A Journey Through Our Wines
Notes on our current and available releases:
2024 As Kingfishers Catch Fire, Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon (Sauvage).
All naturally-fermented, a blend of one barrique of barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc (2 year old Mercurey), one barrique co-ferment of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon (two-year old Mercurey) and one barrique of barrel-fermented 2024 Semillon (5 year old Francois Frères).
Marzipan nose with cashew nut and almond richness and texture, and a quincy, saltbush-tinted finish.
2024 As Kingfishers Catch Fire, Finns Park Field Blend Red
A naturally co-fermented field blend comprising Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Semillon and Viognier all picked and crushed on a single day, and fermented together across tank, old, used barrique and hogheads, and finally blended together and held in tank before bottling.
Blackberry crush, aromatic hedgerow fruit and sapid Cabernet tones, with a crunchy, pippy-tannin finish.
A Glimpse Through the Lens
We think good wine - for which read, ‘delicious and interesting’ - should say something about the people that made it, and the place from which it comes.
To that end, we do all we can ourselves in terms of hand-pruning, hand-picking, crushing, punching down in small vats - 250-, 500- and 700-litres - and trusting in good French oak as a vessel rather than a flavour. Here, we use oak barriques and hogsheads only, limited by that which we can move ourselves when empty or partially-filled.
We start with a committed reliance on natural ferments, and finish with no additions save minimal sulphur before bottling.
We work from an open shed cellar, which gives onto a kitchen garden full of veggies, herbs and insects, a gentle slope to the reeds and channels of the Finniss River, and a trusty weather vane which warns of northerly heat or promises of southerly relief.
Pelicans, ibis and black-tailed cockatoos. And, of course, the rare kingfisher…
Join us as we celebrate the journey, one image at a time. Each picture captures a moment in time, woven with tradition and shared with those who appreciate the simple beauty of life well-lived.
Discovering Our Wines
Below, you’ll find the places where you can connect with our wines and bring a piece of our family’s history to your table.
Follow us on Instagram to see who's pouring us around Adelaide.
The Essence of Our Craft
Our story is really all about the elements and landscape of Finniss Park - tall trees, taller skies and cool climes - and a genuine effort to tread lightly.
At ‘As Kingfishers Catch Fire’, each bottle tries to reflect a thoughtful blend of the natural features of our coastal site - sandy soils, sea breezes; river tides and a briny, ozone richness to the air.
It is about respect for the vineyard, an attempt to use patient hands, and a mindfulness of the flora and fauna that share our home.
Above all, it is a nod to the hard work and dedication of Anita and Tim as our hosts, and their generosity in letting Gabe, Lucy and me have our adventure.