Tempranillo and Touriga Naçional are indigenous to the Iberian Peninsula and are the most famous red grape varieties of Spain and Portugal respectively. Tempranillo is also grown in Portugal where it is known as Tinta Roriz, and traditionally blended with Touriga Naçional and other indigenous varieties. Their climatic suitability to the South Australian wine growing region is unquestionable, resulting in increased sustainability and wines with great natural balance, complexity and flavor.
Two sites are used for the blend. Half the Tempranillo comes from a high-altitude site in the Barossa with all of the Graciano, the Touriga, Mataró and the other half of the Tempranillo from McLaren Vale proper. The grapes were hand-harvested, crushed, and vinified separately in small open top fermenters. Post-primary fermentation the grapes are pressed directly to 500-liter French puncheons, 20% new and 80% more than ten years old. After seven months in wood the wine is racked to tank and carefully blended where it goes back to tank for an additional two months to harmonize.