The Sticks & Stones
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Grilled chorizo, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, wood-fired pork belly
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Named in defiant response to the skeptics who questioned Chester Osborn's decision to plant alternative Iberian varieties in McLaren Vale, 'The Sticks & Stones' is a wonderfully eccentric red blend. It combines the structure and dark fruit of Tempranillo, Souzao, and Tinta Cao with the fleshy warmth of old-vine Grenache. True to d'Arenberg's traditionalist philosophy, the grapes are gently crushed in basket presses and foot-trodden in open fermenters before aging in seasoned French oak. The result is a savory, rustic, and deeply complex wine that showcases the versatility of McLaren Vale's maritime climate and ancient soils.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1912 by Joseph Osborn in the heart of McLaren Vale, South Australia, d'Arenberg is a historic, family-owned winery currently guided by fourth-generation winemaker Chester Osborn. Renowned for its traditional, hands-on approach, the estate utilizes very old basket presses and practices foot-treading for all its red wines, maintaining a steadfast commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture. The winery is celebrated for its highly characterful, complex wines with distinctive, quirky names, most notably its flagship 'The Dead Arm' Shiraz, alongside exceptional Grenache and Rhône-style blends. Today, the estate seamlessly blends its rich heritage with avant-garde innovation, epitomized by the iconic d'Arenberg Cube visitor center rising above the ancient vines.