Rusden

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In 1979 Christine and Dennis Canute purchased 40 acres of run-down vineyard on the white sand over clay country in the heart of the Barossa. Grapes were not a precious commodity at the time, but the idea of a “hobby farm,” with room for the kids to run, seemed adventurous and was to become a serious labour of love. Dennis continued his profession as a teacher to provide the funds for Chris(tine), a 5th generation Barossa grape grower, to slowly rejuvenate the old vineyard. Thankfully the old Shiraz and Grenache survived the tragic ‘vine pull’ of the early 80’s. At that time the Canute grapes were sold to local wineries. The 70’s and 80’s were tough times. The large companies used the Barossa as a blending ground for fruit from all over South Australia. Grape prices were laughable unless you were crying!

Always believing in the quality of the fruit they grew (and not being able to afford a decent bottle of red) Dennis, with friend Russell, decided to make a barrel of Cabernet Sauvignon. It was good enough for their own consumption and enjoyment. It was good enough to put a label on so they came up with the name RUSDEN (the shortened forms of Russell and Dennis). That was 1992. In 1994 the home-made Shiraz was consumed with relish and the decision was made to carry out some serious ‘research and development.’

The attitude of the larger wineries to Barossa fruit (which was “we’ll grow the quality, you grow the quantity!”) stiffened their resolve to prove that fruit grown on Vine Vale sand could produce wine with an individual style that had the capability of holding its own amongst its peers.

In 1997 they purchased 5 second-hand barriques and experimented with the varieties Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. The pressings and free run from the Cabernet and Shiraz were kept separate to note the different maturation of each wine in different styles of oak. Chris and Dennis’ son Christian, who was working at Rockford Wines at the time, became an essential part of the business during this vintage.

This brought about the inspiration to get stuck into the vineyard; at that time fully mechanized. The arduous but incredibly rewarding process of bringing back vines from their “machine-deathbed” began, starting with the Shiraz planted in 1969. Slowly the old vines were pruned back block by block. Gradually the quantity of wine produced increased, but more importantly, the improvement in the vineyard led to the improving quality of the wine itself. In 1998, 7.5 tonnes were crushed and a white wine was made for the first time out of lowly Chenin Blanc, picked ripe and barrel aged. This was released in mid ’99 and named “Christian” as it was his “baby.” 1999 saw a crush of 10 tonnes, including Zinfandel (from 40 year old grafted vines) and Mataro.

The annual crush is now 80- 100 tonnes for the Rusden label. All fruit is sourced from their own vineyard and all wines are made on-site. Rusden is a family owned and operated vineyard and winery, determined to produce only top quality hand-made wines.

The present range of RUSDEN wines includes: Black Guts Shiraz, Boundaries Cabernet Sauvignon, Chookshed Zinfandel, Full Circle Mataro, Christine’s Vineyard Grenache, Good Shepherd Cabernet/Malbec, Ripper Creek Cabernet/Shiraz and Driftsand, a Grenache/Shiraz. We also make one white wine -a Chenin Blanc, called Christian. New to our range of wines is the SANDSCRUB Shiraz– this wine is aged for 4 years in barrel and a further 4 years in bottle before being released.

Wine Anorak bio of Rusden.

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Group wines by:

• Wine Name
• Variety
• Vineyard
• Vintage

wine type	Name, Type, Locale	Year
Rosé	Rusden Poco Loco (View Label Image) Rosé, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
White	Rusden Chenin Blanc Christian Barossa (View Label Image) White, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2023 2022 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2002 2001 1999
White	Rusden Grenache Blanc (View Label Image) White, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
White	Rusden Grenache Blanc Chasing Daisies White, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2022 2021
Red	Rusden Big Uncle Willy's Rare and Old Fortified Tawny (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	NV
Red	Rusden Cabernet Malbec Good Shepherd (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2012 2011 2010 2009 2007
Red	Rusden Cabernet Sauvignon Bakery Hill (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2006 2005
Red	Rusden Cabernet Sauvignon Boundaries (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
Red	Rusden Cabernet Sauvignon Boundary Row Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	1997 1996
Red	Rusden Cinsault Wildwood road (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Red	Rusden Driftsand (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
Red	Rusden Grenache Christine's Vineyard Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2020
Red	Rusden Grenache Christine's Vineyard (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
Red	Rusden Lucette (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2020
Red	Rusden Malbec Good Shepherd Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2021 2020 2018 2015
Red	Rusden Mataro Full Circle (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2021 2018 2012 2010 2009 2007 2006 2005 2004
Red	Rusden Ripper Creek (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
Red	Rusden School Days (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Red	Rusden Shiraz Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2001 1997
Red	Rusden Shiraz Black Guts (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
Red	Rusden Shiraz Padthaway Red, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Padthaway	1997
Red	Rusden Shiraz Sandscrub (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2014 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
Red	Rusden Shiraz Stockade (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2006 2005
Red	Rusden Trousseau Rocky Valley Road (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2021 2020 2019
Red	Rusden Vintage 1 Blend (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2001
Red	Rusden Vintage Blend #2 (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2001
Red	Rusden Zinfandel Chookshed (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
Red	Rusden Zinfandel Lodestone (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2002 2001 2000 1999