Translation missing: en.Keller + Ochota Barrels Re-stock + Wine Fair + Hahndorf Hill Tasting Sat 28th 3pm - 6pm: Keller + Ochota Barrels Re-stock + Wine Fair + Hahndorf Hill Tasting Sat 28th 3pm - 6pm
Keller
Keller is without a doubt, not just one of the greatest producers of German Riesling, but one of the greatest white wine producers in the world. Jancis Robinson has even gone as far as to describe them as "German Montrachets". This can be backed up by the fact that they are also members of the VDP, the association of German growers that assure quality. Klaus-Peter Keller and his wife, Julia, took over the day-to-day direction of Weingut Keller in 2001, making them the 9th generation of winemakers in the region. Klaus-Peter took over after some study and internships at some of the best Domaines in Burgundy, including Armand Rousseau. His love for Burgundy can be seen in his wines too, producing wines that, despite their power, contain layers of complexity and finesse.
Weingut Keller are based in the region of Rheinhessen, a region that is usually associated with lower quality, high volume wines. However, Keller have been responsible for revitalising the region and showing the potential in these sites. Vineyards that had been forgotten about, Kirchspiel, Hubacker, Morstein and Abtserde to name a few, are now commanding some of the highest prices for Riesling in Germany. Klaus-Peter encourages a longer ripening period in the vineyard which is how he produces powerfully concentrated wines. Since it is the photosynthesizing of leaves that produce the sugar that accumulates in grapes, he adjusts the ratio of leaves-to-bunches to ensure optimal ripening late in the season. He has also started to work biodynamically to ensure the soils are healthy and in optimal condition and of course, only the very best grapes make the cut. In the cellar, Klaus-Peter follows a non-interventionist winemaking approach, interfering as little as possible in order to preserve the natural potential of the grapes to produce top-quality wines that are typical of the vineyards and are influenced by their terroir. An interesting approach that Klaus-Peter takes as well is to allow the grapes to macerate on their skins for 24 hours prior to pressing. Every one of these decisions in the vineyard and cellar contribute to making some of the greatest wines on the planet.
We have a range of these amazing Keller wines to share with you. We have the '24 'Limestone Riesling', '24 'Limestone Kabinett Riesling', '24 'Von der Fels' and '22 'RR Riesling' which increase in concentration and sweetness as you go up the line. We have a single bottle left of the '22 'Feuervogel Sylvaner' which is perhaps the best example of this unique grape that there is. We've also got some of the GGs which are the wines that have built Keller's reputation as one of the world's greatest white wine producers. The '23 'Hubacker GG' which comes from a southwest-facing site of yellow limestone which imparts lovely minerality in the wine. The '23 'Abst Erde GG' has the most limestone content and is the most fresh and lively of the GGs. Finally, we have the '23 'Morstein GG' which is the most powerful and concetrated of the GGs. Keller has the reputation as the best Riesling producer for a reason - check these out and find out why for yourself!
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Ochota Barrels
We've recently stocked up on some of our favourite wines from Ochota Barrels because we love them so much and obviously you do too having cleared us out of these wines last year!
Ochota Barrels is the resulting enterprise following Taras and Amber Ochota's surf trip along the west coast of Mexico in the late '00s, at which point they decided to make holistic wines back at home in South Australia. Taras played bass in a number of punk bands in his youth before graduating with a degree in oenology from Adelaide University, working at wineries around the world and finally settling with a nice steep slope in the Basket Range of Adelaide Hills.
Their approach of organic vineyards planted on soil with vitality, minimal intervention and picking decisions based on retaining natural acidity to produce wines with energy and tension are what resonated the most deeply with him. Ochota Barrels use low-yielding old vines with small berries, whole bunches when the stems are right, careful pigéage, as well as some skin contact and batonage to develop texture and complexity. They have also been experimenting with much lower sulphur levels based on the specific cuvee to produce pure wines that speak of their terroir.
We picked up some more stock of the best selling Ochota Barrels wines - the '25 'Slint Chardonnay', '25 'A Forest Pinot Noir' and the '25 'Price of Silence Gamay'. These wines always deliver. We've also have some stock of the '25 'Weird Berries in the Woods Gewurztraminer' and '25 'Control Voltage Chardonnay' from their white wines. Of the other Ochota reds, we have the '25 'Where's the Pope? Syrah', '25 'Fugazi Grenache', '25 'Impeccable Disorder Pinot Noir', '25 '186 Grenache' and the '25 'Home Basket Range Pinot Noir'. These wines have such a following for a reason - some of you will already know why and will pick up some more but for those that haven't tried them, give these great Aussie wines a go!
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Wine Fair
Saturday March 21st
1pm - 5pm
Our first Wine Fair for 2026 is happening on the 21st of March. A must attend tasting for wine lovers.
It's that time of year again!
WINE FAIR TIME!
Our first Wine Fair of the year is happening on Saturday, 21st of March from 1-5pm!
For this wine fair, we’re slowing things down and going deeper. Each exhibitor will be pouring wines from a single producer, offering a chance to properly explore their range, philosophy, and style. Expect thoughtful tastings, great chats, and plenty of exciting bottles, all guided by the people who know these wines inside out.
We will be featuring wines from:
Commune Of Buttons
Cantina Orsogna
Les Fruits
Somos
Pyramid Valley
Vinea Marson
Basket Range Wine
Tenuta Mazzolino
Gentle Folk
and many more…
Tickets are $50 and include a Plum tasting glass to take home. On the day, enjoy 20% off any six bottles from the event (usually 15%), plus a free Annandale Cellars tote bag with any purchase of 6 bottles or more. A great excuse to stock up on your favourites.
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Hahndorf Hill Tasting
Saturday 28th
3pm - 6pm
Come down to the store for our second tasting of the years with the wines of Hahndorf Hill from the Adelaide Hills!
Perched above the historic village of Hahndorf, Hahndorf Hill is a boutique producer dedicated to crafting fine wines that reflect the beauty and nuance of the Adelaide Hills. Their philosophy is rooted in respect for site, balance and detail, creating wines that capture the cool-climate elegance for which this region is renowned. Hahndorf Hill specialise in Austrian varieties that suit this region so well as well as some of the other grape varieties for which the Hills are known. These are the wines that's we'll be pouring on Saturday:
Hahndorf Hill White Mischief Gruner Veltliner 2024
Hahndorf Hill Gru Gruner Veltliner 2024
Hahndorf Hill Pinot Grigio 2025
Hahndorf Hill Reserve Gruner Veltliner 2023
Hahndorf Hill Blueblood Blaufrankisch 2020
The standard Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Grigio and Rose are actually part of a 2 for $50 promo that we are currently running so you can walk away with a great deal. See you for our second tasting of the year!