The Sticks & Stones
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2033
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled chorizo, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, wood-fired pork belly
✨ Technical Specifications
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.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1912 by Joseph Osborn, d'Arenberg has grown into one of McLaren Vale's most iconic and storied family-owned estates in South Australia. Under the visionary stewardship of fourth-generation winemaker Chester Osborn, the winery adheres strictly to traditional, sustainable methods, utilizing certified organic and biodynamic viticulture along with foot-treading and basket pressing. Renowned for its eclectic naming conventions and distinctive red-stripe label, the estate crafts a wide spectrum of expressive wines with a particular mastery of Rhône varieties, old-vine Grenache, and robust Shiraz. Signature bottlings such as 'The Dead Arm Shiraz' and 'The Ironstone Pressings' stand as benchmarks of regional depth, complexity, and age-worthy character.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Tempranillo, Grenache, Souzao, Tinta Cao
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
14.0-14.5%