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WINEMAKING
Winemaking at Hahndorf Hill has always been inspired by site expression. A detailed analysis of the six-hectare site led founder Larry Jacobs to uncover an uncannysimilarity with the wine growing regions of Austria.
SOIL & SOUL
Winemaking
at Hahndorf Hill
It was Gruner Veltliner that paved a way for the Hahndorf Hill wine style, which blends vibrant aromatics and bright fruit expression with textural interest.
In addition to Gruner Veltliner, the Hahndorf Hill site includes plantings of St Laurent, Blaufrankisch, Zweigelt, Shiraz, Trollinger and a section planted for a field blend consisting of 12 interplanted white grape varieties.
Hahndorf Hill Winemaker, Kelly Wellington
Where Minerals
Meet the Vine
The site is located next to an abandoned slate mine and blue-red slate is a feature of the site along with ironstone intrusions within a sandy-loam and red-clay matrix, overlying deep red clay subsoils.
This mineral complexity contributes directly to the structure and minerality of the Hahndorf Hill wines. Winemaker Kelly Wellington also works with a selection of growers from cool climate sites in the Adelaide Hills to produce a Pinot Grigio and a Chardonnay.
Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills’ cool-climate conditions, characterised by low mean January temperatures and substantial diurnal variation, provide an extended ripening period that enhances natural acidity, aromatics, and varietal definition.
Each grape benefits from warm, sunlit days and cool nights, allowing phenolic and flavour development to progress with balance and precision. Sustainable viticultural practices underpin our approach, ensuring vineyard health while preserving the pristine Adelaide Hills environment.
Gru Grüner Veltliner
Gru Gruner Veltliner is the result of Hahndorf Hill’s pioneering work with Austrian varieties in Australia. The long-standing familiarity with Blaufrankisch, cultivated on-site for nearly 35 years, informed the introduction of its white counterpart, Gruner Veltliner. Unable to source planting material domestically, founders Larry Jacobs and Marc Dobson imported three clones from Austria in 2006, followed by a further three clones/clonal selections in 2009, all of which passed Australian quarantine protocols.
The debut vintage of Gru was released in 2010, representing the first production of Gruner Veltliner in South Australia and the second in Australia overall. Since then, Gru has exemplified the variety’s defining characteristics: texture and savouriness, underpinned by pronounced minerality from the slate-rich soils. Aromatics range from bright citrus and stone fruit to subtle tropical notes, while savoury nuances, including dried sage, fennel seed, wild thyme, and, occasionally, white pepper add complexity and depth.
Fifteen Years of Excellence
Over fifteen vintages, Gru has received consistent critical acclaim, praised for its freshness, varietal authenticity, and capacity to age. Accolades include Gold Medals at the AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge, Frankfurt International Trophy, Berlin Wine Trophy, Decanter World Wine Awards, and London Wine Competition, alongside multiple James Halliday Top 100 listings. Commenting on Hahndorf Hill’s work with Gruner, Veltliner James Halliday noted: “2010 marked the first release of a South Australian Gruner Veltliner and Hahndorf Hill has led the way ever since.”
