FLINDERS RUN

Established by Emanuel and Laura Skorpos in 1997, Flinders Run is located on the fertile plains of the Southern Flinders Ranges at the top of Spencer Gulf. Like much of South Australia, the 19th century history of the region was concerned with wheat and wool and although it received a visit from Mr Thomas Hardy in 1892, its early grape growing experiences were limited to small areas of table grapes and dried fruit .The late 20th century wine boom saw new plantings from 1980 onwards and a surge of plantings in the 1990s . Their property comprises a total of 170 acres of land, the vineyard are planted to the classic varieties of Shiraz and Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Water comes from an underground spring fed aquifer of excellent quality and is then pumped up and through an intricate series of pumps and pipes to drip irrigate the vineyard. The vineyard is viticulturally innovative and uses all the latest proven technology presently available in Australia. Advanced soil moisture monitoring, careful and strict disease and pest control practices combined with selective bud placement and numbers ensures very low yielding vines. All this effort is to ensure that the vines are in balance at all times, to ensure the highest quality fruit possible.

Southern Flinders Ranges are situated in Baroota, at the top of Spencer Gulf 275 km north of Adelaide, 100 km north of the world famous Clare Valley wine region in South Australia. This viticultural region is relatively young compared to the Clare Valley, it has emerged during the last 20 years and only received its geographical indicator in 2003. It is of course part of the Flinders Ranges which as they continue south become the northern Mount Lofty Ranges, the geological backbone of the Clare Valley. The region rises from near sea level to 2100 feet though most of its vineyards are located between 130 to 1640 feet. The soils, although varied, are quite deep and mostly limestone based fertile and quite suitable for viticulture. Cool night time temperatures are responsible for deep colors and excellent acid retention in fruit, while daytime warm to hot temperatures are higher, allowing for even ripeness of the full flavored grapes. Wind is a beneficial constant that can be totally relied on thanks to the regions close proximity to the sea at the top of Spencer Gulf.