Giaconda Winery Explained

Giaconda is an Australian winery in Beechworth, Victoria.

History

Throughout the 1970s Rick Kinzbrunner, a mechanical engineer, travelled and spent time with wineries in New Zealand, the USA and France including Stag's Leap, Simi Winery and the owners of Chateau Petrus, the Moueix group.[1] [2] During his time in the United States he studied at University of California, Davis.[3]

He came back to Australia in 1980 and took up an assistant winemaker role at Brown Brothers until 1982 when he purchased land in the Beechworth region, planting the original vines to be used for his wines under the Giaconda label.[4] The initial planting consisted of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot noir.[5] The winery is nine kilometres south-west of Beechworth.[6]

The winery is named after the Mona Lisa, which is also known as La Gioconda in Italy.[7]

The first Giaconda wines were released in 1987, with a Chardonnay from the 1986 vintage and Cabernet blend from 1985.

Kinzbrunner has been described as one of Australia's greatest winemakers.[8] In 2003 he won the Australian Winemaker of the Year award from Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine[9] [10] [11] and in July 2006 he was named one of the world's best 10 white wine makers by Decanter.[12] [13]

The Giaconda vineyard was noted as Australia's "most important vineyard" and was listed in first place of twenty five top vineyards by Australian Sommelier Magazine.

Wines

Giaconda produces about 2500 cases of wine each year. Giaconda produces wine from Chardonnay, Roussanne, Pinot noir, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a small amount from newly planted Nebbiolo grapes.[14]

Two of Giaconda's wines are included in the Langton's Classification of Australian Wine, the Shiraz at the "Excellent" tier[15] and the Chardonnay at the highest classification level of "Exceptional".[16]

In the 2003 vintage, Giaconda released only one wine under their main label, a Cabernet Sauvignon, due to smoke damage to the grapes from the 2003 Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires.[17] The grapes that could still be vinified were released under the label "McClay Road". Kinzbrunner has continued to make wine under this name in subsequent vintages, as a second tier label with fruit from young vines.[18] [19]

Giaconda has entered a joint venture with Chapoutier to collaborate on producing a Beechworth Shiraz from the Nantua vineyard called "Ergo Sum". The first wine released was from the 2008 vintage.[20]

Other projects

Kinzbrunner has been the importer within the Australasian region for Sirugue wine barrels since 1985.

Kinzbrunner makes two wines exclusively for Vintage Cellars under the "rk" label, a Chardonnay and a Shiraz.[21]

Since 2005, Kinzbrunner has assisted as a winemaking consultant at the Star Lane Vineyard and Winery in Beechworth.[22] [23]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: No Spin, just vin . The Age . 2005-03-01 . 2010-05-18 . Melbourne.
  2. News: Australia's Finest . The Age . 2003-05-27 . 2010-05-18 . Melbourne.
  3. Web site: Sirugue Australia . Sirugue Australia . 2010-05-18 . 13 October 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091013061456/http://www.sirugueaustralia.com.au/about_sirugue.html . dead .
  4. Web site: Wine entrepreneur marketing secrets . Smart Company . 2008-04-03 . 2010-05-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100429230907/http://www.smartcompany.com.au/construction-and-engineering/wine-entrepreneur-marketing-secrets.html . 29 April 2010 . dmy .
  5. Web site: Our Story . Giaconda . 2010-05-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100601111751/http://www.giaconda.com.au/giaconda.htm . 1 June 2010 . dmy .
  6. Web site: Giaconda Vineyard . Visit Vineyards . 2010-05-18 . 17 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717224408/http://www.visitvineyards.com/victoria/wine/vineyards-wineries/info/giaconda-vineyard . dead .
  7. News: Sacre rouge! . The Age . 2002-02-27. 2010-05-18 . Melbourne.
  8. News: Philip Rich. The Australian Financial Review. 2005-11-26.
  9. News: Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine. Winemaker of the Year 2003. August–September 2003.
  10. Web site: ABC News Online - Top drop earns top award for winemaker . Abc.net.au . 2003-07-31 . 2010-05-18.
  11. News: Sydney Morning Herald - To and fro over the rules of the game . Smh.com.au . 2003-08-01 . 2010-05-18.
  12. Web site: Giaconda News - November 2006 . Giaconda.com.au . 2010-05-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110226201142/http://www.giaconda.com.au/newsletter2006.html . 26 February 2011 . dmy .
  13. Web site: KMM Vinos - Giaconda . Australiacom.net . 2010-05-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090523103409/http://www.australiacom.net/giaconda.html . 23 May 2009 . dmy .
  14. Web site: Giaconda Winery, Beechworth, Australia . Vinography . 2010-04-04 . 2010-05-22.
  15. Web site: Langton's Classification - Giaconda Pinot noir . Langtons.com.au . 2010-05-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091017084147/http://www.langtons.com.au/wine/ClassificationPopup.aspx?prodid=5636 . 17 October 2009 . dmy .
  16. Web site: Langton's Classification - Giaconda Chardonnay . Langtons.com.au . 2010-05-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090930151812/http://www.langtons.com.au/wine/ClassificationPopup.aspx?prodid=5635 . 30 September 2009 . dmy .
  17. News: Burnt Offerings . The Age . 2004-12-07 . 2010-05-18 . Melbourne . Jeni . Port.
  18. Web site: Giaconda Mid-Year New Releases . Appellation Australia . 2006-08-05 . 2010-05-22.
  19. Web site: Rathdown Cellars - Autumn/Winter Newsletter . 2010-05-22 . 30 September 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090930123908/http://www.rathdownecellars.com.au/newsletters/Autumn%20Winter%202009.pdf . dead .
  20. Web site: Giaconda 2008 Newsletter . Giaconda . 2009-11-01 . 2010-05-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090913162854/http://www.giaconda.com.au/newsletter2008.html . 13 September 2009 . dmy .
  21. News: Attraction of Opposites . TheAge . 2009-09-08 . 2010-05-18 . Melbourne.
  22. Web site: Star Lane Winery . Visit Vineyards . 2010-05-18 . 17 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717224420/http://www.visitvineyards.com/victoria/north-east-vic/wine/vineyards-wineries/info/star-lane-winery . dead .
  23. Web site: Star Lane Vineyard and Winery . https://web.archive.org/web/20091015001457/http://www.starlane.com.au/index.html . dead . 2009-10-15 . Starlane.com.au . 2010-05-18 .

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