Rathbone Wine Group’s celebrated Margaret River winery pays homage to growers with this tier
Melbourne, Australia (February 28, 2023) – Rathbone Wine Group’s Xanadu Wines introduces Vinework to the U.S. market. Vinework Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc Semillon will each retail for SRP $26.99.
Vinework presents the opportunity to experience a seasonal voyage from the vineyard to the glass – from growth to creation. Crafted in celebration of the hours spent walking amongst the vines, watching, tending, tasting – connecting with grape growers and the region’s land. The range welcomes wine lovers to walk alongside the growers on this unique passage through the vineyards, exploring the individual blocks and batches brought together to create this story—a colorful, textural tale of the season and the soils.
Xanadu Vinework Chardonnay is made entirely from the Gingin clone and does not undergo malolactic fermentation. Nine months of oak maturation contributed to its complexity and personality. Xanadu Vinework Sauvignon Blanc Semillon combines free run juice, fermentation in both tank and oak, and some lees stirring to develop its beguiling bouquet and lively palate. Xanadu Vinework Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (90%) Cabernet Franc (5%) Petit Verdot (5%), each matured for 14 months in French oak barrels before the blend was assembled prior to bottling. Full-bodied yet refined, the generous palate offers a core of inky berry fruits; cassis and plums.
The Xanadu winemaking team’s relationship with their growers is a unique and synergistic partnership. As Glenn Goodall, Xanadu Wines Chief Winemaker, says, “Our Growers are part of the Xanadu team! To us, they are not just grape growers or suppliers; they are so much more! They are winegrowers! Proud producers who love knowing where their fruit ends up and how they contribute to our wines.”
The Xanadu team brings an intuitive approach to winemaking alongside an unwavering belief that the vineyard is central to the steady success of Xanadu wines. Glenn adds, “The variety and the vineyards should be the loudest voice in the glass, not the winemaker… Walking a lot of rows, in a lot of vineyards, is really important to identify the differences between, and often within, blocks. This unlocks good picking decisions and by keeping the winemaking pretty simple we can maintain the integrity of each different parcel of fruit, and that’s the key to retaining a nice spectrum of fruit profiles for when it comes to putting blends together.”
Xanadu was one of the first wineries established in Margaret River and the estate also helped define the standards for Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. In 2012, it became the first winery in Western Australia to achieve certified status. In these ways, Xanadu has long set the standard on top-quality wines with varietal and regional integrity. The Rathbone family purchased Xanadu in 2005, recognizing its rare combination of premiere viticulture, winemaking and hospitality in one of the country’s most important wine regions. Glenn Goodall was also the recipient of the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Winemaker of the Year award.
About Rathbone Wine Group
Established in 1996, the Rathbone Wine Group is a leading family-owned Australian fine wine group based in Melbourne. Its portfolio of premium brands includes three of Australia’s historic winery estates: Yering Station in the Yarra Valley of Victoria, Mount Langi Ghiran in Victoria’s Grampians region, and Xanadu in Margaret River, Western Australia. Rathbone Wine Group’s portfolio is focused on historic wine estates, with proven track records of quality, and locations in cool climate viticultural areas. With each brand, they strive to steward the land, honor its history, and keep a laser focus on quality first. In 2022, Xanadu winemaker Glenn Goodall received the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Winemaker of the Year award.
Rathbone Wine Group: https://www.rathbonewinegroup.com/
Xanadu Wines: https://xanaduwines.com/
