Torzi Matthews Vintners

Domenic Torzi and Tracy Matthews, former Adelaide Plains residents, searched for a number of years before finding a block at Mount McKenzie in the Eden Valley. The block they chose is in a hollow; the soil is meagre but they were in no way deterred by the knowledge that it would be frost-prone. The result is predictably low yields, concentrated further by drying the grapes on racks, thus reducing the weight by around 30% (the Appassimento method is used in Italy to produce Amarone-style wines). Newer plantings of sangiovese and negroamaro, and an extension of the original plantings of shiraz and riesling, have seen the wine range increase. Exports to the UK and Denmark. -JAMES HALLIDAY