One of the stalwarts of the Clare Valley, Mitchell Winery was established in 1975 by Jane and Andrew Mitchell. The entire range of Mitchell Wines receives multiple accolades every year. Highlights have been the Penguin Wine of the Year in 2003, a consistent 5 star rating in James Halliday’s Wine Companion and inclusion in the Financial Times Top 20 Wines of the World and regular Top 100 listings all endorse the Mitchell’s choice of region and variety and is reward for their long-term commitment to their wines and the region of the Clare Valley, South Australia.
The grapes for Mitchell Wines come from the company’s four local vineyards. Varieties planted are Riesling, Semillon, Shiraz, Merlot, Grenache and Cabernet. Vine age ranges from as little as five to over fifty five years. Soils are red-brown loam and clay over limestone. The altitude of these vineyards is between 300 and 400 metres and the average rainfall in the vicinity of 600mm, falling mostly in the winter (May to September).
Andrew Mitchell has long considered dry-grown to have better developed characteristics in the final wine. Careful soil management and conservative old-style farm and biodynamic practices have proven to be not just sustainable, but to deliver consistently excellent fruit that equates with the same consistency in Mitchell Wines.
Mitchell’s consistency in achieving a 5 Star Winery rating by James Halliday ranks it among “the best of the best”.