CHRIS RINGLAND (THREE RIVERS) BAROSSA VALLEY

Chris Ringland is one of the foremost winemakers in Australia. He produces Shiraz-based wines from both his own Barossa vineyard and from those managed by the North Barossa Vintners company; both bear his name. The flagship wine is the Chris Ringland Dry Grown Barossa Ranges Shiraz, which is one of the most highly priced wines made in Australia, and is produced in tiny quantities. It is known for its rich texture and weight, and has received 100-point ratings from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate on five occasions.

Since 1995 the wine has come from the unirrigated Stone Chimney Creek Vineyard, a 2 hectare (5 acre) block of very old vines in the Barossa Ranges. It is typically fermented in new French oak open top vats and aged in new French oak hogsheads (300 litres) for 48 months. It is then matured in bottle for several more years before release. The Dry Grown Barossa Ranges Shiraz has been known to reach as much as 17 percent alcohol. A second wine from the property, Randall's Hill, is made from parcels deemed less ageworthy, and is only released in certain years. Just a handful of barrels of each wine are made.