S.C. Pannell

In 2014 he moved into his own winery in McLaren Vale, and he and Fiona now own 36 hectares of vines. Freshness runs through everything. He picks earlier, which he says only good farming allows, and he is cutting back on oak by using bigger, older casks. He cares more about a sense of the grape than textbook flavours, which leads to clever blends.

Expect juicy Grenache, Shiraz and Spanish and Portuguese grapes such as Tempranillo and Touriga, which he believes suit the Vale, plus a lovely textured Fiano. In 2021 they added an old, unirrigated vineyard in Blewitt Springs.