150 Year Old Vines Semillon
⏳ Drinking Window
2020 - 2035
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
pan-seared scallops, roast chicken with herbs, creamy seafood chowder
✨ Technical Specifications
Sourced from some of the oldest living Semillon vines on Earth, Chateau Tanunda's 150 Year Old Vines Semillon is a monument to the Barossa Valley's unique viticultural preservation. These 'Ancestor' vines, planted in the sandy soils of the valley floor, escaped the global phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th century. Their ancient root systems delve deep into the earth, yielding tiny, highly concentrated berries. Unlike the lighter Hunter Valley style, Barossa Semillon from these historic vines exhibits a richer, more textured profile. Traditional winemaking techniques are employed to honor this rare fruit, resulting in a wine of profound depth, complexity, and a distinctive beeswax and lemon curd character that evolves magnificently with age.
🍾 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.
🍇 Grapes
Semillon