THE ARMAGH VINEYARD The 28 hectare grazing property, two kilometres northwest of the Clare township, was acquired by Jim and Nancy Barry in 1964. The land, bisected by the Armagh Creek, lies on a combination of alluvial flats , rare in the Clare Valley, and gentle northwest facing slopes. Its history is also connected to the settlement of Irish settlers, including James Burton Gleeson, who was the prominent landholder in the region. The Armagh Vineyard was named after the nearby Armagh hamlet, which was established in 1849. The elevated (397 metres) Armagh Vineyard, with low fertility soils, drainage and northwest aspect, is a distinguished South Australian vineyard site. The soils are derived primarily from 800-million-year-old sandstone formations. Typically, the soils are light brown sandy/ gravel topsoils over a pebbly alluvial layer and mottled clay sub-soils. The original vineyard rows are contour-planted to mitigate erosion. The Armagh Vineyard was initially planted with cabernet sauvignon and malbec, followed by 3.3 hectares of shiraz vines in 1968, with The Armagh only sourced from these 1968 plantings. The material was all based on heirloom pre-phylloxera vine stock material. The Armagh Shiraz crops at under two tons/ acre (under 40 hectolitres/ hectare). The small berries, skin-to-juice ratio and intensely flavourful bunches result in wines of luxuriant density and firmness. “This opulent, silky shiraz grown on the sunny upland flats of Armagh, site of the Clare Valley’s original Irish settlement, was made in respect of the profound red wines Jim Barry found in the region in January 1947, when he arrived, fresh from winemaking school, a century after those first pioneers.” The Armagh story, featured on the original packaging which was written by wine writer Phillip White
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The Vintage Journal – Verticals
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