Wine Experience

Grant Burge 6/26
Grant Burge is a fifth-generation Barossa Vigneron. Throughout his career, Grant has been one of the most respected and innovative forces in the Australian wine industry. The history of the Burge family and their long association with winemaking in the region can be traced back to March 1855, when noted tailor John Burge immigrated to the Barossa from Hillcot, near Pewsey in Wiltshire, England with his wife Eliza and their two sons. With help from his sons Meshach and Henry, John’s farm flourished with wheat, sheep and viticulture. His eldest son Meshach continued the farming tradition and was a prominent community leader. He married Emma in the early 1900s and they had eight children. First-born Percival established the Wilsford Winery in 1916, beginning the Burge winemaking tradition. Percival had two sons, Noel and Colin, and Colin and his wife Nancy had one son, Grant. Following in the footsteps of his father and forefathers before him, Grant now carries the winemaking tradition into the 21st century.

SILENI 7/24 (THU)
Sileni has a state-of-the-art winery in the Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand. It is designed to crush over 1500 tonnes of fruit using both high-tech and traditional methods. Gentle air-bag presses and temperature-controlled tanks give precise control of grape juice quality, while open top red wine fermenters and cool barrel cellars provide for more time-honoured techniques.
Chief Winemaker Grant Edmonds leads a team of winemakers, including Rachel Garnham, with combined vintage experience spanning Bordeaux, Burgundy, Oregon, California and Australia.
Regional Vineyard Manager Ritchie Garnham oversees the management of 106 hectares of Estate vineyards, as well as 50ha of managed fruit supply. He leads a small crack team of five to ensure vineyard operations are done in an efficient and timely manner. Their understanding of grape growing and commitment to providing the best fruit forms the basis of the Sileni wine quality. They are all passionate about the ability of Hawke’s Bay to produce world-class wines.

Sparkling Night 8/28 (THU)