Ochota Barrels 186 Grenache 2023

Ochota Barrels is a cult winery in the Adelaide Hills founded in 2000s by Taras and Amber Ochota, after years spent travelling the world making wine and surfing. Taras, who sadly passed away in 2020, became renowned for his intuitive, minimalist approach, producing small-batch wines that captured both the raw energy of their sites and a distinctive sense of personality.

The estate focuses on old-vine Grenache from the McLaren Vale and Barossa, alongside cool-climate Pinot Noir, Syrah and unusual bottlings from the Adelaide Hills. Vineyards are farmed sustainably, with an emphasis on balance in the vineyard, low yields, and harvesting earlier to preserve natural acidity and freshness. In the cellar, Ochota Barrels is known for its natural philosophy: spontaneous ferments, whole-bunch inclusion, minimal sulphur, and old oak élevage, resulting in wines that are textural, vibrant and often a little wild.

Since Taras’s passing, Amber has continued to guide Ochota Barrels, preserving the spirit of experimentation and authenticity that made the wines so beloved. Today, Ochota Barrels stands as one of Australia’s most influential small producers, celebrated for expressive, boundary-pushing wines that retain honesty, drinkability and a deep sense of place.