Château Tanunda crafts superb wines that are sourced from the finest quality Barossa fruit. Our wines are handcrafted by combining traditional methods and modern technology. We are specialists in Barossa Old Vine vineyards, taking every precaution to maintain the purity and character of these old vine treasures with minimal intervention winemaking.
This requires patience and a connection to the land. We only pick at optimal physiological ripeness when the fruit is most expressive. Where possible, the fruit is hand-picked and fermented and hand-plunged in 1-5 tonne open fermenters before basket-pressing to capture the integrity of each block.
The wines are matured in a fine selection of new and seasoned French or American oak barrels to best complement the profile and refinement of each wine.
We believe minimal intervention allows the true character of each individual vineyard block to express themselves.
Vintage in the Barossa
Each year vintage runs from February until April/May, with white varieties picked before reds, and typically the vineyards in the warmer Barossa Valley floor picked before the cooler Eden Valley. Each parcel is individually graded twice before blending. Our state-of-the-art winery is designed for hand-crafted winemaking with small open fermenters and basket press features.
Grapes for our award-winning wines come from over 350 acres of estate-owned vineyards as well as from up to 40 growers across the Barossa. The traditional methods combined with the best technology creates a unique character in the wines. Barrel aging and master blending are our art form.
“The vineyards are our soul; the basket press winery is our heart; the wines are our passion; everything is finely tuned to produce delicious, distinctive, and elegant wines.” John Geber
Barrel Maturation
Barrel selection for each wine is rigorous and depends on the vision for each individual parcel. We use a selection of French, or American, oak in a variety of barrel sizes (predominantly 300L Hogsheads and 500L Puncheons).
Château Tanunda’s winery and barrel storage has over 3,000 barrels of maturing wine at any given time, all being monitored in their development and flavours with regular sampling and analysis by our winemaking team.
After maturation is complete, the wines are blended in preparation for bottling. Many wines are held for further bottle maturation of between 6 months and up to 24 months for The Everest wines before release.
“Clean, pure, unpretentious and exquisitely made, these are must-buys for a true taste of the Barossa.”
– The Wine Advocate
Senior Winemaker, Jeremy Ottawa
Jeremy Ottawa is a winemaker with a passion for creating exceptional wines. Inspired into winemaking by the memorable experiences of shared stories cultivated at the family dinner table.
Jeremy began his journey in winemaking at Barossa Vintners and later pursued a Bachelor of Wine Science from Charles Sturt University. Over the ensuing two decades, he honed his craft and continues to focus in the Barossa region, contributing to renowned wineries such as St Hallett and Tatachilla.
Jeremy is actively driving the evolution of the Barossa, championing a style characterized by vibrancy, freshness, and a judicious use of oak that supports rather than dominates the wines.
In 2024, Jeremy made the prestigious Top 100 Master Winemaker in the Drinks Business Magazine (UK).
Assistant Winemaker, Patrick Long
Patrick Long is obsessed about being hands-on with his craft and ensuring dedication is taken with every step from vineyard to bottle.
A vintage in Western Australia’s Margaret River was the spark that led Patrick into the world of wine – and he’s never looked back. With over 20 years of experience across South Australia’s top wine regions such as McLaren Vale, the Coonawarra and of course the Barossa Valley. Château Tanunda is a dream role for Patrick with the chance to specialise in Old Vine Expressions on original roots and further explore his favourite varietal Grenache.
In his role as Assistant Winemaker, Patrick will be working with the 1870-planted Old Vine Shiraz which he notes as a piece of history in the Barossa Valley and is eager to explore further. With his drive and curiosity Patrick complements the wider Château Tanunda winemaking team.
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