Chris Ringland

Producer website



My Property


When I purchased the property, the Northern, South-East facing sector, surrounding the old settlers cottage, was bare pasture. I grazed sheep here for a few years, before planting 250 olive saplings in 2000, with the view of producing small amounts of olive oil. Dry grown, they have produced under 100 litres of olive oil in their lifetime. There is nothing quite as satisfying as home grown olive oil (well, perhaps home grown Shiraz beats it, but not by much!).

The old Barossa Settlers cottage on the property eventually had to go, so in 1998, I started planning a building project, culminating in 2005, with a house built to encompass the surroundings. The glass and straw bale residence was designed by Bohdan Dorniak and built by Tom Mikulic. The site of the original settlers cottage was really the best spot on the property for the new house, so, we demolished and took the opportunity of excavating an enormous hole, which was to become the underground maturation cellar for Chris Ringland Shiraz. Half of the excavation was also devoted to a massive underground rainwater tank. The 60,000L storage capacity also acts as a superb thermal stabiliser for the wine cellar, which maintains a year round temperature of between 13-18 degrees Celsius.




My Vineyard


Although I have lived in the Barossa since the early eighties, I was fortunate enough to purchase my property in the Barossa Ranges in 1994.

At a little over seven acres and at 1,500 ft above sea level, I have immensely enjoyed the time it has taken to restore the Shiraz vineyard, which was planted in 1910. It took me 10 years of pruning and re-trellising to get the ancient vines back into sustainable shape.

Because we have never had Phylloxera in South Australia, thanks to a 120 year quarantine by the wine industry funded Phylloxera board, the vines survive on their own roots. This enables them to attain a great age, while still remaining productive. As the most senior vines begin to decline, they are rejuvenated with younger growth material through the ancient technique of layering. Thus, the original root systems are maintained.

Why are old vines better? It is simply because they have survived in the same environment for so many seasons. They have become harmonious with their surroundings and strongly resilient to the swings of seasonal change. The roots extend deep into the underlying decomposed podzolic clay, which stores moisture during the Summer Months, eliminating the need for irrigation. In addition, the pond at the bottom of the vineyard acts as a passive water source, supplying the underlying soil strata with moisture. The pond is also a superb yabby dam (think Crawfish with nippers), which provide a delicious annual feast for my grape pickers. It's also home to a considerable population of frogs, which keep me awake on Summer nights.

The soil map shows that the property lies at the transition of two soil types. The Southern, North-East facing hillside is where the vineyard is located. It is a very sheltered site, well protected from Southerly storms. The underlying soils are the result of weathered rock from the Paleozoic age, some 500-250 million years ago. We believe that there was a semi-tropical rainforest at this location around 40 million years ago, hence the underlying, acidic, podzolic clays, which nurture the vine roots. Thus, it goes to show that what went on millions of years ago has direct impact on what we see today. The average annual rainfall is around 750mm, although the past few seasons have been unusually dry. It might sound a bit cliché, but, just like the watch advert, you never really own an ancient Shiraz vineyard, you are merely it's custodian for the next generation.



Chris Ringland previously marketed his wines through the partnership R Wines

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Group wines by:

• Wine Name
• Variety
• Vineyard
• Vintage

wine type	Name, Type, Locale	Year
Red	Chris Ringland Cabernet Sauvignon Red, Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek	2016
Red	Chris Ringland Cabernet Sauvignon FU (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale	2010 2008 2005
Red	Chris Ringland Campo de Borja CR - España (View Label Image) Red, Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja	2014 2013
Red	Chris Ringland Carignan Chihuahua (View Label Image) Red, Australia	2008
Red	Chris Ringland Grenache Limit Lodge (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2018 2014
Red	Chris Ringland Limit Lodge (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2018 2017 2016 2012
Red	Chris Ringland Mataro Limit Lodge (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2017 2012
Red	Chris Ringland Nebbiolo Solita (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills	2018 2016 2013 2010
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2021 2019 2018 2017 2015 2014 2013 2012 2008 2002
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Range	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 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Red, Spain	2013
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz 21st Anniversary Barossa Ranges Shiraz (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Range	2012
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Burzacott Block (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2018
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz CR (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 2001
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz CR Black Label Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2014
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Dimchurch (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Dimchurch Centenial Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2012
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Doris Block (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2018 2015
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Dry Grown Barossa Ranges (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Range	2016 2015 2013 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1992 1991 1990
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Dry Grown Shiraz nr. 79 Randall's Hill Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Range	2014
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Ebenezer (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2006
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz F U (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Range	2008 2006 2005 2004
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz FU (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale	2012 2005
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Hoffmann (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2016 2015 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Limit Lodge Hoffmann (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2018 2017
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Marvel (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2010
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz NB Vintners Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2018
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz North Barossa (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2020 2018 2017 2016 2015 2012
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Randall's Hill (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Range	2014 2013 2010 2009 2007 2003 1998 1997 1995
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Reservation (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2006
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Sealed (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Single Barrel Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Range	2013
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Single Barrel nr 73 Hoffmann Dallwitz Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2015
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Single Barrel Stone Chimney Creek (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Range	2015 2013 2008
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz The Maker (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2020 2019 2017 2016
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz The Wine (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Range	2016 2014 2008 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1996 1995 1994 1992 1991 1990 1989
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Wine Makers Edition (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2020 2019 2017 2016
Red	Chris Ringland Shiraz Winemaker Selection (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa	2016
Red	Chris Ringland Theologicum (View Label Image) Red, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley	2002 1997