We took a run up into the Adelaide Hills on the weekend and stopped at Nepenthe Wines just outside Balhannah.
Nepenthe is the name of an Egyptian herbal drink in Homer's Odyssey. The drink is allegedly able to ease grief and banish sorrow.
The Tweddell family started planting wine grapes at Lenswood in 1994, specialising in cool climate vines of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and Pinot Gris. In 1996 the family built only the second winery in the Adelaide hills (the first was Petaluma in 1976). There are now more than 80 wineries in the Adelaide Hills.
The Tweddell's gradually bought more land in the Adelaide Hills, planting the properties to vine. In 2002 they bought 25 hectares at Balhannah, the site of the current cellar door.
On our visit we were guided through the many Nepenthe wines by Gabriel, who really knew his stuff.
We came away with a small selection, including: 2012 Pinnacle Ithaca Chardonnay. (Ithaca is another Odyssey reference with Ithaca being King Odysseus' homeland). 2010 Winemakers Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. 2010 Late Harvest Riesling. 2013 Late Harvest Gewurztramier and our favourite, 2014 Winemakers Selection Arneis.
I've never tried Arneis before but it was delicious. The label describes the wine as having "pear and almonds on the nose" and a "supple mid palate with spiced pear and apple, dry finish." It is fermented in older French oak barrels.
A beautiful selection of wines. Check out their website here
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