Media Release: Agnew Wines purchases McLaren Vale Vineyard

April 10, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
New Home for Cockfighter’s Ghost
Agnew Wines, owners of the Audrey Wilkinson, Cockfighter’s Ghost, and Pooles Rock labels, have
acquired a new home for the Cockfighter’s Ghost label in McLaren Vale.
After a long search the Agnew family came across a 52 acre property in the elevated Blewitt Springs
sub-region of McLaren Vale, planted primarily to Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, with some
Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Barbera, promising elegant reds with savoury spice and floral notes.
This property will be the Agnew’s only McLaren Vale vineyard, the first being a small Shiraz holding
in the Willunga sub-region of McLaren Vale. The new vineyard will become home to the award
winning Cockfighter’s Ghost Shiraz, and the recently released Cockfighter’s Ghost “The Legend”, a
Shiraz Cabernet Merlot blend.
Cockfighter’s Ghost pursues an ethos of sourcing the best grapes from regions widely regarded as
the best for that variety – the best of the best. Cockfighter’s Ghost Shiraz has always been produced
with McLaren Vale grapes, and was the only 2013 McLaren Vale Shiraz to win gold at the 2014
National Wine Show of Australia. The acquisition of this vineyard plays a pivotal role in securing an
ongoing source of high-quality fruit to ensure future consistency and success for their award-winning
Shiraz.
“Needless to say the entire winemaking team is very excited about this acquisition for the
Cockfighter’s Ghost brand”, said Jeff Byrne, Chief Winemaker at Agnew Wines. “We want to
continue to improve the pedigree of our wines. To achieve that, it’s imperative to control your own
core patch of dirt, or in this case sand! It’s a truly gorgeous part of McLaren Vale and having already
seen fruit from this year’s harvest I am really happy with the quality and potential of both the Shiraz
and Cabernet from our new vineyard.”
The Agnew family searched long and hard for the right property to make the new home for the
Cockfighter’s Ghost Shiraz, and view this as a great step forward in consolidating Cockfighter’s
Ghosts McLaren Vale identity.
“We have been working with a number of great McLaren Vale growers for many years, and still will,
but the desire to have our own vineyard has grown with our need for grape. ” said Agnew Wines
General Manager James Agnew, “We had been looking for just the right vineyard for quite some
time and Blewitt Springs was always top of the list as we love the elegance and spice from that part
of the Vale – and we love the view as well!”
The vineyard will always hold a special place for the Agnew Family, as only weeks before the passing
of former Chairman and Founder of Agnew Wines, Brian Agnew, he managed a trip to McLaren Vale
to inspect the vineyard and then oversee its acquisition. “As soon as we stepped onto the vineyard,
tasted the grape and took in the view, we knew it was exactly what we were looking for” said James
Agnew, “Securing this site was really a capstone moment for us, and Dad felt especially satisfied as
P: 02 4993 3600
www.agnewwines.com.au
De Beyers Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
April 9, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
this really was the culmination of a long held vision for the company.” The new property has been
named The Chairman’s Vineyard in honour of Brian Agnew.
The property commands an elevated position with sweeping views from the Adelaide Hills to Sellicks
Beach and across the Gulf of St. Vincent and has great potential for a future Cellar Door on the site.
As the owners of Audrey Wilkinson, widely regarded as having the best view in the Hunter Valley,
the Agnew’s recognize a winning Cellar Door opportunity when they see it, and just like their vines
on the typical sandy Blewitt Springs soil, are looking forward to putting down deep roots in McLaren
Vale.
Images of the new property are available upon request.
For further details and images please contact:
Stephanie Salmon, Marketing Coordinator
Agnew Wines Pty Ltd
M: 0428 813 844
ssalmon@agnewwines.com.au
For further media and trade enquiries please contact:
Rohan Beale, Sales and Marketing Manager
Agnew Wines Pty Ltd
P: 02 4993 3600
rbeale@agnewwines.com.au
P: 02 4993 3600
www.agnewwines.com.au
De Beyers Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320