Bethany Chardonnay 2007

NOTES

Johann Gottlob Schrapel and his family arrived in South Australia from Silesia on the ship “George Washington” in 1844, just eight years after the colony was settled. Like many of their fellow Germanic migrants they made their way by ox cart to Bethany, the Barossa Valley’s first settlement, where they established a home and cleared the land to grow crops and graze animals. The Schrapel’s planted their first vineyard in 1852 from cuttings carefully nursed from Europe. A wine cellar was also built, but despite Johann’s reputation as an early colonial winemaker, the family concentrated on grape growing rather than winemaking for the next four generations.

More than a century later in 1981, Johann’s fifth generation descendants, brothers Geoff and Robert Schrapel, established Bethany Wines in a quarry, where the pioneers had hewn stone for their homes, high in the Barossa Ranges overlooking the family’s vineyards and the historic village of Bethany.

TASTING NOTES

This 100% Barossa and Eden Valley Chardonnay should please everyone. The colour is a very attractive brilliant pale-gold, whilst the nose displays melon and grapefruit aromas which carry on the well integrated complex palate. The persistent finish is crisp, with a delicious lemony tang. It has good length and will keep well for three or four years, although it is very approachable right now. Try it with Fettucine alla Carbonara or Chicken Caesar Salad.