Description

The Solita Nebbiolo is made from the oldest Nebbiolo vines in South Australia, planted on North East facing slopes.  This age-worthy red wine displays the typical characteristics of the grape one would find in Piedmont, yet it wears an Aussie overcoat.  Silky and scented with rose petal, sour cherry and floral notes, the palate shows impeccable balance with beautifully integrated alcohol and silky yet drying tannins.  Delicious after a decent decant, this terrific example of Nebbiolo from one of the very best Barossa producers will reward careful ageing and the wine should happily evolve for decades to come.

Solita is matured in oak for between 36-48 months with further maturation in bottle for up to 7 years prior to release.

Chris Ringland came from humble beginnings. Growing up in Auckland, in 1974, Chris decided to have a go at home winemaking after finding an old recipe book, and together with some schoolmates he harvested neighbourhood backyard vines.

Interested in learning about the science and history of winemaking, in 1977 he applied to the university of Adelaide and was admitted for a degree in oenology program at Roseworthy College. After graduating, he returned to New Zealand for a few vintages before travelling to California to gain more experience. Working for Rockford Wines in Barossa Valley for 18 vintages and in that time had the opportunity to purchase a vineyard. Chris had already established a winemaking project, Three Rivers Shiraz in 1989, utilising parcels of fruit purchased from various growers and in 1995 was able to continue with Shiraz harvested from the 100 year old vines on his Stone Chimney Creek property, found high in the Barossa Ranges of Eden Valley. At this point he changed the name from Three Rivers to Chris Ringland Shiraz with the release of the 1998 vintage and Chris Ringland Winery was born.