VINCE AND CONNIE BLEFARI — ALONG WITH VINCE’S PARENTS, SAM AND ROSIE — GROW OUR BLEFARI CHARDONNAY AT CAREY GULLY, ADELAIDE HILLS, WITHIN THE PICCADILLY VALLEY WINE SUB-REGION.
Vince: “My family originates from Italy, and we have a history of growing grapes that stretches back for generations. We didn’t have a vineyard or chateau in Italy where we grew and produced wine for sale. We just did what Italian families did — made wine for home use to share with family and friends. It’s part of our tradition.
“Here in the Adelaide Hills, our first block of vines was planted back in 1992 and I became involved in wine growing and making from then on. These days, alongside my wife, Connie, and my parents, we manage our Blefari Vineyard Estate together – it’s a family affair.
“We’re neighbours of Candice and Frew — we live across the road from their Arranmore Vineyard and home — so our growing conditions are similar. We enjoy supplying them because they’re a local producer that represents single vineyards. That appeals to me.
“We supply CRFT with our premium clone 76 Chardonnay grapes. They’re a Burgundian variety we planted in 1998 on a block with rows that run east to west. It’s very well-drained soil with heavy clay loam quartz rock. Those particular vines grow at an altitude of around 580m above sea level, and there’s good air circulation because the vineyard is on a hill.
“The fruit that grows in that site is very consistent in terms of quality. The grapes retain their natural acidity, which gives them a premium profile because you can still taste the fruit flavours and their natural acidity.
“We choose only to use irrigation when it’s quite dry. And, we only till the soil in certain blocks. We’ve experimented in different zones on our property, and we believe it aerates the soil and helps water penetrate in specific sites — the Chardonnay vines we grow for CRFT are one of the locations we till.
“Being able to produce a drink from grapes that were grown in the soil on this land is special to me. I find it interesting that two years are never the same, and each vintage is unique. That’s what I like about being a winegrower and maker.”
