Attunga Vineyard

Finns Road, Auburn, Clare Valley, South Australia, 5451 | 12 ha with 0.75 ha of Attunga 1865 Shiraz vines

Originally planted in 1865 and owned by Peter Burner & Michele Gates, around 800 of the original Attunga vines remain in a mere 13 north-south running rows. Each row is 175 metres long and spaced approximately 2.5 metres apart, planted on a west, south-westerly slope.

The vines changed from old bush vines to single wire 4ft trellis around 15 years ago for more consistent yields and easier harvest. Subsequently the average annual crop of 2-2.5 tonne with an extraction rate at the winery of approximately 600 litres per tonne (or approximately 3kg per vine) produces around 2.4 bottles per vine.

The Attunga vineyard sits at 329-336m above sea level. The soil is Terra Rossa – with alluvial clay red loam over limestone over shale over bluestone/slate which is thicker at the north of the block and thinner at south. The limestone being quite porous holds water during winter which the vines can draw on when they feel the need. Nature provides its own 'irrigation' to this dry-grown vineyard.