Aphelion Wine Co. · The home of Grenache
A remarkable wine begins long before the bottle.
For Rapture, the story begins with a small Clarendon hillside, Grenache vines planted in 1962, and the people who care for them. It continues at your table.
A milestone dinner. A gift that says “I know what you love”. A long lunch with the friends you never see quite often enough. Some wines bring more than flavour to the occasion.
Aphelion Rapture Old Vine Grenache Noir 2024 is our pinnacle 100% Grenache from Hickinbotham Block 301 in Clarendon, McLaren Vale, South Australia.
Discover Rapture & buy direct
Follow the story behind the bottle ↓
People before points
One vineyard. Many careful hands.
Aphelion began with Grenache. Our focus is Grenache. Our future is Grenache.
For our family winery, that means seeking out remarkable sites and working with growers who know them intimately. Rob Mack brings that fruit into the winery with one guiding intention: to make the vineyard recognisable in the glass.
Rapture is made only in years when we have fruit of the quality it requires. It is our fullest expression of what we believe Aphelion can achieve with Grenache.
Behind each bottle are the vineyard team, the hands that pick the fruit, Rob’s decisions through fermentation and maturation, and the people who welcome you at our cellar door. The recognition belongs to that whole journey.
A place worth knowing
0.9 hectares. More than six decades of history.
Rapture 2024 comes from dry-grown Grenache bush vines in Hickinbotham Block 301, Clarendon. Planted in 1962, the vines occupy a gently north-facing slope, 225–230 metres above sea level.
Underfoot is brown clay loam with weathered and broken siltstone. These details give the wine a precise address. This is one small piece of McLaren Vale, translated into something you can pour and share.
Why provenance matters
Knowing where a wine comes from adds another dimension to drinking it. You have a place to picture, a story to share, and something to return to as the wine evolves.
Why small batches matter
Just 1,100 bottles of Rapture 2024 were made. Every bottle belongs to this harvest and this hillside. It is a finite release with a lasting story.
Craft with a purpose
Giving the vineyard room to speak.
The fruit was hand-picked on 21 March 2024. Most was destemmed, with 20% retained as whole clusters. A cool, 14-day fermentation was followed by maturation in a 1,500-litre Drunk Turtle cocciopesto vessel.
Cocciopesto is a mixture of crushed ceramics and natural aggregates. You may hear us call the vessel an amphora. It allows us to mature this Grenache without adding an oak-flavour layer, keeping our attention on the fruit and its natural structure.
The wine was racked and bottled in February 2025, unfined and unfiltered. The decisions are detailed. The pleasure in the glass should come easily.
Independent recognition
Two 97-point reviews. A place in the Halliday Top 100.
Rapture 2024 has been selected for the 2026 Halliday Top 100 Wines, in the Red Wines $50 and Over category: the Halliday Tasting Team’s selection of the 20 best Australian red wines over $50 on the market right now .
The team describes the selection as “complex, refined and straight-up exceptional wines”. For our small family winery, seeing Rapture among them is a moment worth sharing.
97 points
Marcus Ellis
Halliday Wine Companion
Halliday Wine Companion
97 points
Erin Larkin
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Top 100
Halliday 2026
Red Wines $50 and Over
Red Wines $50 and Over
Rapture was also shortlisted for Halliday Wine Companion’s Grenache of the Year .
“detail, confident ease, depth and transparency”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Marcus Ellis · Halliday Wine Companion · 97 points
For you, these are useful independent reference points when choosing a special bottle. The next part of the story is discovering what you enjoy in it.
What awaits in the glass
Depth, savoury detail and a finish that stays with you.
Expect brooding yet fleshy aromas, herbal spice and cherry-pip flavours. The tannins are prominent without dominating, giving the wine shape and carrying a savoury finish of immense persistence.
There is plenty to explore slowly. Rapture will also blossom with bottle age, making it a rewarding choice for someone who enjoys following a wine over time.
For your table
Roasted lamb shoulder, mash and jus. Aged gouda with fruit crackers. “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse playing in the background. Good company with time to linger.
For your future
Built to continue evolving through to 2040. Choose a bottle for a milestone ahead, or several to explore over time. A cool, stable cellar will help you make the most of that potential.
Serve at 16–18°C. A milestone moment suits it beautifully. So does an ordinary evening you decide to make unforgettable.
From the sun to you
Buy direct. Know the people behind your wine.
Buy direct from the Aphelion family winery and your relationship with Rapture begins with the people who make it.
Guidance for your moment
Wondering whether to open it soon, put it away, or give it to a Grenache-loving friend? Ask us. You can speak directly with our team about the wine and how you plan to enjoy it.
A clear source
Order from the producer, with the vineyard story and winemaking information close at hand. You know exactly which vintage you are choosing and who to contact with a question.
A closer connection
Meet us at the cellar door, explore our wines and get to know the family behind the label. Your bottle becomes part of a relationship you can return to.
