Brothers In Arms
Australia
This innovative winery is famous for their full-bodied wines that are among the finest in South Australia
Established in 1998, this winery located on the Metala Estate is owned and operated by the fifth generation of the original owner’s Fromby and Adams families. Some vines on the Metala Estate are more than 120 years old and continue to produce high-quality Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. The resultant wines from these old vines have garnered a significant number of international prizes and accolades.
A modern, state-of-the-art winery was completed in 2002 and has reinforced the company’s sustainability practices and relies on rainwater (captured and kept in a 24-acre woodlot) along with a sophisticated drip system from nearby (2 miles away) Lake Alexandria for its irrigation requirements. A re-vegetation program on the estate covers around 10% of the existing land and has been the landmark for such programs in the Langhorne Creek growing area.
Guy and Liz Adams and their children own and operate Brothers in Arms Winery in Southern Australia and are famous for their full-bodied wines that are among the finest in South Australia. It also claims to be the owner of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in the world.
Map of the area
Jim Urlwin - Winemaker
Urlwin is a native of the famed Barossa Valley and has been in the Australia wine industry for more than 16 years. He studied winemaking at Adelaide University, but insists he learned his profession by working various jobs in the business, from lab work to being a cellar rat. Urlwin initially made wines in the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and in McLaren Vale. He joined Brothers in Arms Winery more than a decade ago and has been credited with making world-class wines since that time.
Langhorne Creek
The Langhorne Creek region benefits from the presence of the ‘Lake Doctor,’ a natural occurrence when hot air moves over the cold waters of of nearby sizeable Lake Alexandria during summer afternoons. This cooling affect aerates the canopies and lowers the temperature of the fruit. This allows the fruit to ripen slowly and develop more complex flavor compounds.
Soils are free draining, deep sandy loam (only an hour drive from Adelaide) and vineyards occupy over 16,000 acres, making Langhorne Creek Australia’s largest cool-climate premium grape growing region and the workhorse of South Australia’s burgeoning wine industry.
Wine Regions of Australia
Australia is home to an amazing array of diverse climates and these are reflected in the country’s unique and regionally distinct wine growing regions. This month’s features wineries are from South Australia and Victoria, two of the country’s top wine producing states.
South Australia is responsible for almost 50% of Australia’s annual production and it is home to some of the most famous regions, historic estates, and oldest vines in the country. It is the driest state, but the Murray River supplies critical water for irrigation and the multitude of soils and varying altitude allows for a wide range of wine styles. Although the second smallest state, Victoria is home to more regions and individual wineries than any other state in Australia. It also has the greatest diversity of regional and site climates, which allows for the production of virtually every imaginable wine style.
