Of the two vineyards in the higher altitude north-eastern corner of the Watervale subregion, ‘Rockwood’, with its hard red rock and variable soils, is viticulturally the more challenging.
In 2000 a detailed geological survey of the Rockwood vineyard was conducted. It highlighted three sections suitable for planting vines.
Apiana
From the eastern boundary of the property, a very stony section rated as ‘marginal’ for viticulture, is planted to two different clones of the Italian variety, Fiano, used in the making of Apiana.
Alea
Some fifty metres to the west, a narrow (300 metre by 22 metre / 15 rows wide) corridor of hard red rock (a bit like slate) with a poor orange/red loam for topsoil which Jeffrey Grosset believed would be suitable for growing Riesling fruit. This is the source of ‘Alea’ after the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage and agriculture, Athena Alea (Athena the Exalted).
G110
Eleven rows bordering the shiraz on the western side are rooted in silty loam over red rock soil. A rare clone of riesling and on their own roots (I.e. not grafted) they produce smaller berries and bunches and while less fruity, the resultant wine is complex, persistent and very appealing.
