Tapanappa

Producer Website


Producers notes
In late 2001 Petaluma, the company Ann and I founded in 1976 was taken over by Lion Nathan. That event ended the 30-year Croser family ownership involvement in fine wine product1ion but only temporarily. Even as the ink was drying on the Petaluma purchase, my friends and partners for 17 years in Petaluma, Champagne Bollinger made a pact with the Croser family to begin again.

Then along came the Cazes family from Chateau Lynch Bages in Pauillac, Bordeaux. On a trip to Australia in 2002, Jean-Michel and his son Jean-Charles met with me and quickly agreed to join the partnership.

My long held ambition to own and make wine from the more than 30-year old Koppamurra Vineyard just north of Coonawarra became the ambition of the partnership. Tapanappa was born and purchased Koppamurra Vineyard in late 2002. The vineyard has since been renamed the Whalebone Vineyard for reasons that are explained elsewhere on this site.

The partnership is founded in a strongly mutually held belief that some pieces of ground are much better than others for the product1ion of fine wine. Of course this superiority is highly specific to varieties and wine style. The Whalebone Vineyard and Cabernet Sauvignon in particular have a unique synergy. I learnt of the wonderful quality of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Whalebone Vineyard 25 years ago when in 1980 I helped Geoff Weaver make the very first wine from this vineyard under his Ashbourne label.

Tapanappa is also fortunate to have access to Chardonnay fruit from The Tiers Vineyard, planted by the Croser family in 1979, the first vineyard planted in the Adelaide Hills since the 19th century and a proven "distinguished site" for Chardonnay.

This is the concept of "terroir", the uncopyable effect of the geology, soil, climate, latitude, longitude, altitude, aspect, surrounds and all other factors affecting Cabernet Sauvignon vines on the Whalebone Vineyard and Chardonnay vines on The Tiers Vineyard.

Whalebone and Tiers Vineyards are proven distinguished sites. In the middle of and at the highest point of the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Croser family have planted a revolutionary Pinot Noir vineyard 10 kilometres from any other vineyard. This is a distinguished site in the making.

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Group wines by:

• Wine Name
• Variety
• Vineyard
• Vintage

wine type	Name, Type, Locale	Year
White	Tapanappa Chardonnay (View Label Image) White, Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Piccadilly Valley	2023 2022 2021 2020 2018 2017 2016 2015 2013 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2005
White	Tapanappa Chardonnay 1.5M Tiers (View Label Image) White, Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Piccadilly Valley	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
White	Tapanappa Chardonnay Tiers (View Label Image) White, Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Piccadilly Valley	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2011 2010 2008 2007 2006 2005
White	Tapanappa Riesling (View Label Image) White, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
White	Tapanappa Riesling Eden Valley Reserve White, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley	2022 2020
Red	Tapanappa Cabernet Merlot Cabernet Franc Whalebone Vineyard (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully	2020
Red	Tapanappa Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully	2007 2005 2004
Red	Tapanappa Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Foggy Hill Red, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully	2009 2007
Red	Tapanappa Cabernet-Shiraz Whalebone Vineyard (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully	2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Red	Tapanappa Joanna Red, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully	2007
Red	Tapanappa Merlot Cabernet Franc Whalebone Vineyard (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully	2020 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2004 2003 NV
Red	Tapanappa Merlot Whalebone Vineyard (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully	2014 2006 2005 2004 2003
Red	Tapanappa Merlot Wratton Bully Whalebone Vineyard (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully	2012 2006 2005 2004 2003
Red	Tapanappa Pinot Noir Clone 114 (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu	2021
Red	Tapanappa Pinot Noir Definitus Foggy Hill Vineyard (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu	2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Red	Tapanappa Pinot Noir Fleurieu Peninsula (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu	2021 2015 2012 2010
Red	Tapanappa Pinot Noir Fleurieu Peninsula Parawa (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu	2017 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2007
Red	Tapanappa Pinot Noir Foggy Hill Vineyard (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2005
Red	Tapanappa Pinot Noir Summertown Red, Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills	2017
Red	Tapanappa Shiraz Single Vineyard (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills	2020 2018 2017 2016
Red	Tapanappa Shiraz Whalebone Vineyard Wrattonbully (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully	2007 2006 2005 2004
Red	Tapanappa Shiraz Wratton Bully (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully	2017 2016 2009 2007