In 2020, Jon and Emma Coldwell bought a piece of land in the north-western corner of Kenton Valley, high in the Adelaide Hills. The vision was to build a unique, productive and deeply considered rural property.

Fire-scarred and overgrown, the site sat along the top of a ridge between 460 and 495 metres above sea level, with magnificent views across the hills toward the Barossa and Eden Valleys to the north.

Most importantly, it held a series of steep, well-drained, northerly facing slopes, each with its own aspect and soil profile. Beneath the surface lies a complex mix of ancient iron-rich alluvial sediments, slate, shale and mica schists, interspersed with quartzite and talc-bearing soapstone.

Kenton Valley is shaped like a megaphone, gradually descending from 520 metres in the south and widening toward the township of Gumeracha at 325 metres in the north. This shape, combined with the vineyard’s aspect, creates excellent ripening conditions: protection from the harsh afternoon sun, reliable air movement, and gentle convection that draws airflow along the valley floor.

The valley was already known for producing excellent Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Nebbiolo. We wanted to work with varieties we love, but also with varieties proven to belong here. Different clones of each variety were planted on their own roots, in blocks designed around the individual character of the clones themselves.

As you move north through the vineyard, each block ripens in sequence, like a slow wave moving across the site. Each parcel is hand-picked and hand-worked in turn.

Our farming draws on selected biodynamic, organic and, when needed, conventional practices. We also rely on the things that cannot be manufactured: clean air, reliable rainfall, abundant sunlight, patience and time.

The Rose of Sharon Vineyard is isolated from road pollution, fully solar-powered and certified sustainable. After harvest, when the vines are dormant, our registered purebred Speckle Park cattle gently wander through the vine rows, providing natural weed control and organic fertiliser.

We also enjoy working with young and emerging winemakers, giving them access to small parcels of premium fruit so they can explore the boundaries of our terroir in their own way. Their wines offer another window into this vineyard. Through their work, and through our own, we continue to build a deeper understanding of the site and its potential.