Singlefile Family Reserve Chardonnay 2021

Phil and Viv Snowden know that soils ain't soils. The geologist couple sold their mining consultancy company in 2004, wanting to find some new digs and take their geological knowledge to new heights. Inspired by the old-world wine their ex-pat daughter Pam and her imported husband Pat would bring home with them during visits from their then adopted home in Italy, Phil and Viv searched for a cool climate site to venture into the winemaking world.

They found their piece of paradise in Denmark. No, not that one. The Denmark that is a lonely/liberating 423km drive south-south-east of Perth. Paradise. With vines established on the site since 1986, the north-facing slopes on the rich, red karri loam soils provided great drainage to the ample Mediterranean-climate rain of the Wilson Inlet, and the giant karri trees themselves provided shelter. And just in case those rains were ever lacking, an established irrigation system was fed by a large dam on the property, a favourite swimming hole to the local geese.

Since then, the Snowden family today incorporate fruit from a number of sites across the Great Southern. Pam and Pat run the show, taking a minimal intervention approach to winemaking to really let that Denmark terroir shine through, and of course, soil health is of upmost importance to the family. The irrigation system linked to the dam hasn't been used in over a decade.

And Phil and Viv still watch on from their home in their Denmark piece of paradise, gandering at the resident gaggle that still walk in single file to that dam: the inspiration for the winery's name.