About
Established by Ron and Elva Laughton, ever since the first vintage in 1982 Jasper Hill has been a small, family business. The 2022 vintage was our 41st. As the vineyards and their two daughters have grown over the years, both Emily and Georgia continue to work within the business. Emily has been passionately growing grapes and making wine alongside her father since 2001, whilst Georgia enjoys doing most of the administrative work. Ron and Elva live amongst the vines on Emily’s Paddock; Emily lives on Georgia’s Paddock vineyard with her husband Nick, daughter Ella and son Nate. Nick is also a highly valued member of the team, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Only time will tell, if the next young generation will continue the wine making tradition of their grandfather and mother.
The Vineyards
(Image: Ron Laughton and Emily McNally / www.jasperhill.com.au/vineyards)
Emily’s Paddock: three hectares of Shiraz including around five percent Cabernet Franc, yielding about two tonnes per hectare (14hL per hectare). Planted in 1975/76.
Georgia’s Paddock: twelve hectares of Shiraz yielding about three tonnes per hectare (20hL per hectare). Three hectares of Riesling giving about three tonnes per hectare (20 hL per hectare). Both of these varieties were planted in 1975/76 with further small plantings completed after the vineyard was ravaged by bushfire in 1987. One hectare each of similarly low yielding Semillon planted in 1992, Nebbiolo planted in 1993, and Viognier planted in 2001.
Cornella Vineyard: four hectares of Grenache planted in 1998 with yields of around three tonnes per hectare (20hL per hectare). Unfortunately this vineyard was burnt out by a bushfire in 2013 and was never replanted.
All vineyards are planted on their own roots, to retain purity of style, rather than grafted on to Phylloxera-resistant American non-vinifera root stock.
The vines have a sunny, open, balanced canopy that keeps fungal diseases at bay and eliminates the need for summer pruning, leaf plucking and crop reduction. All picking and pruning is carried out by hand.
All vineyards are unirrigated and rely on natural rainfall only.
Both Emily’s and Georgia’s Paddocks are on elevated hillsides at an altitude of 320 metres (1000 feet) and are approximately 1 km apart. Emily’s Paddock has a NE aspect and shallower soil, while Georgia’s Paddock has a NW aspect and the classic deep soil.
2023 Lo Stesso Fiano
A blend of 50% estate grown fruit and 50% purchased regional fruit, fully de-stemmed, fermented partially in new Austrian and French oak plus stainless steel. Pale green in appearance, aromatic pear with honey toasty oak. Fleshy pears, spice and apple cider on the palate with enough acid to balance the viscous, textured mouthfeel.
Screw-cap sealed, 13.5% alcohol
2023 Georgia's Paddock Riesling
Very light straw colour with hints of pale green. Floral and oyster shell aromas with a palate full of all aspects of lemon, from zest to flesh and finishing highlights of lime and melon. Fabulous length, very moreish, bright and crisp. Great as an aperitif because of it’s fabulous natural acidity.
Screw-cap sealed, 13.5% alcohol
2022 Georgia's Paddock Shiraz
We’re back, this time Georgia has no Friends. It’s got everything you want from a typical Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz. Powerful yet elegant, well rounded red and black fruits, brilliant spice with soft subtle tannins that extend through the whole palate. Very well balanced as usual. Cellar or drink now, your choice.
1-by-1 branded cork-taint-free cork sealed, 15.5% alcohol
2022 Emily's Paddock Shiraz / Cabernet Franc
Wow! Elva’s pick of the six. A classic, perfumed, Emily’s Paddock. Complex layers of flavour; flint, spice, mint, toasty oak wrapped up in dark and brooding black and blue fruits. Soft, velvety tannins that coat your palate, great length and with fabulous longevity if you can wait, but equally delicious now.
1 by 1 branded cork-taint-free cork sealed, 15.0% alcohol
2022 Occam's Razor Shiraz
Grapes from Colbinabbin, mid-north of the Heathcote region, blended together with a smaller parcel from further south west. Harvested early to capture a great fresh feel. Delicate nose, dark crimson colour, soft tannins, forward bright fruit of rhubarb and red plum. Delicious, enjoy it now.
1-by-1 branded cork-taint-free cork sealed, 15.0% alcohol
(Image: Jasper Hill Winery / www.jasperhill.com.au)