Presenting a series of Sunday's showcasing the stories from Wine, Beer & Spirits of the Fleurieu.

These are reproduced with permission from Soul Publishing and Rojina Duval.

These stories feature prominent farmers, fishermen, producers and chefs – from Port Noarlunga to Cape Jervis – along with their favourite recipes and tips. Enjoy!

CHAPEL HILL

Chapel Hill winery and vineyard is at the northern end of McLaren Vale, perched on the edge of the spectacular Onkaparinga Gorge. The historic ironstone chapel was built by Methodist settlers in the McLaren Vale area and served as a place of worship, school and social gathering spot for local farming families for a century.

The chapel began its winery chapter in the early 1970s when, though in disrepair, it caught the eye of Adelaide Professor Thomas Nelson. Tom purchased the building and surrounding land from the Uniting Church and planted the first vines on the site in 1972.

Chapel Hill has had numerous custodians since, with the Sellick, Gerrard and Schmidheiny families all adding to the rich tapestry of buildings, brand and place.

Michael Fragos, who is chief winemaker and CEO, mentors and guides the Chapel Hill team through both winemaking and business management. He’s also known for being pretty unflappable and very positive.

“We’re trying to get this whole-village feel here,” says Michael. “We want people to feel welcome and be part of what we’re doing. It's about being inclusive and generous with flavours – and generous in spirit as well.”

Michael's first vintage in McLaren Vale was in 1990, and after 30 vintages, his respect for the land and environment runs deep. Sustainability, soil and vine health are important. “That's something that inspires our winemaking vision. Everything we do in the vineyard and everything we do in the winery is about achieving purity and balance.”

Bryn Richards, also Chapel Hill winemaker for over a decade, has also helped shape and drive the winemaking program at the winery.

Michael, Bryn and their team emphasise traditional, small-batch, purity and balance in their work. All grapes benefit from gentle handling and patient winemaking.

Michael, who has a particular fondness for grenache, says: “McLaren Vale as a region has been at the forefront of emerging varieties for some time. The bush vine grenache in this region has a wonderful history. We've got these beautiful gnarly vines that are over 100 years old in our backyard – that’s amazing.”

Chapel Hill has recently gained new ownership under Endeavour Drinks. There have been no changes made to winery personnel, with the ongoing focus on commitment to quality and excellence.

CELLAR DOOR

“Our cellar is housed in the historic chapel, and we have created a precinct of user-friendly and diverse spaces, reminiscent of the way the chapel was used as a gathering spot for groups from 1865 to 1965. The combination of our history, architecture, setting and surrounds, arts focus, unique tasting experiences, outdoor spaces for families and groups, along with knowledgeable, personable staff, make the Chapel Hill cellar door something special. We are continually releasing new wines in our Small Batch range, and this range is exclusive to our cellar door, so come on in and join us."

PAIRING

“Chapel Hill McLaren Vale Bush Vine Grenache – it goes deliciously with crispy pork belly with fennel salad!”

ADDRESS 1 Chapel Hill Road (corner Chaffey Road and Chapel Hill Road) McLaren Vale

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