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 fruit for this wine hails from two different vineyards. The Gewürztraminer comes from the Protero vineyard itself which sits at an elevation of 500m on a gentle north-east facing slope. Here the Gewürztraminer was grafted onto pre-existing Merlot plantings. The Riesling is sourced from the neighbouring vineyard which was planted in 2000. The vines face south-west and soils are grey loam over clay flecked with granite.

Aromatico is a blend of Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. The Gewürztraminer was harvested on 23rd March, settled as juice and held in tank. The Riesling arrived on 4th April, was gently pressed and blended with the Gewürztraminer, and again held in tank until the Sauvignon Blanc arrived on 14th April. Fermentation finally began on 1st May and lasted 8 weeks, leaving a touch of residual sugar. The wine was then bottled on 13th July 2023.

Fragrant, spicy, and textured dishes.