Author: Dirk Chan
The d’Arenberg Winery is one of the most respected wineries in McLaren Vale in South Australia – established in 1912 by the teetotaller Joseph Osborn, who sold his stable of prize winning horses to purchase the property. Three more generations since Joseph – Frank, Francis (universally known as d’Arry) and then Chester, who joined in 1984 and runs the show now.
Known for making distinctive, finesse driven wines using traditional methods in the vineyard and the winery, Chester is also renown for his wild shirts and his wines’ unique and often humourous names. Chester has made a habit of holding some wines back until they reach prime drinking age, and then releasing them as Museum Releases – we’ve been getting them since the release of the 2006’s. We’re now on the 2010’s.
Unfortunately, because of the recently finished d’Arenberg Cube, an amazing five story structure in the shape of a Rubik’s cube that includes restaurant and tasting room that is fast becoming a mainstay attraction destination (check out the story of this fabulous facility here..) in the region, we only received four sku’s this year, but they are very fine ones albeit very limited availability (pictured left to right):
2010 d’Arenberg The Dry Dam Riesling Museum Release (Adelaide Hills, Australia) – $34.99
2010 d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original Shiraz-Grenache Museum Release (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $32.99
2010 d’Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz-Viognier Museum Release (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $44.99
2010 d’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz Museum Release (McLaren Vale, Australia) – $89.99