Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz Clare Valley / McLaren Vale

Description

Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz is a multi-region Australian red wine blend from Wakefield wines. The Jaraman range of wines is made from extraordinary parcels of fruit, producing wines that demonstrate distinctive regional characteristics and styles. This wine and the Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon are available to buy from Fareham Wine Cellar.

Wakefield Wines, A Clare Valley Icon

Wakefield Wines is situated in the heart of Clare Valley, South Australia. Founded by wine merchant Bill Taylor Senior in 1969, the winery’s origins began with the purchase of 178 hectares of vineyards near the Wakefield River in Auburn. Bill Taylor carefully selected this site for its red-brown loam over limestone soils, known as “terra rossa”, and the region’s cool climate. That same year, the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted.

Australia’s First Families of Wine

Wakefield Wines is known under its original name of Taylor’s Wines in Australia and they are a member of Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) alongside other prestigious producers such as Best’s Great Western, Jim Barry, Tyrrell’s Wines and d’Arenberg.

Cool-Climate Producers

Today, the winery is managed by Mitchell Taylor, the third-generation winemaker and grandson of Bill Taylor Senior. Under his leadership, Wakefield Wines has gained recognition as one of Australia’s esteemed cool-climate producers, producing some fo the Clare Valley’s best wines. Almost all grapes come from 300 hectares of family-owned vineyards in the Mt. Lofty Ranges, making it one of the largest single-estate plantings in the country.

While the focus remains on their estate fruit, Wakefied also sources grapes from trusted growers in regions like Coonawarra. Various varieties are planted, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Tempranillo, Carménère and Grenache. Wakefield Wines produces a range of wines, including their estate offerings and the Jaraman and St Andrew’s ranges.

Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz Winemaking

Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz 2021 is a blend of 54% Clare Valley and 46% McLaren Vale Shiraz. The luscious elegance of Clare Valley fruit marries superbly with the slightly peppery fruit from McLaren Vale.

• Initial Processing:

  • Grapes gently destemmed

  • Transferred to small static stainless steel fermenters

• Cold Soaking:

  • Half of the grapes are cold soaked at 6°C for 5 days to enhance fruit expression

• Fermentation:

  • Fermented using Shiraz-specific yeast

• Pressing and Malolactic Fermentation:

  • Pressed into American oak barrels (30% 1-year-old, 70% 2- and 3-year-old)

  • Undergoes malolactic fermentation (MLF) in barrels

• Maturation and Bottling:

  • Post-MLF, transferred back to barrels for maturation

  • Fined, filtered, and bottled

Wakefield Estate Wines & Sustainability

With a commitment to sustainability and a focus on expressing the unique terroir of Clare Valley, Taylor’s Wines continues to craft exceptional wines that reflect the family’s legacy and dedication to quality. They are also at the vanguard of sustainability among Australian wineries with many initiatives, including drip irrigation, ammonia energy-saving refrigeration, solar panels, etc. and are on track to become a carbon-neutral winery.

Why Is It Called Jaraman Shiraz?

Wakefield Jaraman Shiraz is named after the Aboriginal word for seahorse. Fossilised remains of seahorses have been found on the estate, which confirms that the area had once been the bed of an ancient inland sea. Hence, the seahorses featured on the label.