Jetsettersblog

South Australia (www.southaustralia.com ) is famed not only for its excellent vineyards producing a wide range of award winning wines but also for the growing number of well-known faces who are getting involved and producing their own branded wines.

To date Ian Botham, Olivia Newton John, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Scott Hicks are all producing branded wines from vineyards in South Australia and visitors to the region can include these vineyards in their itinerary as many operate an ‘open cellar’ policy. These include:

* Ian Botham – Botham Merrill Willis wines
* Olivia Newton John – Koala Blue Wines
* Greg Norman – Greg Norman Estates Wineries
* Nick Faldo – Faldo Wines
* Scott Hicks – Yacca Paddock vineyard

Ian Botham – Botham Merrill Willis wines

Cricket legends Ian Botham and Bob Willis joined forces with one of Australia’s top wine makers, Geoff Merrill, to create a selection of wines they are all happy to put their names to, namely a chardonnay, a cabernet and a shiraz.

“It’s no celebrity gimmick,” Sir Ian insists. “Bob and I help with the blending and are involved every step of the way.

And, let’s face it, we certainly don’t shirk our tasting responsibilities.” Having been on the market for 10 years the wines have been developed and tweaked into something elegant and tasty, made from a blend of grapes from the Coonawarra and McLaren Vale wine regions.

www.geoffmerrillwines.com.au

Olivia Newton John – Koala Blue Wines

Olivia Newton John founded the Koala Blue in 1983 with Pat Farrar and aims to capture the unique flavours and colours of Australia in their wines.

The wines are produced at the award winning vineyards of Great Stone Wines on the Limestone Coast of South Australia.

The Koala Blue series is known for its fruity flavours and affordable prices, and includes shiraz, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, sparkling and dry reds.

www.koalabluewines.com.au

Greg Norman – Greg Norman Estates Wineries

Golfer Greg Norman partnered with Beringer Blass to form Greg Norman Estates Wineries producing wines in California and in his native Australia.

His seven Australian wines use grapes from vineyards across South Australia including Eden Valley, the Limestone Coast and Coonawarra.

He produces five wines that retail under AUD$20 a bottle – the Eden Valley Chardonnay, Limestone Coast Shiraz Cabernet and an Eastern South Australia Sparking white. At the more expensive end he produces the Coonawarra Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and the Limestone Coast Reserve Shiraz priced at AUD$50 and AUD$40.

www.gregnormanestateswine.com

Nick Faldo – Faldo Wines

Nick Faldo teamed up with the winemaking team at Katnook Estate in 2000, one of the oldest vineyards in Coonawarra that can trace its history back to 1896 when wine was first produced by Scottish immigrant, John Riddoch. The aim of Faldo Wines is to capture the essential characteristics of the Coonawarra. Faldo Wines produce a sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon and a shiraz that are predominately sold in the UK and US.

www.katnookestate.com.au

Scott Hicks – Yacca Paddock vineyard

Oscar- award winning Australian director Scott (“Shine”) Hicks owns the Yacca Paddock Vineyard on the Fleurieu Peninsula with his filmmaking wife Kerry Heysen-Hicks. The vineyard was established in 2000 under the direction of leading viticulturist Geoff Hardy and the wines are made by illustrious winemaker Ben Riggs.

The vineyard produces a range of grape varieties including the popular chardonnay, pinot noir, tempranillo, merlot and shiraz, as well as well known varieties Arneis, Dolcetto, Tannat and Durif.

www.yaccapaddock.com