ST ANDREWS ESTATE, at Andrews Road, Macdonald Park, was named after early pioneers, the Andrews family, who settled in our district in the 1850s.   There were wheat paddocks, scotch thistles and deer roamed where our vineyards now grow.

THE VINEYARDS

The highly prized, rich red terra rossa soils over limestone  at our Estate on the fertile Adelaide Plains, give our wines their unique full fruit flavours and intense deep colours.

The varieties of wine grapes we grow celebrate the wonderful synergy between South Australia's soil and climate.

Our warm dry Mediterranean summers on the 35º degree latitude, with evening breezes from nearby Gulf St Vincent, are ideal for growing grapes with intense fruit flavours and wonderful rich colours.

We especially selected Merlot, Shiraz, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay - and more recently, Sauvignon Blanc - as ideal varieties for our region and our climate.  They  love the warm, maritime terroir of the sun-bronzed Adelaide Plains.

We carefully manage our vines to produce only 2-3 tonnes per acre of top quality grapes. Restricted drip-irrigation,  moisture-monitoring,  low-rainfall,  meticulous hand-pruning and fruit-thinning produces crops in perfect balance with small bunches and small berries.

The vertical positioning of the vine canopy on dual cordon Scott Henry Trellising ensures good air circulation with dappled shade and just the right amount of exposure to sunlight, allowing the grapes to ripen without burning..

To ensure wines with optimum flavours, we choose the precise time to harvest. The grapes are picked at night, at about 20°C, in late summer.  They are at the winery door before the sun comes up.  Grape juice hates sunlight & heat. Picking in the cool of night minimizes oxidation - and helps the grapes to retain maximum flavours & bouquet.

We share the philosophy: 'Great wines of the world from clearly defined vineyards are limited by the boundaries of their estates'.

 _{Our vines at ST ANDREWS ESTATE are virtually disease-free.   By introducing beneficial insects into the vineyards, we do not use pesticides and chemical use is minimised.}