Special Offer: Nepenthe Tryst Red and Unoaked Chardonnay 55%off $6.95

Nepenthe Winery
Nepenthe: described by Homer in The Odyssey as an Egyptian herbal drink so powerful that it eases grief and banishes sorrow from the mind.

In 1994, the Tweddell family purchased a premium property in the sub-region of Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills.  The property was carefully selected and planted to 24 hectares of vines with the intent of producing premium wine.  Proven varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were planted, as well as interesting varieties such as Zinfandel and Pinot Gris.  In 1996, Nepenthe received approval to build its winery, only the second in the Adelaide hills at the time (the first being Petaluma in 1978).  

In the backdrop of the cool heights of the Adelaide Hills, they started producing some soul reposing potions of their own: uncompromising wines of outstanding quality and internationally recognised distinction. Wines that, strangely enough, have been impressing both critics and consumers with their varietal faithfulness and subtle Adelaide Hills nuances.

From the beginning, the wines have received positive review from the press and numerous medals on the show circuit.

In the first few vintages, Nepenthe wines featured in James Halliday's Top 100, The UK Times Top 100, The Advertiser Top 100, The International Wine Challenge as well as many other feature media articles.

Due to this demand, in 1997 Nepenthe acquired a property in Charleston within the Adelaide Hills and has planted a further 43 hectares of vineyard. Then in 2002 a 25 hectare vineyard was acquired in Balhannah (where our cellar door is located), and in 2005 Nepenthe acquired its latest vineyard, 38 hectares in Hahndorf, with room for further expansion.

Nepenthe also sources fruit from a variety of vineyards throughout the hills. Most fruit Nepenthe receives is managed by Nepenthe Viticulture, part of the Nepenthe Group. This company ensures that Nepenthe only receives the highest quality fruit, ensuring strict control of the grapes that make their award winning wines. 

Nepenthe The Tryst Red Blend Adelaide Hills 2006
The Tryst Red is an eclectic blend, based on Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Zinfandel.
This combination works remarkably well, with each variety contributing its own unique characteristics, resulting in a fruit driven wine which is approachable and fragrant, yet is well-structured with savoury complexity.

Nepenthe Altitude Unoaked Chardonnay 2007
Unembellished by oak and winemaking treatments, the delicate pale yellow Nepenthe Unoaked Chardonnay provides a bouquet of fresh grapefruit and lemon aromas which are complemented by softer tropical notes with nuances of white peach. The style is fresh, clean and crisp, yet with a richness of fruit that provides balance and length. Sweet, tropical flavors precede the fine, elegant finish.

Special Offer: Nepenthe Tryst Red and Unoaked Chardonnay 55%off $6.95

Nepenthe Winery
Nepenthe: described by Homer in The Odyssey as an Egyptian herbal drink so powerful that it eases grief and banishes sorrow from the mind.

In 1994, the Tweddell family purchased a premium property in the sub-region of Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills.  The property was carefully selected and planted to 24 hectares of vines with the intent of producing premium wine.  Proven varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were planted, as well as interesting varieties such as Zinfandel and Pinot Gris.  In 1996, Nepenthe received approval to build its winery, only the second in the Adelaide hills at the time (the first being Petaluma in 1978).  

In the backdrop of the cool heights of the Adelaide Hills, they started producing some soul reposing potions of their own: uncompromising wines of outstanding quality and internationally recognised distinction. Wines that, strangely enough, have been impressing both critics and consumers with their varietal faithfulness and subtle Adelaide Hills nuances.

From the beginning, the wines have received positive review from the press and numerous medals on the show circuit.

In the first few vintages, Nepenthe wines featured in James Halliday's Top 100, The UK Times Top 100, The Advertiser Top 100, The International Wine Challenge as well as many other feature media articles.

Due to this demand, in 1997 Nepenthe acquired a property in Charleston within the Adelaide Hills and has planted a further 43 hectares of vineyard. Then in 2002 a 25 hectare vineyard was acquired in Balhannah (where our cellar door is located), and in 2005 Nepenthe acquired its latest vineyard, 38 hectares in Hahndorf, with room for further expansion.

Nepenthe also sources fruit from a variety of vineyards throughout the hills. Most fruit Nepenthe receives is managed by Nepenthe Viticulture, part of the Nepenthe Group. This company ensures that Nepenthe only receives the highest quality fruit, ensuring strict control of the grapes that make their award winning wines. 

