150 Year Old Vines (1858) Field Blend
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2035
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb rack, slow-cooked beef brisket, aged hard cheeses
✨ Technical Specifications
Sourced from a historic vineyard planted in 1858 by Silesian immigrant Christian Auricht, this extraordinary field blend represents some of the oldest surviving vines on Earth. Located in the heart of the Barossa Valley, these 'Ancestor Vines' survived the global phylloxera epidemic due to South Australia's strict quarantine laws and sandy soils. The vineyard is a living piece of viticultural history, where Grenache, Shiraz, and Mourvèdre were planted together as a field blend. In keeping with ancient traditions, the grapes are harvested together, co-fermented in open fermenters, and basket-pressed. This traditional approach coaxes out a profound complexity, offering a seamless integration of rich dark fruit, savory spice, and earthy undertones. The wine is a testament to the resilience of these ancient vines, which yield tiny, intensely concentrated berries that reflect the deep, iron-rich soils of the Barossa.
🍾 About the Producer
Constructed in 1890 from local Bethany bluestone, Château Tanunda stands as an iconic monument to early Australian viticulture. Originally erected to fulfill European wine demand following the phylloxera epidemic, the historic estate fell into disrepair until it was acquired and painstakingly revitalized by John Geber in 1998. Today managed by second-generation custodian Michelle Geber alongside senior winemaker Jeremy Ottawa, the property occupies a prized floor position in the Barossa Valley. The estate oversees deeply rooted vineyard parcels anchored in ancient red-brown clays and loams over limestone, moderated by warm Mediterranean sunshine and cool nocturnal katabatic breezes from the Barossa Ranges. Viticulture emphasizes conservation and environmental certification through Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Winemaking combines basket-pressing and traditional open fermentation with seasoned French and American oak aging. The estate is widely acclaimed for its Old Vine Expressions—including 50, 100, and 150 Year Old Vines Shiraz and Field Blends—alongside the pinnacle Everest Shiraz and benchmark Grand Barossa portfolio.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre