Young Guns

(Ben) Glaetzer is the perfect example of this new coterie of winemaker-entrepreneurs. He works with his father Colin at the family winery high above Tanunda.

He has also used Barossa Vintners, the Glaetzer co-operative/consultancy, to turn himself into a sort of Barossan Michel Rolland, vinifying and consulting for up to 30 different producers at once. Barossa Vintners has 40 open-top fermenters with a combined capacity of 10,000 tonnes. It’s a well-established business, but what is interesting is how Glaetzer has transformed it.

‘Five years ago, 85% of our business was with large wineries: Southcorp, Beringer, Orlando, Burge,’ Ben says. ‘Now we don’t do any bulk processing. I’ve carved up the customer base, rejected a few clients and aimed to lift the quality of those labels we make for.’

BEST OF BAROSSA * * * * *

Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz 1999

Lovely leather and wood nose. The palate is fusty, juicily tannic with violet and perfumed notes. A soft and dense mouthful. Up to 6 years