SAMUEL'S GORGE
Samuel's Gorge is one of McLaren Vale's most celebrated boutique wineries, producing handcrafted, minimal intervention wines that have become benchmarks for modern Australian winemaking. Established in 2003 by Justin McNamee, the winery is housed in a restored 1853 farm shed overlooking the Onkaparinga River National Park, where a commitment to traditional craftsmanship and exceptional vineyard sites has earned Samuel's Gorge a cult following among collectors and sommeliers.
The winery sources fruit exclusively from carefully selected old-vine vineyards throughout McLaren Vale, with many sites dry-grown and managed using sustainable farming practices. The region's Mediterranean climate, cooling Gulf St Vincent breezes, and diverse soils of limestone, ironstone, and clay provide ideal conditions for producing wines with richness, freshness, and remarkable balance.
Samuel's Gorge is best known for its Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre (Mataro), Tempranillo, and Grenache-based blends. The Grenache is particularly acclaimed, displaying vibrant aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry, rose petals, dried herbs, and spice with silky tannins and exceptional elegance. The Shiraz offers layers of blackberry, plum, black pepper, liquorice, and savoury earthiness, while Mourvèdre contributes structure, complexity, and Mediterranean character.
Minimal intervention lies at the heart of the winery's philosophy. Fruit is hand harvested and naturally fermented with indigenous yeasts before gentle extraction and maturation in seasoned French oak. Wines are bottled with minimal fining and filtration, allowing each vineyard and vintage to express its individual character with clarity and authenticity.
Samuel's Gorge has consistently received outstanding praise from Australia's leading wine critics and has become one of the defining producers of contemporary McLaren Vale. Its wines are admired for combining generosity with restraint, producing styles that are both immediately approachable and capable of graceful ageing.
Today, Samuel's Gorge continues to craft small-batch wines that showcase the diversity and quality of McLaren Vale while remaining true to a philosophy of simplicity, sustainability, and respect for the vineyard. The winery stands among Australia's most influential boutique producers of Rhône and Mediterranean-inspired wines.
Shop Samuel's Gorge wines online at Wine More Cellars Australia. We offer a carefully curated selection of premium McLaren Vale Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre, and other boutique Australian wines from one of South Australia's most respected wineries.
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