Domaine A/Stoney Vineyard is a 20ha property in Tasmania's Coal River Valley just half an hour from Hobart. Owned by Swiss-born Peter and Ruth Althaus since 1989, the vineyard is positioned in a temperate maritime climate with low annual rainfall. It is one of Tasmania's premier wine making estates and continues to receive accolades from across the globe.
Domaine A/Stoney Vineyard has landed its award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon into the minds and memories of some of Britain's top wine experts and tasters. Domaine A/Stoney Vineyard wowed international critics with the 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon in a strategic wine promotion organised by the Australian Wine Bureau to counter European image issues surrounding the range and depth of Australian wines.
For the first time in a long time 100 of Australia's finest wines were to be shown to 50 of the great and the good of wine in Britain. The case for diversity was the key message, and out of the 12 Cabernets chosen from across Australia, the Cabernet Sauvignon from Domaine A/Stoney Vineyard was selected by Langtons because of the high level of quality, finesse and subtlety. Master of Wine, Jancis Robinson said on her tasting of the Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 that she enjoyed the subtlety of a wine earnestly and honestly made from a vineyard rather than a confected/blend from a recipe.
The artisanal approach by wine maker Peter Althaus has earned him the status by Langtons and the Australian Wine Bureau as an emerging cult wine. The opinion in London seems to be ahead of the game here in Australia and Tasmania.
In a separate tasting by Matthew Jukes, one of the UK's foremost wine experts, the applause continues. "Tassie's premier estate yields one of the icon Cabernets in Australia - the 1998 Domaine A is nothing short of life-changing wine", said Matthew. While some Tasmanian critics say Tasmania cannot produce a quality Cabernet, this acknowledgement from some of the most prestigious names in the global wine industry may make them think otherwise.
Winemaker Peter Althaus said, "We are very proud that our Cabernet Sauvignon has reached such high praise in the wine circles in London and we look forward to celebrating the production of premium quality Cabernet in Tasmania now and well into the future. Tasmania is an extremely suitable place to grow Cabernet Sauvignon particularly with careful vineyard selection."
Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon is Tasmania's first wine to be listed under the Classification and reflects Peter and Ruth Althaus' passion and drive to produce a world-class cool climate Cabernet based wine. Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon can be found in many of the best restaurants throughout the world including Gordon Ramsey's and Tom Aitkens in London, Vue du Monde in Melbourne, Aria in Sydney and the Grange in Adelaide.
The first wine released under the Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon label was the 1990 vintage, whilst this vintage has long sold out, the 1998 (very limited), 1999 and 2000 are all currently available as is the 1997 in magnum.
