Orange’s Slow Wine Co will showcase it’s latest release wines, along with museum wines at its annual ‘Slow Wine Co. vs France’ dinner as part of the 2024 Orange Wine Festival.
Two of the latest wines comprise the 2021 Slow Wine Co Chardonnay and 2021 Slow Wine Co Family Reserve Pinot Noir. They will be served alongside a range of French Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs during a four course Tapas style dinner.
The Slow Wine Co vineyard was established in 1990. “Having been a farming family since 1936, we investigated alternative options to diversify our income to protect us against drought and market fluctuations. Grapes had been planted in the region, and the cool slopes of Mount Canobolas showed great potential for this new opportunity,” says family member Jen Johnson.
The first vines to be planted were cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay. With time comes experience, and we have since removed the cabernet sauvignon as our vineyard is too cold to ripen this variety. Pinot noir was planted, with clones MV6 and 777.
“Initially the grapes were sold to other winemakers. Our plan was to slowly mature the vineyard before we dipped our toe into winemaking.
“After a decade of tending the vineyard we sought the winemaking expertise of Canberra winemaker Richard Parker to help us produce a small parcel of our own wine. It was a slow and steady glimpse into the potential of our elevated vineyard.
“Over time we continued to make small volumes of wine and labelled them under our ‘Bantry Grove’ name from 2004 through to 2012.
“In 2013 winemaker Will Rikard-Bell took over the winemaking. Will brought a new energy to the brand. He spent a great deal of time in the vineyard, working with us to ensure the wines reflected the site. With this change in winemaking, we moved our branding to Slow Wine Co to better reflect our wine growing.”
Slow Wine Co. vs France Dinner: 26 October 2024
VENUE: Slow Wine CO Cellar Door, 24 Victoria Street, Millthorpe
TIME: 6pm to 9.30pm | COST: $120 | BOOKINGS: Via the slowwineco.com.au/bookings/
- 2021 Slow Wine Co Chardonnay (Orange Region) $35
- 2021 Slow Wine Co Family Reserve Pinot Noir (Orange Region) $65
For further information, interviews and images please contact:
David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au
Slow Wine Co is located 50km south-east of Orange, at an elevation of 960m. The 14 hectare vineyard is one of the highest in the region and has an easterly aspect, making it one of the region’s coolest. We have 2050 vines per hectare with the rows 2.8m wide and the vines 1.75m apart. The vines sit within volcanic Andesite and clay soils which have an age of approximately 450 million years.