2025 McLaren Vale Single Site Grenache Collection | Four Vineyards | Four Award-Winning Wines

BLEWITT SPRINGS · CLARENDON · McLAREN VALE · SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Four remarkable vineyards. One extraordinary vintage. One very special collection.

What if you could taste the difference between four remarkable Grenache vineyards, all from the same vintage, made the same way by the same winemaker?

That's exactly what we've brought together in the Aphelion 2025 Single Site Grenache Collection.

Four exceptional old-vine and single-site Grenaches. Four very different personalities. And one vintage that Rob believes is the finest we've ever made at Aphelion.

From the deeply savoury old vines of Wait to the magnificent, concentrated debut of Plaisted's, the precision of high-elevation Hickinbotham and the beautiful perfume of Brini, this is a fascinating journey through the vineyards that make McLaren Vale Grenache so special.

And the critics agree.

97 points - Wait, Halliday Wine Companion
96 points - Plaisted's, The Wine Front
96 points - Hickinbotham, Halliday Wine Companion and The Wine Front
96 points - Brini, Halliday Wine Companion

Four bottles. Four vineyard stories. Endless possibilities for a very good evening.

What's in the Collection?

One bottle each of our four 2025 Single Site Grenache Noir wines, selected from some of McLaren Vale's most remarkable vineyards.

Complimentary Limited Time 2025 Single Site Companion

Exclusively Available Direct From Aphelion Only

Every purchase of the new Single Site Grenache 2025 Collection made direct from Aphelion will receive, completely free of charge, three special launch edition time-limited bonuses:

• A full Enjoyment Guide;
• Four perfectly paired Recipe cards;
• Four Taste Over Time cards. 

Limited Time Only

Available for qualifying purchases until Monday 2 November at 11:59pm Adelaide time. The wines themselves remain available after the bonuses expire, subject to stock. 

About the Companion:

• Single Site Grenache Enjoyment Guide

Includes paired music Spotify playlist, how to serve your Single Site's so they show at their best, each wine's characteristics at a glance, ideas to open all four at home.

• Inspiring, Perfectly Paired Recipe Cards

A simply delicious meal suggestion that is easy to make and sure to please - for each of the Single Site wines. Included in your box with our compliments. 

• Four Taste Over Time Cards.

Record how your Single Site's evolve over time by recording what you notice each time you try them. A set of the four Taste Over Time cards will be included in your box. 

Meet the Four Grenaches

1. Brini - The Elegant, Aromatic One

Blewitt Springs | Upper Tank Block | RRP $90

Brini is a vineyard close to our hearts.

We've worked with the Brini family since Aphelion's very first vintage, and fruit from this remarkable vineyard has helped shape our Grenache story from the beginning.

The 2025 Brini is darker and more brooding than previous, cooler vintages, yet remains the most elegant and aromatic of our four Single Site wines.

Dark plum, cherry, cinnamon and forest berries meet lifted florals, mineral tension and beautifully fine tannins.

It's the wine that reminds us how powerfully Grenache can express its origins while retaining grace and perfume.

96 points - Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion
95+ points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

"Fabulous quality."
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

 

2. Hickinbotham - The High-Elevation Original

Clarendon | South-facing Blocks 111-113 | RRP $90

What happens when Grenache grows high above the valley, on slopes protected from the hottest afternoon sun?

You get Hickinbotham.

The highest-elevation wine in our 2025 Single Site range, this is a Grenache of extraordinary precision and energy.

Bright cranberry, cherry and redcurrant meet fragrant florals, savoury herbs and fine spice. Beneath it all is a beautifully intricate framework of tannin and vibrant natural acidity.

Freshness without sacrificing flavour. Structure without heaviness. A wine that makes a compelling case for the extraordinary diversity of McLaren Vale Grenache.

96 points - Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion
96 points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

"Exquisite."
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

3. Wait - The Old-Vine Powerhouse

Blewitt Springs | Bush vines planted in the mid-1940s | RRP $90

Some wines reveal everything in the first sip. Wait makes you work a little harder, and rewards you wonderfully for it.

