OUR VINEYARDS
130 years and (still) growing
Pirramimma vineyards and winery are nestled behind the township of McLaren Vale, running parallel to Tatachilla Road. Our mature vineyards are planted to 13 varieties and 40 designated blocks, spread over 300 acres and allow us to produce over 80 different wines, from the iconic McLaren Vale Shiraz, pioneered varieties such as Petit Verdot and Tannat, and an ancient collection of fortifieds.
Foundations
Early 1892 Pirramimma founder Alexander Campbell Johnston, journeyed from Adelaide to McLaren Vale by Rounsevells stagecoach to purchase land suitable for vineyards and farming. He succeeded to acquire 240 acres from the Stocks family adjacent to the fledgling village of McLaren Vale. Six acres of this land was planted to Grenache and 8 acres to Zante currants for table grapes. Today the Pirramimma vineyards are planted to 13 varieties and 40 blocks.
McLaren Vale terroir
Selected for its topography-hillside location, our site features fine red loam over limestone and ironstone, together with exceptional drainage. The cooling sea breezes delivered from the Gulf of St Vincent, combined with diverse micro-climates and soil types has ensured an ideal environment for viticulture.
Sustainable practice
A large portion of the Pirramimma estate has been planted to vineyards continually for over a century. Using composted manures, humates, gypsum, basalt, microbes and nitrogen rich cover crops, we have embraced biological farming and sustainable practice to convert the once sterile land into diverse, flourishing soils. Also conscious of our ecological footprint, we have installed a 100kw solar system at our McLaren Vale property with plans to expand, as well as expanding our irrigation system to include a 50 megalitre dam.