Nepenthe The Tryst Red Blend Adelaide Hills 2006
The Tryst Red is an eclectic blend, based on Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Zinfandel.
This combination works remarkably well, with each variety contributing its own unique characteristics, resulting in a fruit driven wine which is approachable and fragrant, yet is well-structured with savoury complexity.

Nepenthe Altitude Unoaked Chardonnay 2007
Unembellished by oak and winemaking treatments, the delicate pale yellow Nepenthe Unoaked Chardonnay provides a bouquet of fresh grapefruit and lemon aromas which are complemented by softer tropical notes with nuances of white peach. The style is fresh, clean and crisp, yet with a richness of fruit that provides balance and length. Sweet, tropical flavors precede the fine, elegant finish.

Valentine Special Offers Over 40 Wines
We have some great Valentine Special Offers. Over 40 wines all with special prices. Many wines are not only some of our best prices but some of the best prices anywhere.

Take advantage of these Special Offers as they are for a Limited Time Only. Offer Ends February 14, 2012. Get it now and save. We will not be able to honor special prices after the offer ends.

Many wines will be open today for tasting. We hope you can join us. 

Wine Features of the Month

Up and Coming Champagne Grower that Learned from the Best
Champagne fans will love this 91 Pt Growers Champagne for under $40.

Need a Special Champagne For Valentines Day. We have it for you. Under the tuteledge of Anselm Selosse (Brilliant Winemaker and Proprietor of Superstar Champagne House Jacques Selosse). Alexandre Chartogne has become one of best young Growers in Champagne. Chartogne-Talliet Brut Cuvee St. Anne is made from 60% Chardonnay and 40 % Pinot Noir, this is an outstanding Champagne. It has been voted as one of the best Champagnes under $50 and has scored 90 points or more from almost all of the major wine critics.

Chartongne-Taillet
The terroir in the village of Merfy, where Chartogne-Taillet resides, could be described as ‘over looked’.  Many of Merfy’s growers are still selling all of their fruit, replanting vines before they obtain significant age in order to harvest higher yields.  This is why the wines of Chartogne-Taillet stand out – because they are in a village where they are the only récoltant-manipulant ("grower Champagne"), forging a place for Merfy’s consideration amongst great terroir.

The young Alexandre Chartogne is certainly the Grower working most diligently in Merfy. He maintains older vines, cultivates the unique terroir and works toward harmonious and often organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyard. “Respect for the terroir means preserving old vines as long as possible, limiting yields and analyzing the soil of each parcel in respect of nature,” words of Father Philippe Chartogne. 

Understanding of true terroir is tradition in the Chartogne family which has had vines here since 1683!  By putting in this extra effort, Alexandre and his family have been able to grow their vine’s root systems to depths of 20 meters or more, where the vines are “living in two different environments,” Alexandre says.  One, in the thick top soil made of sand and clay – Alexandre claims this is what brings out the soft roundness of fruit in the wine. The sub-layer is pure chalk, where these deep roots extract real minerality.  The Cuvee St. Anne is a gentle crowd pleaser of a wine that makes a wonderful, versatile accompaniment to most any meal.


Alexandre Chartogne is one of Champagne’s up and coming growers. Chartogne took over the family domaine in 2006. These wines were all made by Chartogne’s parents, although he naturally finished their elevage, including the disgorgements. Chartogne’s approach to viticulture and winemaking remains deeply influenced by the time he spent working under Anselme Selosse (One of the most influential Champagne Produces). Starting with 2007 there will be three Blanc de Blancs from separate single parcels in Merfy, a clear sign of the direction Chartogne is taking for the future. - Wine Advocate

The total production of Chartogne-Taillet is a miniscule 7,500 cases. Compare that to the millions of cases made in a factory facility of the big Champagne houses. Chartogne-Taillet focuses on the character and personality of their wine, not the advertising and marketing of a brand. The big houses cannot afford to make wines with this sort of individuality!

Chartogne-Talliet Brut Champagne Cuvee St. Anne
Wine Spectator 91 Points:
This medium-bodied Champagne features a minerally note of fleur de sel mixing with hints of bread dough, lemon zest and green apple. Bright and focused, with a creamy mousse and mouthwatering finish. Disgorged March 2011. Drink now through 2015.

Wine Advocate 90 Points:
The NV Brut Cuvee St. Anne bristles with considerable energy for the year. It shows lovely balance in a fairly approachable style best suited to near-term drinking. The St. Anne is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, based on the 2007 vintage with 20% reserve wines from 2006 and 2005. In 2007 Chartogne was not happy with his Meunier, so it was left out of the blend. Dosage is 4.5 grams per liter. Disgorged June 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015.