From the Wait family's dry-grown Top Bush block, this is Grenache with extraordinary savoury depth. Dark cherry, turned earth, wild herbs and a slightly saline edge are carried by waves of persistent tannin.

It's structured, brooding and built to evolve. A wine to decant generously, serve with something delicious and revisit as the evening unfolds.

97 points - Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion
96+ points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

"Wine of the Year contender."

Campbell Mattinson for The Wine Front

4. Plaisted's - The Magnificent Newcomer

Blewitt Sands | Vines planted in 1947 | RRP $90

Our newest Single Site Grenache has arrived with quite an introduction.

From the Hatwell family's Plaisted's vineyard, planted in 1947, this is the most concentrated and full-bodied wine of the four.

Imagine an irresistible perfume of blueberries, raspberries and violets, followed by dark cherry, cedar, sweet spice and a hint of orange zest. Powerful, beautifully controlled tannins carry the wine through an exceptionally long finish.

It's a wine for the good plates, slow-roasted lamb and a celebration worth remembering. Or a bottle tucked safely away for a milestone still to come.

96 points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

"It's an epic release from Aphelion."
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

Four Vineyards. Four Very Different Personalities.

This is what makes the Collection so much fun.

All four wines come from McLaren Vale. All four are Grenache. All four were made by Rob in the same exceptional vintage, using a consistent winemaking approach.

And yet, they're remarkably different.

You'll discover the savoury intensity of dry-grown old bush vines at Wait.

The extraordinary concentration of Plaisted's, grown on deep Blewitt Sands.

The precision and freshness of Hickinbotham's high, south-facing Clarendon blocks.

And the elegant, aromatic expression of the Brini vineyard.

Different soils. Different elevations. Different vine histories. Different personalities.

One winemaker. One vintage. Four fascinating expressions of place.

It's a wonderful way to discover why we're so captivated by Grenache, and why McLaren Vale is one of the world's most exciting places to grow it.

Make an Evening of It - Your Own Grenache Tasting

Four bottles. Four glasses. A few people whose company you love.

Here's our idea of a rather excellent evening.

Invite a handful of wine-loving friends around. Put something delicious in the oven. Bring out the good glasses, a few cheeses and a notebook if you're feeling particularly serious.

Open all four wines and give them a generous decant. These are structured, tightly wound Grenaches that reward time and air.

Pour a little of each into separate glasses and begin exploring.

Start with Brini's beautiful perfume. Move to the freshness and precision of Hickinbotham. Discover the extraordinary concentration of Plaisted's. Finish with Wait's deep savoury character and waves of tannin.

Then do something even more interesting.

Go back to the first glass.

Notice how the wines have changed with air. Which one has become more fragrant? Which has softened? Which is revealing flavours you didn't notice before?

There are no wrong answers, and no need to agree.

In fact, half the fun is discovering that everyone around the table has a different favourite.

Put on some music. Bring out another course. Let the conversation wander.

That's the beauty of this Collection. It's not just four bottles of wine. It's an evening worth remembering.

Four Wines Made for the Table

Each wine has its own favourite companions, which makes this Collection a particularly enjoyable way to explore Grenache with food.

Wait - A generous bowl of sausage and thyme ragù, or a wedge of beautifully aged Comté. Rich, savoury flavours that meet the wine's deep earthy character and powerful tannins.

Plaisted's - Slow-roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic, or clothbound cheddar with quince paste. A wonderfully generous match for the wine's concentrated fruit and impressive structure.

Hickinbotham - Vegetable lasagne with a rich béchamel, or creamy d'Affinois. The wine's bright acidity and fine tannins bring freshness and balance to these comforting dishes.

Brini - Grilled venison with juniper and spice, or Crémeux d'Argental with fruit crackers. A beautiful pairing for Brini's perfume, savoury complexity and finely textured palate.

