As the technology partner for the Barossa Wine Auction, Cellr is excited to be showcasing what we can look forward to for this years event through a series of interviews with several producers.
This week we spoke to Greenock Creek Wines‘ Alex Peel, Chief Winemaker, and Kieron Lomax, Director of Sales and Marketing. Alex has been with the business for about 18 months and works alongside Peter Atyeo who has been winemaker and vineyard manager for 13 years. Let’s see what he had to say about the Barossa Wine Auction.
For more information on the Barossa Wine Auction and to purchase tickets click here.
Tell us a bit about your winery, and why you are excited to be part of the Barossa Wine Auction for 2021?
Greenock Creek has been producing wines of extreme quality and intensity from estate vineyards in Marananga & Seppeltsfield, and beloved growers in Moppa and legendary Barossa sub-regions since our first vintage in 1984. With a focus on single-site, single variety and terroir driven wines we’ve built a cult following who respect our commitment to the cause and passion for evoking the best of our iconic vineyard sites. The Barossa Wine Auction is respected internationally for showcasing the unique and rare from the best and brightest, we’re proud to be part of a fraternity that champions our region loudly and proudly!
Talk to us about your auction lot, what was the process behind selecting the wines and what are you most excited to be presenting?
We’re beyond proud to be part of the keystone lot in this year’s auction, the 100 point collection (Lot B01).
Hand selected by the auction organisers, our 1998 Roennfeldt Road Cabernet & Shiraz were the first wines made by Greenock Creek to be anointed with 100 points by Robert Parker of Wine Advocate. Alongside Henschke, Seppeltsfield, Torbreck, Penfolds, Standish Wine Co and Chris Ringland these wines represent the best of the best and the lucky bidder will become custodian of a timeless collection. I’m beyond envious and hope that we’re all invited for the Barossa vertical of a lifetime! Alongside this inclusion we’ve also offered one of the rarest wines ever produced by Greenock Creek, a modern artefact that is nigh on impossible to acquire by mere mortals, you’ll need to take a look at the catalogue and do some research on this one, it’s a special piece of our history.
What are you looking forward to about using the Cellr enabled Barossa seal of provenance?
With a history of highly acclaimed wines, and the incredible value and importance of the lots we’re offering, it means a lot to give the new custodian (the winning bidder) proper confidence and traceability of the wine. We also relish the opportunity to stop and talk about what we make, how it’s made and where it’s come from. The functionality of Cellr to deliver our message in the way we envisage from anywhere in the world is incredibly powerful in ensuring the consistency and relevance of our story.
What is your favourite part of the Barossa Wine Auction each year?
In any “normal” year it’s got to be the big event full of banging gavels, great food and incredible atmosphere. With the necessary adjustments to this years event we’re looking forward to a relaxed review of the lots, some daydreaming about what we’d love to acquire and some time with friends and oysters…
What do you love most about living and working in Barossa?
The Barossa is a tight knit community with a long and storied history of European settlement going back to the founding of the state and well beyond through the stories and dreaming of the indigenous custodians, the Peramangk, Ngadjuri and Kaurna people. All of that history passion and pride is worn on the sleeves of the people who live and work here, it creates an energy that drives on our industry and thoroughly engages those who choose to spend time or settle here.
Let’s imagine a world where you weren’t making wine, what would you like to imagine yourself doing?
If we weren’t spending all this time making wine it would definitely give us more time to drink it!!
As a local, what is your favourite way to experience the Barossa?
Discovering new places and enjoying from the other side of the tasting bench. As much as Barossa is built on tradition, things change quickly and it’s fun to keep on top of what everyone is working on, great source of inspiration.
If you had the opportunity to share a glass of wine with the person who purchased one of your lots, which wine would it be, what food would you pair it with, what would you say to them and what song would you want playing in the background?
We’d open a bottle of our “secret” lot. I’d regale them with tales of clonal trials, triumph, tragedy, love, loss and redemption, 100 point accolades and the wines importance to the history of Greenock Creek. As is our tradition we’d enjoy it accompanied with a few slices of Steiny’s Mettwurst, some fresh Apex rolls, a slathering of hot English mustard, Sauerkraut and Jarlsberg. Unpretentiously delicious. 1981’s “Golden Brown” by UK New Wave masters The Stranglers would provide the ambience for some late Autumn afternoon reverie.