Semillon were picked at good maturity level to express the more exotic aromatics. Both were fermented with about 7 to 10 days skin contact before also being pressed into barrels. Once nearly dry, the Syrah, Pinot, Viognier and Pink Semillon were blended and sweetened with some frozen juice to 14g/L before being bottled. Fermentation finished in the bottle resulting in a light bubbly sparkling. No enzymes, no fining, no filtration.
Closure: Crown Cap
ABV: 11.0%
Grape(s): Pink Semillon, Viognier, Pinot Noir and Syrah
2022 Rosé
A delicious, dry and savoury Rosé from whole bunch pressed Syrah. It has both fruit intensity and complexity. Bright fruit aromas of wild strawberry, hints of raspberry and lifted citrus blossoms. Grounded by nutty, savoury and slightly saline flavours. The palate is silky textured and almost slippery, yet has a fresh acid presence and a mineral complexity.
Vineyard
Ngeringa’s three vineyard sites total five hectares and are on easterly and westerly aspects at the base of the Mount Barker Summit. They are part of a biodiverse, 75 hectare biodynamic farm on the south-eastern edge of the Adelaide Hills. Mount Barker Summit defines these sites ranging from 330 to 420 meters of elevation. Our vineyard soils are loam over clay, with varying influences of ironstone and micaceous schist. Ngeringa has been certified biodynamic since the late 1980’s with no chemical sprays, fertilizers or insecticides applied.
Winemaking
From whole bunch pressed Syrah grapes. Fermented in older French oak barrels and matured for 11 months on lees for complexity and texture. Hand bottled on site. A small dose of sulphur is added at blending, just prior to bottling. No enzymes, no fining, no filtration.
ABV: 13.0%
2022 Pink Sémillon
A textural Rosé made from Pink Sémillon grapes. Flavours of blood orange and pithy grapefruit … if you like a negroni, you should love this.
Vineyard
Ngeringa’s three vineyard sites total 5 hectares and are on easterly and westerly aspects at the base of the Mount Barker Summit. They are part of a biodiverse, 75 hectare biodynamic farm on the south-eastern edge of the Adelaide Hills. Mount Barker Summit defines these sites ranging from 330 to 420 meters of elevation. Our vineyard soils are loam over clay, with varying influences of ironstone and micaceous schist. Ngeringa has been certified biodynamic since the late 1980’s with no chemical sprays, fertilizers or insecticides applied.
Winemaking
Fermented on skins for two weeks to bring out extra flavour, colour and structure. Matured in barrel for a few months only, before bottling in July 2021. No enzymes, no fining.
Closure: Crown Cap
ABV: 12.5%
Winemaker: Erinn Klein
Grape(s): Pink Semillon
GI: Adelaide Hills (Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia)
(Image: Ngeringa - Janet and Erinn Klein / Photo: Keryn Stevens)