Mudgee’s First Ridge Wines has released two new vintage wines from its Italian variety vineyard. These comprise the 2024 First Ridge Fiano ($30) and 2022 First Ridge Barbera ($45).
First Ridge was established 26 years ago when John and Helen Nicholas purchased a small vineyard in Mudgee. Recognising the potential of the property, the Nicholas family sought the expertise of renowned viniculturist Dr Richard Smart to extend the vineyard and cultivate a select range of Italian varieties.
Nestled in the south-eastern hills at close to 600 metres elevation and overlooking the Mudgee valley, First Ridge have nurtured these vines and in 2012, after many years of selling their grapes, established a suite of Italian varietal wines. The winemaking is judiciously handled by Mudgee’s James Manners.
“Mudgee was a pioneer of Italian varieties and has some of the country’s oldest vines,” says owner and vigneron John Nicholas. “In the 1970s Italian oenologist Carlo Carino established a successful vineyard in the region, producing Australia’s first Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Barbera.
“We planted our Sangiovese and Barbera in 1998 and have since added Vermentino, Fiano, Pinot Grigio, Prosecco and Montepulciano. The moderately fertile, ancient, and free-draining soils vary from shallow topsoils with basalt and quartz rock to deeper loams over neutral clays which produce grapes with lovely depth of flavour.”
The First Ridge Barbera is from 2022 which was a surprisingly good vintage. “We needed to be vigilant in the vineyard during the ripening season due to rain events. Prudent vineyard management ensured we harvested excellent fruit before it rained at the end of March.”
The grapes were crushed to a small fermenter, cold soaked for 48 hours and inoculated. Twice daily pump-overs built favour and captured varietal expression. The wine was then matured in a combination of 15 percent new French Saint Martin barrels and older, seasoned oak to enhance the wine’s texture and complexity.
The 2024 vintage was excellent in Mudgee. Good rain in November set up the vines well. There was some rain during the summer, but it was offset by warm, sun filled days enabling perfect ripening and a good harvest. We were able to pick the grapes on our terms, albeit somewhat earlier than most vintages.
Once in the winery, the grapes were pressed off skins with 30 percent transferred to seasoned 300 litre barrels to undergo ‘wild’ fermentation to add texture and complexity to the final blend.
Pricing & distribution: The First Ridge wines are available in select retail and restaurants in NSW and online nationally at www.firstridge.com.au
- 2024 First Ridge Fiano (Mudgee, NSW) $30.00
- 2022 First Ridge Barbera (Mudgee, NSW) $45.00
For further information, samples or images please contact:
David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au
Graeme Salt at First Ridge Wines: 0418 161 132 or graeme@firstridge.com.au
First Ridge is located at 577 Burrundulla Road on the outskirts of Mudgee. The architecturally designed Cellar Door was opened in 2017 and overlooks the vineyard towards Mudgee. The wines are made by one of Mudgee’s most respected winemakers, James Manners. Additional plantings included Fiano and Pinot Grigio in 2015, Prosecco in 2017 and Montepulciano in 2018.