A choice with meaning
Every bottle is a vote. Buying direct supports our family winery’s work with remarkable vineyards and passionate growers, helping us keep making the wines you value.
Rapture 2024 is A$150 per bottle. Choose a single bottle or a larger pack on the product page, where you can check current availability and delivery details.
Choose your Rapture 2024 Ask us about Rapture
Already a Sun Lovers Wine Club member? Use your member benefits when ordering. For regular Aphelion drinkers, membership includes 10% off additional purchases and free shipping, plus access to pre-release and rare museum wines. Membership is an ongoing subscription with a minimum commitment of one year and 12 bottles. Explore the benefits and terms.
Rapture 2024, at a glance
| Wine | Aphelion Rapture Old Vine Grenache Noir 2024 |
|---|---|
| Variety | 100% Grenache |
| Origin | Hickinbotham Block 301 · Clarendon · McLaren Vale · South Australia |
| Vines & site | Planted 1962 · 0.9 hectares · dry-grown bush vines |
| Soil & elevation | Brown clay loam with weathered and broken siltstone · 225–230 metres · gently north-facing slope |
| Winemaking | 20% whole clusters · 14-day cool ferment · 1,500L cocciopesto vessel |
| Bottling | February 2025 · unfined · unfiltered · vegan |
| Alcohol & closure | 13.9% ABV · DIAM Origine cork |
| Production & cellaring | 1,100 bottles · built to evolve through to 2040 |
A little more to explore
Your Rapture questions, answered.
What is Aphelion Rapture Old Vine Grenache Noir 2024?
Rapture 2024 is Aphelion Wine Co.’s pinnacle 100% Grenache from Hickinbotham Block 301 in Clarendon, McLaren Vale, South Australia. Rapture is made only in years when the required quality of fruit is available.
Where does Rapture 2024 come from?
The wine comes from a 0.9-hectare plot of dry-grown Grenache bush vines planted in 1962 at Hickinbotham Block 301, Clarendon. The gently north-facing site sits at 225–230 metres above sea level, on brown clay loam with weathered and broken siltstone.
Which awards and scores has Rapture 2024 received?
Rapture 2024 received 97 points from Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion and 97 points from Erin Larkin for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. It was shortlisted for Halliday Grenache of the Year and selected for the 2026 Halliday Top 100 Wines in the Red Wines $50 and Over category, a list of 20 Australian red wines.
What does Rapture 2024 taste like?
Expect brooding yet fleshy aromas, herbal spice, cherry-pip flavours and a long, savoury finish. Its tannins are prominent without dominating. It is a structured Grenache that will blossom with bottle age.
What is cocciopesto, and how was this wine made?
Cocciopesto is a mixture of crushed ceramics and natural aggregates. Rapture 2024 was hand-picked on 21 March 2024, fermented with 20% whole clusters for 14 days, then matured in a 1,500-litre Drunk Turtle cocciopesto vessel. It was bottled in February 2025.
Should I drink Rapture 2024 now or cellar it?
You can choose it for a meal now if you enjoy structured young Grenache, or cellar it to follow its development. Rapture 2024 is built to continue evolving through to 2040. Store it in cool, stable conditions and serve at 16–18°C. Contact our team if you would like guidance for a particular occasion.
What food and occasions suit Rapture 2024?
Our pairing is roasted lamb shoulder with mash and jus, or aged gouda with fruit crackers. Rapture suits milestone dinners, thoughtful gifts and unhurried meals with friends. It can also make an everyday moment unforgettable.
Is Rapture 2024 vegan?
Yes. Rapture 2024 is vegan, unfined and unfiltered. It contains 13.9% alcohol and is closed with DIAM Origine cork.
How many bottles were made?
Only 1,100 bottles of Rapture 2024 were produced. This is the total production, rather than a statement of remaining stock. Check the Aphelion product page for current availability.
Why buy Rapture 2024 direct from Aphelion?
Buying direct connects you with the family winery that makes Rapture. You can ask our team for guidance about serving, cellaring and gifting, order from the producer, and support our work with remarkable vineyards and passionate growers. You do not need to join the Wine Club to buy direct.
How much is Rapture 2024, and can I buy one bottle?
Rapture 2024 is A$150 per bottle. The Aphelion product page offers one-, three-, six- and twelve-bottle options. Check the product page for current prices, availability and delivery details.
What benefits do Sun Lovers Wine Club members receive?
Sun Lovers Wine Club members receive 10% off additional purchases, free shipping and access to pre-release and rare museum wines. Membership is an ongoing subscription with a minimum commitment of one year and 12 bottles. Review the full benefits and terms on Aphelion’s Wine Club page before joining.
Vineyard and winemaking details: Aphelion’s updated Rapture 2024 technical sheet. Critic scores: Halliday Wine Companion and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Explore Halliday’s Top 100.
