Hoggies Estate Wines

A complicated story. Founded by Gavin Hogg and Mike Press in 1996 and based on an 80ha vineyard in the Wrattonbully region, the Kopparossa label was born in 2000. The vineyard (not the brand) was sold in '02, and Mike retired to build his eponymous winery and vineyard in the Adelaide Hills. Various twists and turns followed between then and '09, when Gavin purchased a 24ha vineyard on the Murray River, adjacent to his parents' vineyard; the majority of the fruit from the Hoggies Vineyard is used for the Hoggies Estate brand, and for various private labels. The Kopparossa wines come from the 3.5ha estate vineyard in Coonawarra. Exports to the US, Canada, Morocco, Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong and China. -JAMES HALLIDAY