AWARDED ‘BEST NEW WINERY OF THE YEAR’ HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION AWARDS 2021
5 Star Winery – 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 Halliday Wine Companion
“The common theme of these wines is brightness and freshness of the varietal fruit expression, coupled with effortless balance and length. He [Alan Varney] is a brilliant winemaker. His ability to draw the varietal heart of each wine he makes is extraordinary” James Halliday AM, Wine Companion 2021
Varney Wines was unveiled in 2019, yet the story dates back many years. It all started as ‘tonne of fun’ over a decade ago, and after an 11-year stint at d’Arenberg, much of it as senior winemaker, as well as time at other wineries in Australia and abroad, Alan Varney decided to make his own style of wines from some of his favourite vineyards in McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills.
Alan’s philosophy is to start with the highest quality fruit, which is then carefully guided through fermentation and maturation before final blending to create wines of great balance, depth and length. The results speak for themselves – 2022 Grenache rated 96 pts by James Halliday, Weekend Australian. Of the 2022 Mencia Ned Goodwin MW wrote ‘the best iteration of Mencia in the country’ and rated it 95 pts. The 2022 Entrada Grenache Mourvèdre Touriga was rated 95 pts and listed in Halliday Top 100, Weekend Australian. Similarly the 2020 GSM 95 pts, 2023 Halliday Wine Companion.
Alan’s winemaking approach is traditional yet sensitive. He utilises whole bunch and/or whole berry addition, extended cold soaks, wild yeast, foot treading, carbonic maceration and extended time on skins. As Alan says ‘whatever the fruit calls for really’. He only uses old seasoned oak, and no fining or filtration. The wines are made in a new environmentally sensitive winery, built in 2017 on the family property, and commissioned for the 2018 vintage.
2023 marked an exciting new chapter for Varney Wines with the opening of their beautiful new tasting room adjacent to the winery in Old Noarlunga – a place to sample these acclaimed wines while taking in views of the stunning Onkaparinga Gorge.
