Kangarilla Road / Helen u. Kevin O'Brien

The Kangarilla Road estate is in South Australia, in the McLaren Vale an hour by car from Adelaide to be more precise. The region is bounded by the Gulf of St Vincent to the west and rolling countryside to the east. Vines have thrived here since 1850 and the McLaren Vale is considered one of the highest quality wine regions in Australia. The climate is marked by hot summers and mild winters under the influence of the nearby ocean. Helen and Kevin O'Brien started their business in 1997. Kevin, a winemaker with a wealth of experience earned over 20 years, is responsible for the vineyard and cellar work. Helen looks after promoting the estate and selling the wine. Kangarilla Road has 12 hectares of vines, which is very little by Australian standards. Planted in 1975 the vines have now reached a good adult age. They are grown organically and biodynamically and produce high quality grapes. The harvest is complemented by grapes bought in from other producers who meet the same production criteria. Helen and Kevin's philosophy is simple and persuasive: make wines that can stand by themselves or with food. Their work regularly wins accolades from wine critics and the press. In the 2010 edition of the James Halliday Companion the estate got 5 stars!