Organic Liqueur Shiraz Wins

Filed in archive Organic Wine , Wine Awards on March 6, 2007

This is sort of the story of the little wine that could. You never know how something awful and turn into something wonderful - award winning even - when it comes to winemaking.

From Liqueur shiraz rises from ashes to win national prize:

A liqueur shiraz created from the devastation of the Eyre Peninsula bushfires in South Australia in 2005 has won the national Winestate award for fortified wine.

Michelle Mason from Anna's Vineyard at Port Lincoln says when the bushfire hit, thousands of birds were driven onto the vines and attacked the grapes.

She says the decision to salvage what grapes were left has resulted in Australia's first organic liqueur shiraz.

"This really is rather special," she said.

"It should really be called bushfire shiraz because it came about because of the 2005 bushfire.

"Within seven or eight hours, half the crop was devastated by birds, not by the actual fires.

"We decided that if we could get the sugar levels high enough, we could make a liqueur.

You can read more about this award winning wine at the Anna's Vineyard at Port Lincoln web site.