First tended as grazing patches for cows and sheep, the grounds of the Delatite Winery are now home to sprawling vineyards of Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc, as well the lesser known Tempranillo and Nebbiolo. The land has been in the Ritchie family for over 30 years now, the first vineyards planted there in 1968.
Hotter
Delatite Winery has been producing quality wines for almost 30 years now, enjoying the benefits of being close to Lake Elidon. Here the climate is cool, but according to the Ritchies, the heat has definitely increased a notch or two during the last 10 or 15 years.
Expert hands
Current owner David Ritchie is assisted in the business by Jane Donat, an expert in cultivating and blending cool-climate wines. The style of the wine-making emphasises each grape type’s individuality, and the new equipment in the winery allows for a more gentle touch in the process. They use wood sparingly so that it adds to the wines’ complexities without dominating them.
Shining
Delatite wines are well-structured and elegant, and although best enjoyed young, they also age quite well. Their Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc do well in the competition circuit, especially the Deadman's Hill Gewurztraminer for which Delatite is best known. The Delatite Pinot Noir and Shiraz have begun to shine too since winemaker Jane joined them. The winery produces 14 – 16 000 cases a year, with about 15% exported to two Miami-based cruise liners, Japan, Malaysia, China and Denmark.
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