Swinney Grenache
The Swinney family (parents Graham and Kaye, and son and daughter Matt and Janelle) has been resident on their 2500ha property since it was settled by George Swinney in 1922. In the 90s they decided to diversify, and have since planted a very substantial, high quality vineyard on undulating ironstone gravel and loam soils, home to jarrah and red gums. The lion’S share of the plantings go to shiraz (45ha) and cabernet sauvignon (37ha), followed by semillon (5ha) and chardonnay (5ha), and they lease 1ha of riesling. They also pushed the envelope by establishing grenache (3.5ha), tempranillo (4ha) and mourvedre (1.6ha) as bush vines, a rarity in this part of the world. In 2015 The Swinney family and former Hardys winemaker Peter Dawson formed a partnership to purchase the Powderbark Ridge Vineyard in Frankland River planted in 1998. With Larry Cherubino making the wines, it is not surprising that they are as good as they are.
One of Australia’s finest versions of the variety born of excellent farming and a unique place. Quite the vision to jam the variety in the ground in the somewhat unlikely place of Great Southern, but hey, there you go.
