Sirromet

An extended 2017 vintage comes to an end at Sirromet

June 8, 2017/in Vintage Update /by sirromet_admin

THURSDAY 8th JUNE 2017: Sirromet Wines began its 2017 vintage mid-January, bringing in 9 tonnes of Chambourcin fruit from its Mount Cotton Vineyard. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fruit from their Granite Belt vineyards followed soon after, which will be used for their premium sparkling bases, along with their white varietals of Pinot Gris and Verdelho. Harvest concluded with their Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon fruit early May bringing in a total of 525 tonnes of fruit for the 2017 vintage. “This year has seen exceptionally good quality of white fruit, in particular Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, each exhibiting a good level of acidity, flavours and regional characteristics” said Chief Winemaker Adam Chapman.

Sirromet is a family owned and run winery situated at picturesque Mount Cotton, just a short drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Sirromet’s state of the art facilities offers food and wine lovers the ultimate winery experience. 

Our story begun when Terry Morris, Queensland entrepreneur and businessman, was in Victoria attending a dinner party with friends. Terry mentioned that he had tried a great wine from Queensland’s Granite Belt to which his Victorian friends laughed and said “There’s no such thing as a great wine from Queensland.” This was the spark that Terry needed to create his vision for Sirromet. Terry chose land in the Granite Belt Region renowned for its unique combination of rich soil, high altitude and cool climate, providing the perfect location for growing grapes and in 2000 we opened our doors to the public. 

Utilising traditional methods and new technology, Sirromet produce exquisite quality wines recognised on the world stage. We are proud to have collected over 890 prestigious national and international wine awards to date.

With 100 hectares under vine, Sirrromet’s vineyards are located in the high altitude of Queensland’s Granite Belt region. Situated 600-1500 metres above sea level and approximately three hours drive south west of Brisbane, “The Granite Belt is one of the most exciting wine destinations in the country” Max Allen, The Weekend Australian. The Granite Belt was formed by an ancient tectonic uplift that forced a significant Granite Mass 820m above sea level. Over time, softer rocks and soils have eroded, leaving a clearly identifiable Granite Plateau. Due to its elevation, this plateau experiences some of Australia’s coldest winters. The sub-zero temperatures cause water that has been absorbed in exposed granite boulders and rocks to freeze and expand, forcing mineral particles into the soil. This annual soil enrichment allows local vineyards and orchards to grow the highest quality produce with unique, rich flavours.

Summer in the Granite Belt

Touches of sunshine sweetens the grapes throughout the Summer season. During the ripening process, sugar levels rise and acidity drops while the grapes start to soften. Colour changes occur in the fruit, with more transparent whites and deeper reds. The cane also ripens, putting energy into the reserves for the next cycle of growth.

Autumn in the Granite Belt

A change into Autumn brings about the harvesting season. The timing varies from year to year and between grape varieties. When the grapes are picked will help determine the flavours and aromas of the wine. Harvesting in our vineyards is done in the coldest part of the day to prevent early fermentation while we transport our grapes to our Sirromet Winery.

Winter in the Granite Belt

During winter months we see very cold temperatures, it can get down to -11 degrees Celsius. The vineyards sit at an elevation of 760m to 860m above sea level. During the winter months we prune the vines to prepare them for the new growing season.
Pruning is done each year to remove the old wood and create new fresh wood for new buds to burst upon.

Spring in the Granite Belt

During spring budburst occurs across the vineyard. Pale green buds appear on the pruned vines, followed by unfurling leaves and later, flowering and fruit-set. The first vines to bud are Verdelho and Chardonnay which are located on our on our Night Sky Vineyard.

Our Vineyard team are busy at this time checking on the new buds and making sure the vines are ready for the season ahead.

Sirromet is passionate about environmentally sustainable wine production. Our initiatives include responsible water use, waste recycling, energy conservation, re-vegetation, wildlife conservation, and eco-friendly farming practices. We are committed to reducing our dependence on mains water, by collecting and purifying rainwater for potable use and dam water for irrigation. All green waste, cardboard and paper from the winery and restaurants – is recycled through an onsite worm farm for later use as fertiliser.

Plastic and glass waste is also recycled off-site. Sirromet continues to innovate to increase efficiencies and reduce wastage. From smarter computerised refrigeration to use of modern “one-pass” filtration systems, recycling waste heat to make hot water and reducing our carbon footprint via 200kW of solar PV, our commitment is to make wine of the highest quality without compromising our environmental values.