Sapling Yard winemakers Malcolm Burdett and Carla Rodeghiero won a trophy for their Fiori wine. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Being a boutique winemaker in Australia is tough. As with any agricultural pursuit, growers are at the mercy of the climate, and the industry is full of big players (with big money behind them). Small operators have to work harder, but the hard work has paid off for Bungendore winery Sapling Yard, which has just taken home a trophy at the prestigious National Wine Show.
Winemaker Carla Rodeghiero started Sapling Yard in 2013 with a small block of vines near Braidwood, and made her first vintage in her backyard shed.
The wines are now made in Wamboin, and the team has grown from one to three in the following years, still tiny by industry standards. Fellow winemaker Malcolm Burdett and consultant viticulturalist Thomas Lefebvre complete the trio. While their wines have been well regarded in boutique circles, they’ve been flying under the radar.
Their win at the National Wine Show puts them on the national stage.
“It just goes to show that with hard work and persistence, you can get there,” Carla told Region.
“We are constantly learning and constantly trying to get better at what we do, but that tenacity does pay off.”
Carla told attendees at the National Wine Show that too many people are drinking their white wines too cold. Between 12 and 15 degrees releases the aromatics. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
The winning wine was a blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Blanc, with grapes sourced from the Canberra and Tumbarumba regions and Sapling Yard’s own vines near Braidwood.
Sapling Yard’s Shiraz Viognier blend also won a gold medal.
Carla named the wine Fiori – meaning flowers in Italian – to reflect the aromatic nature of the grapes. She said that the best way to enjoy the wine (and white wines in general) is to drink it at 12 to 15 degrees, not straight out of the fridge.
In fact, when accepting the trophy at the National Show, she took the microphone to tell the crowd, earning much applause from like-minded winemakers! The cold temperatures suppress the aromatic qualities of the wine, so leaving it on the bench for 15 to 20 minutes will greatly improve many white wines.
The Fiori – meaning flowers in Italian – was made from a mix of Canberra, Tumbarumba and Braidwood grapes. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
While blended wines are commonly lauded internationally (Champagne, Bordeaux and Chianti are all made from a blend of grapes), the Australian wine market tends to favour single-variety wines like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Shiraz.
“Blends have quite often been considered not as prestigious as single grape wines, but aromatic wines are a passion of mine,” Carla said.
“I’m hoping that blends get some more attention and perhaps the consumer will start to look at blends more than just single varietals. People are perhaps looking for something different.”
Winning a trophy at such a prestigious and competitive show is a huge accomplishment and no easy feat, especially for a small winemaker. Sapling Yard’s win is also a win for local winemakers, as Canberra region wines offer phenomenally good value for money and have often been overlooked on the national stage.
See the full list of National Wine Show Winners.
Sapling Yard‘s Cellar Door is located at 23 Malbon Street, Bungendore. Follow Sapling Yard on Facebook or Instagram.
Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Region Canberra.