Or simply put all four bottles on the table with a generous spread of good food and let everyone discover their own favourite combination.

Make Moments Count.

One Extraordinary Vintage

Rob believes 2025 is the finest vintage Aphelion has ever made.

That's not something we say lightly.

Since our first vintage in 2014, Grenache has been at the heart of everything we do. We've spent years working with growers, learning the personalities of remarkable vineyards and refining how we capture their character in the bottle.

The 2025 Single Site Grenaches represent a particularly exciting moment in that journey.

Each wine has its own distinctive personality, but they share a remarkable combination of concentration, freshness, structure and length.

They are wines with something to say today, and plenty more to reveal over the years ahead.

All four have the potential to continue evolving through 2038 when stored correctly.

Open them together now. Or cellar them and follow their stories over time.

A Remarkable Grenache Gift

For the person who already knows a thing or two about wine. Or the one who's about to discover a new obsession.

Buying a special bottle for a wine lover can be surprisingly difficult.

But four exceptional Grenaches from four remarkable vineyards, all from the same vintage?

Now that's a gift with a story to tell.

Give the Collection to someone who loves discovering new wines, exploring the differences between vineyards or putting something special away in the cellar.

It's also a wonderful gift to share.

Imagine bringing the four bottles to a birthday dinner or anniversary celebration, pouring them side by side and letting everyone choose their favourite.

And because the wines have excellent cellaring potential, there's no pressure to open them all at once.

One for tonight. One for next year. One for a milestone. One for a future celebration you haven't even imagined yet.

Four bottles. So many possibilities.

The Complete 2025 Single Site Grenache Collection 

One bottle each of Wait, Plaisted's, Hickinbotham and Brini Single Site Grenache Noir 2025.

This isn't a discounted mixed pack. It's the complete expression of our 2025 Single Site Grenache release, brought together so you can experience the vineyards alongside one another.

Each wine is made in genuinely small quantities, with only 1,200 standard bottles produced from each site.

Once an individual wine sells out, we may no longer be able to offer the complete Collection.

Four exceptional Grenaches. One extraordinary vintage. Discover your favourite.

Why This McLaren Vale Grenache Collection Is Different

This isn't simply four bottles of Grenache in a box.

It's a carefully curated exploration of four distinctive vineyards, all interpreted by the same winemaker in the same exceptional vintage.

Rather than comparing different wineries or winemaking styles, you're tasting the influence of place.

Old vines in Blewitt Springs. Deep sandy soils at Plaisted's. High, south-facing blocks in Clarendon. The remarkable perfume of Brini.

Each wine has been made with 100% whole-bunch fermentation and matured in neutral French oak, allowing the differences between vineyards to remain at the forefront.

For anyone curious about single-vineyard Grenache, old-vine McLaren Vale wines or the influence of terroir, this is a fascinating and delicious place to start.

And for those who already love Grenache, it's a rare opportunity to taste the complete 2025 Aphelion Single Site release together.

Buy Direct from the Aphelion Family Winery

When you buy the 2025 Single Site Grenache Collection direct from Aphelion, you're supporting the small family winery that works with these remarkable growers and makes each of these wines.

You're buying from the people who know the vineyards, picked the fruit, made the wines and chose the moment they were ready to share.

We're a first-generation family winery, and Grenache has been our focus since the very beginning.

Aphelion began with Grenache. Our focus is Grenache. And our future is Grenache.

Thank you for being part of our story.

More About the 2025 Single Site Grenache Collection

Frequently Asked Questions

Love Grenache? Come Closer to Aphelion.

If you've enjoyed discovering our four Single Site Grenaches, we'd love to welcome you into the Aphelion Bottled Sunshine Wine Club.

Members enjoy early access to new releases and events, exclusive and museum wines, and 10% off additional purchases with free shipping.

It's a lovely way to stay connected to our little family winery and discover what's coming next.

DISCOVER THE APHELION WINE CLUB →