Low yielding, minimally irrigated vineyards producing fruit with an abundance of varietal character are at the core of La Curio wines.“Too often in large scale winemaking this type of individuality is lost, enveloped in the drive for volume, shackled by the cost or efficiencies of modern production,” La Curio founder and winemaker Adam Hooper said.
“Our wines are the fruition of our most daring techniques. No expense has been spared for the show of oak, the time to nurture and manipulate the ferments with the likes of extreme cold soak must macerations.This elevates the wine colour and structurally gives fine tannin.We also use uncrushed whole fruit in the ferments which gives lifted floral and berry notes to both the palate and aroma and hold the fermented wine on skins post sugar fermentation for a period of up to 8 weeks. This results in interesting wines with very fine and supple tannin profiles.”
Adam launched the La Curio brand in 2003 after working in the region as a winemaker for a decade prior, after completing a Bachelor of Oenology at Roseworthy College in the early 1990s. The first vintage of La Curio was crafted at the Redheads Studio Winery with a group of like minded (beer swilling) boutique producers and three wines were produced for La Curio, namely a Reserve Shiraz; Reserve Grenache and a blend ‘The Nubile’ Grenache Shiraz.Fruit for the wines is sourced from a range of premium McLaren Vale vineyards. Some of the parcels of fruit have been sourced from local bush vines which are more than 100 years old. The concept behind the logo of “La Curio Wines” is the image of a unique pair of Harry Houdini’s manacles. Houdini often used this figure of eight handcuffs to perplex and challenge his competitors, the original now being held in the Houdini collection of a Mr. Sid Radner.
Working vintages in the Abruzzi and Puglia regions of central Italy and in the south of France in the Provence and the Ardèche has driven Adam’s interest in diverse wine styles and grape varieties which in recent years have seen the La Curio portfolio grow. The ‘Original Zin’ Primitivo and the ‘New World Order’ Sangiovese reflect the diversity of the region of McLaren Vale as well as the growing appreciation of the Australian wine consumer for ‘alternative’ varieties.The release of a 2012 ‘Suffragette’ Chardonnay features a bold and flavoursome barrel fermented, oxidatively handled and lashings of malolactic in style.
2014 has also seen the birth of La Curio’s first rosè 'The Selfie' which has been fashioned from some zesty Aglianico, and was ebottled in mid September.Purchasing McLaren Flat’s Redhead Studio in 2011, Adam has now drawn together a group of like minded small producers working out of the oddly named “Confessional” at the rear of Ekhidna Restaurant on the corner of Foggo and Kangarilla road at McLaren Flat. It is a vinous haven for the soul.
La Curio Wines Pty Ltd
Rear Sheds Behind Ekhidna Restaurant,
287 Kangarilla Rd (Corner Of Foggo and Kangarilla Road)
McLaren Flat, SA 5171. Australia
Ph: 1300 356 252
Mobile: 0408 849 305 ( Adam)
“Our wines are the fruition of our most daring techniques. No expense has been spared for the show of oak, the time to nurture and manipulate the ferments with the likes of extreme cold soak must macerations.This elevates the wine colour and structurally gives fine tannin.We also use uncrushed whole fruit in the ferments which gives lifted floral and berry notes to both the palate and aroma and hold the fermented wine on skins post sugar fermentation for a period of up to 8 weeks. This results in interesting wines with very fine and supple tannin profiles.”
Adam launched the La Curio brand in 2003 after working in the region as a winemaker for a decade prior, after completing a Bachelor of Oenology at Roseworthy College in the early 1990s. The first vintage of La Curio was crafted at the Redheads Studio Winery with a group of like minded (beer swilling) boutique producers and three wines were produced for La Curio, namely a Reserve Shiraz; Reserve Grenache and a blend ‘The Nubile’ Grenache Shiraz.Fruit for the wines is sourced from a range of premium McLaren Vale vineyards. Some of the parcels of fruit have been sourced from local bush vines which are more than 100 years old. The concept behind the logo of “La Curio Wines” is the image of a unique pair of Harry Houdini’s manacles. Houdini often used this figure of eight handcuffs to perplex and challenge his competitors, the original now being held in the Houdini collection of a Mr. Sid Radner.
Working vintages in the Abruzzi and Puglia regions of central Italy and in the south of France in the Provence and the Ardèche has driven Adam’s interest in diverse wine styles and grape varieties which in recent years have seen the La Curio portfolio grow. The ‘Original Zin’ Primitivo and the ‘New World Order’ Sangiovese reflect the diversity of the region of McLaren Vale as well as the growing appreciation of the Australian wine consumer for ‘alternative’ varieties.The release of a 2012 ‘Suffragette’ Chardonnay features a bold and flavoursome barrel fermented, oxidatively handled and lashings of malolactic in style.
2014 has also seen the birth of La Curio’s first rosè 'The Selfie' which has been fashioned from some zesty Aglianico, and was ebottled in mid September.Purchasing McLaren Flat’s Redhead Studio in 2011, Adam has now drawn together a group of like minded small producers working out of the oddly named “Confessional” at the rear of Ekhidna Restaurant on the corner of Foggo and Kangarilla road at McLaren Flat. It is a vinous haven for the soul.
La Curio Wines Pty Ltd
Rear Sheds Behind Ekhidna Restaurant,
287 Kangarilla Rd (Corner Of Foggo and Kangarilla Road)
McLaren Flat, SA 5171. Australia
Ph: 1300 356 252
Mobile: 0408 849 305 ( Adam)