Our vineyard was first planted in the mid-1990s and by the time we took over in June 2007, it spanned over 14 hectares. At that point, the vineyard included roughly 1.8 hectares of Cabernet Franc, 0.6 hectares of Merlot and 0.5 hectares of Petit Verdot. However, the vineyard required significant care, with virtually no records of clones, yields, fertiliser history, or other vital information.

In 2009, we made the strategic decision to remove the Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot vines due to their low yields, and because they were not core varietals for Stormflower. Subsequent adjustments included removing around 1.5 hectares of weaker Cabernet Sauvignon behind the dam, five rows (0.5 hectares) of Shiraz that contained rogue varieties and 200 of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon vines – approximately 10% of the South block – to make way for a new entry road.

Today, the vineyard covers approximately 9.2 hectares, featuring our signature varietals:

Cabernet Sauvignon – 1.77 Ha
Shiraz – 2.20 Ha
Chardonnay – 1.71 Ha
Sauvignon Blanc – 1.75 Ha
Semillon – 0.82 Ha
Chenin Blanc – 0.91 Ha

Chardonnay remains our lowest-yielding variety, planted in the vineyard’s most challenging locations and naturally sensitive to conditions. In 2021, we planted an additional 0.5 hectares of Chardonnay and as these young vines mature, we look forward to sharing more of this exceptional wine beyond our Usual Suspects. We have also introduced a small block of Alvarinho, eager to explore how this varietal will thrive in our unique terroir.

At Stormflower, sustainable viticulture is at the heart of everything we do. Our vineyard and winemaking practices prioritise minimal environmental impact, regenerative methods and working harmoniously with our natural ecosystems. Maintaining organic certification offers independent assurance that we practice what we preach. Transparency in both vineyard and winery activities is essential to us, because every decision we make resonates far beyond the vineyard gates.