Guardians of the Vines
Avondale Wines is a family owned farm run by proprietor, Johnathan Grieve, who is sometimes also known as ‘Jonty’. This exclusive range of exciting wines celebrates our natural vineyard eco-system where a posse of glossy Pekin ducks patrols our vineyards to find and eat snails which would otherwise cause serious damage to our vines. Our ducks are a highly effective, eco-friendly way to avoid using harmful chemical poisons to manage pests. This is just one of the many ways that Avondale works with Nature to produce premium quality, organically certified wines, while ensuring that our beautiful place on Earth is protected for future generations.
Jonty’s Ducks wines are slow made with natural yeast, free of all artificial additives, certified organic, low in sulphur and absolutely delicious!
VINEYARDS: 16 to 27-year-old vines, cultivated organically. The vines yielded 8 tons per hectare.
GRAPE VARIETIES: Chenin Blanc driven with the balance made up of Roussanne, Viognier & Semillon
WINEMAKING: The grapes were picked between 22° and 23 °B into the press as whole bunches, and left to settle in the tank overnight. The wine was fermented with wild yeast at between 18 and 24ºC for ageing. A portion was fermented in used oak barrels (600 liter). Both the tank and barrel portions were kept on the lees for six to nine months and stirred frequently. The barrel portion was blended back.
CORNé SAYS: I taste pure fruit of lime, grapefruit, pineapple, quince, with just a dash of honey on the nose. The palate is dense with ripe flavours and juicy with tangy peach and brie flavours, delivered with good intensity and freshness. These mouthwatering flavours linger on the palate.
AGEING: Enjoy immediately but it will definitely enhance your cellar should you wish to lay it down for four years.
NAME: Owner Johnathan Grieve employs a “posse” of ducks, which patrol the vineyard looking for and destroying snails, which eat the vines. The ducks are an eco-friendly way to avoid using harmful chemical poisons to kill pests and act as the guardians of the vines on Avondale. See them in action. See them in action here.
ALCOHOL: 13% PH: 3.47 RS: 3.6 g/l
