Hochkirch vineyard is situated along an elevated plateau running southwest from Dunkeld at the foot of the Grampians in far south west Victoria. The vineyard adjoins their biodynamic farm which also produces wool, meat and grain. The first vines were planted in 1990 with further plantings in 1997. All vines are grown on their own roots with no rootstocks at all used in the vineyard.
The vines are all dry grown and not irrigated in this cold climate with ample spring/summer rainfall. High density planting with closely spaced vines, manual cane pruning and strict control of yield produces a low yield per vine and allows an optimal crop to ripen during the balmy days and cold nights of autumn.Biodynamic vineyard management uses careful observation of natures rhythms including lunar and planetary cycles, and natural preparations to nurture and enliven the earth’s soil allowing a balanced healthy and productive vineyard ecosystem, with complete avoidance of synthetic chemicals and poisons. Hochkirch has been Demeter certified for biodynamic production since 2003.

For their 2017 Syrah they produced 2 versions. One with a small amount of sulphur added at bottling and one without any added sulphur at all. This is the sulphur free version and was by far the more vibrant, flavoursome and complete wine of the 2. It is one of the most incredibly stable and clean preservative free wines we have ever come across. Bursting with dark fruits and spice with incredibly well-balanced acid and tannin structure it has everything we look for in a great Syrah. This is a true natural wine with what most would consider a very conventional Syrah flavour profile proving once and for all that natural wine isn’t always funky, obscure or as some critics say… faulty. -Mr West