Turkey Flat

Turkey Flat is an Australian winery located in Tanunda, in the middle of South Australia's Barossa Valley wine-growing region.[1] It is described by wine expert Oz Clarke as one of the "cult wines" of Australia.[2] With more than 40% of its production dedicated to rosés, Turkey Flat has been considered a leader in the recent "rosé revival" trend of the early 21st century.[3]

Turkey Flat
LocationBarossa Valley, South Australia, Australia
Founded1847
Key peopleJohann Friedrich August Fiedler
Known forShiraz
VarietalsChardonnay, Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon
Websitehttp://www.turkeyflat.com.au

The history of Turkey Flat wines began in 1847[1] when Johann Frederick August Fiedler planted Shiraz vines near Bethany Creek. The vines planted in 1847 are some of the oldest vines used for commercial wine production today and believed to be the world's oldest vines that have been authenticated.[4][5][6][7] However, another Barossa winery, Langmeil, and a Victoria winery, Tahbilk, also claim to have vines just as old, or even older than Turkey Flat.[8]

History

Founded by Johann Frederick August Fiedler who planted Shiraz on the property, Turkey Flat was also a dairy farm as well as a butchery for several generations. It was named Turkey Flat because of the flocks of Australian Bustard that lived along the creek flats.[3]

In 1865 the Schulz family became the owners of the Turkey Flat property.[1] When fourth generation vineyard owners, Peter and Christie Schulz took over the property in 1987 they switched its focus completely over to grape growing and winemaking in the 1990s.[3][9]

Old vines

The 1847 Shiraz vines at Turkey Flat are believed to the oldest authenticated vines that are still producing fruit for a commercial use. At over a 160 years of age, it is still far behind what is believed to be the world's oldest single grapevine, a Žametovka vine growing in Maribor in Slovenia that was planted over 400 years ago. Still, while the Slovenian vine only produces enough fruit to make around 25 liters of wine that is not available for public sale, the Shiraz block of Turkey Flat vines produces several cases of wines for commercial use. The 2002 vintage of the old vine Shiraz was even favorably reviewed by American wine critic Robert Parker who described the wine as having "glorious fruit with notes of crème de cassis, raspberry liqueur and licorice."[4]

The property is also home to old vine Grenache plantings that are over 90 years old with the a block of Grenache vines that were first planted in 1920.[9]

Wines and grape varieties

Turkey Flat produces a number of wines including a GSM blend from their old vine Shiraz, Mataro and Grenache. They also produce varietal wines from those grapes, including rosés, as well as wine from Cabernet Sauvignon, Marsanne and Sémillon. A fortified "sticky" wine is produced from the Pedro Ximenez.[10]

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References
  1. James Halliday (2004). Wine Companion. HarperCollins. pp. 445–446. ISBN 0-00-716548-X.
  2. Clarke, Oz. Oz Clarke's Australian Wine Companion: an Essential Guide for All Lovers of Australian Wine pg 20 Orlando, Florida: Harcourt, 2004 ISBN 0-15-603025-X
  3. J. Gordon (ed) Opus Vino pgs 721-722, DK Publishing New York 2010, ISBN 978-0-7566-6751-1
  4. G. Harding "A Wine Miscellany" pg 19-20, Clarkson Potter Publishing, New York 2005 ISBN 0-307-34635-8
  5. James Halliday "Spinifex flat-out best arrival" The Weekend Australian 10-11 June 2006
  6. Adler Yarrow "2002 Turkey Flat Grenache, Barossa Valley, Australia" Vinography, 17 July 2004
  7. Wine Pros "Turkey Flat Barossa Valley Shiraz 2003" Accessed: 3 November 2012
  8. John Wilson "German blends down under" The Irish Times 10 March 2012
  9. Knight-Ridder News Service "Down Under Ripe for Grape Growing" Rome News-Tribune, 28 June 2000
  10. T. Stevenson, ed. The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia (5th Edition) pg 652 Dorling Kindersley (2011) ISBN 978-0-7566-8684-0
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