Once almost lost to property developers, a unique Port Willunga vineyard was born again when the local Kelley family stepped in to rescue the vines in July 2012. And so the Lost Buoy story begins…
The closest vineyard to the sea in Australia, the Lost Buoy vines grow within 50 metres of the cliff edge, high above the rolling waves of the Great Southern Ocean. The maritime influence refreshes the
vines to create a naturally healthy growing environment. The Lost Buoy vineyard is planted with eight acres of Grenache and seven acres of Shiraz vines. With an average age of 15 years, the vines’ roots are anchored deep into the Pliocene Hallett Cove Sandstone and Burnham Limestone of the cliff head, bringing an intricate minerality to the wines. The elemental growing conditions and shallow soils produce a humble yield of perfectly balanced fruit, on average just 1.5 to 2 tonnes per acre. Hand crafted by small batch wine specialist Phill Christiansen at his bespoke McLaren Vale winery, the fruit from the Lost Buoy vines is gently nurtured through the winemaking process and into barrel with minimal intervention, showcasing the uniqueness of the site. Now that the Lost Buoy vineyard has been found again, the vines speak clearly of the ocean they overlook, producing wines with elegance, vitality, crisp maritime acidity and earthy mineral complexity.