Stephen Tanzer 90 Points:
(60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir, 80% from 2007 and 20% each from 2006 and 2005; disgorged June, 2011): Light gold. Deeply pitched aromas of orchard fruits and redcurrant, with a hint of pungent herbs. Dense and chewy on the palate, offering broad pear and bitter cherry flavors braced by tangy acidity. Shows very good clarity and energy on the finish, which leaves a spicy note behind.

Up and Coming Cali Producer: These wines are a "no brainer"

We are fortunate to be able to find some hidden gems or up and coming wineries that are of great value. Sean Minor fits into that category as he produces wines of tremendous quality and balance at incredibly low prices.

Sean Minor
Sean Minor founded Sean Minor Wines and Four Bears Winery in 2005 with a passion for producing wines of exceptional varietal characteristics and expressive terroir distinctiveness. A veteran of the wine industry with more than 20 years experience, Sean Minor's fine wine career began with Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) in Napa Valley before taking an opportunity to manage Oregon's King Estate Winery, and later accepting an appointment as President of Benton-Lane Winery. He returned to California to manage Renwood Winery before he and his wife Nicole decided to start their own wine company. Their first offering is under the Four Bears brand.

In 2011, Sean began to offer wines under the Sean Minor label and the Sean Minor Four Bears (which refers to his four children) label. The Sean Minor label features premier regions from California and now includes the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Carneros Pinot Noir and Napa Valley Red Blend. The Sean Minor Four Bears label represents the same quality in an affordable, everyday style and includes the Central Coast Chardonnay, Central Coast Pinot Noir, Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc and Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.

Sean’s goal is to keep costs down and yet maximize quality at every step. As Sean states, "My winemaking philosophy is to offer wines that exude quality and truly represent the appellation from which they’re produced, yet are affordable for everyday enjoyment." To achieve this, he starts with a base for each wine that he crafts from grapes he vinifies at his winery. He augments this with selected lots of purchased wines when top quality juice comes available on the bulk market.

Special Offer: Nepenthe Tryst Red and Unoaked Chardonnay 55%off $6.95

Nepenthe Winery
Nepenthe: described by Homer in The Odyssey as an Egyptian herbal drink so powerful that it eases grief and banishes sorrow from the mind.

In 1994, the Tweddell family purchased a premium property in the sub-region of Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills.  The property was carefully selected and planted to 24 hectares of vines with the intent of producing premium wine.  Proven varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were planted, as well as interesting varieties such as Zinfandel and Pinot Gris.  In 1996, Nepenthe received approval to build its winery, only the second in the Adelaide hills at the time (the first being Petaluma in 1978).  

In the backdrop of the cool heights of the Adelaide Hills, they started producing some soul reposing potions of their own: uncompromising wines of outstanding quality and internationally recognised distinction. Wines that, strangely enough, have been impressing both critics and consumers with their varietal faithfulness and subtle Adelaide Hills nuances.

From the beginning, the wines have received positive review from the press and numerous medals on the show circuit.

In the first few vintages, Nepenthe wines featured in James Halliday's Top 100, The UK Times Top 100, The Advertiser Top 100, The International Wine Challenge as well as many other feature media articles.

Due to this demand, in 1997 Nepenthe acquired a property in Charleston within the Adelaide Hills and has planted a further 43 hectares of vineyard. Then in 2002 a 25 hectare vineyard was acquired in Balhannah (where our cellar door is located), and in 2005 Nepenthe acquired its latest vineyard, 38 hectares in Hahndorf, with room for further expansion.

Nepenthe also sources fruit from a variety of vineyards throughout the hills. Most fruit Nepenthe receives is managed by Nepenthe Viticulture, part of the Nepenthe Group. This company ensures that Nepenthe only receives the highest quality fruit, ensuring strict control of the grapes that make their award winning wines. 

Nepenthe The Tryst Red Blend Adelaide Hills 2006
The Tryst Red is an eclectic blend, based on Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Zinfandel.
This combination works remarkably well, with each variety contributing its own unique characteristics, resulting in a fruit driven wine which is approachable and fragrant, yet is well-structured with savoury complexity.

Nepenthe Altitude Unoaked Chardonnay 2007
Unembellished by oak and winemaking treatments, the delicate pale yellow Nepenthe Unoaked Chardonnay provides a bouquet of fresh grapefruit and lemon aromas which are complemented by softer tropical notes with nuances of white peach. The style is fresh, clean and crisp, yet with a richness of fruit that provides balance and length. Sweet, tropical flavors precede the fine, elegant finish.