Protero tells a fascinating story of survival in the face of adversity. Stephen and Fiona Pannell purchased the Adelaide Hills vineyard, ‘Protero', in late 2019. Within days, it was surrounded by the second major bushfire to have threatened the region this century. Ultimately, the vineyard survived this horrendous wildfire, and the courage of those who fearlessly defended it inspired Stephen and Fiona. As Stephen himself said, “we are moved by the bravery behind the history of this vineyard. Our own small act of courage is to try and invest in this special place with a new sense of potential.”

The vineyard is located in Kenton Valley, Peramangk Country. In 1999, Frank and Rosie Baldasso, the original owners of the site, established a 20-hectare vineyard at an elevation of 439 metres. The property's Block 2 features two hectares of Nebbiolo vines on a western-facing slope, planted in grey loam over red clay on granitic bedrock. The vineyard employs particularly tall trellising systems to create an extensive canopy that ensures optimal ripening conditions for premium fruit quality.

The grapes were gently de-stemmed and left to soak in open-top fermenters for 48 hours before fermentation began. The wine remained on skins for 27 days with daily pump-overs, then was gently pressed and settled in tank for three weeks. Following settling, the wine was transferred to an old French oak vat, two old French oak puncheons, and one old Hungarian puncheon for malolactic fermentation and four months of maturation. The wine underwent a further seven months of maturation in various puncheons after malolactic conversion, before being moved to large oak vats for a final seven months of maturation. It was bottled in mid-January 2024 without fining or filtration.

Braised beef with herbs, rich creamy chicken dishes