About our vineyard & wines
Lofty Valley Estate is set on 32 acres of rather steep country in the Piccadilly Valley wine sub-region of South Australia’s Adelaide Hills. We have 4 acres of Chardonnay (planted in 2005) and 2.5 acres of Pinot Noir (planted in 2007). Lofty Valley Estate was awarded 3 Gold’s and 1 Silver medal at the Adelaide Hills Wine Show 2022. As a consequence we won 4 trophies….. Best Chardonnay, best White, Best Small producer under 100 tons and best Single Vineyard. Our climate is similar to Burgundy in France, as are the slopes — if anything, ours are steeper, and it’s a bit warmer of course.
The small size of our vineyard means production is limited to about 500 to 800 cases per annum — small by anyone’s standards. A true boutique winery. Because we (Brian and Lani) live on the site, we can watch over the vines closely. We believe passionately in small production wines that display a level of quality that can only come with intense personalised attention.
How it started
It all began in September 2004 as a new beginning for Brian, who had long searched for land for vines and hopefully fine wine for some time.
This parcel of land had perfect slopes, was close to the city and enjoyed plenty of rain. Well, too much really — it’s South Australia’s wettest spot most years and it even has a waterfall and permanent creek, aptly called Deep Creek.
So in 2004-2005, 4 acres of Chardonnay went in. By 2007, another 2 acres of Pinot Noir was planted and in 2008 the home was finished, allowing live-in vigneron status for Brian.
The plot thickened in 2007 with the arrival of the love of his life, a Canadian artisan named Lani Ramsey, and all her fibre, wool and wood creations also added to the mix.
We were married in 2007… was the house big enough?!
2004
Property purchased
2005
Chardonnay planted
2007
Pinot Noir planted
2008
First wines released
2023
Cellar Door officially opened
“Medical practitioner Dr Brian Gilbert began collecting wine when he was 19, flirting with the idea of becoming a winemaker before being pointed firmly in the direction of medicine by his parents. Thirty or so years later he purchased a blackberry- and gorse-infested 12ha property in the Adelaide Hills, eventually obtaining permission to establish a vineyard. Chardonnay (2ha) was planted in 2004 and 1ha of pinot noir in ’07, both on steep slopes.”
— James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion
Our Philosophy
We’re dedicated to producing premium cool-climate wines, with a particular interest in the two classics: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Plus the occasional Sparkling.
Our vineyard is located between Summertown, Ashton and Uraidla — all famous for similar wines — and only 500m from the now wine famous Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills. Mt Lofty towers above all these places — but the useful characteristics that this area has are elevation, wind protection and high rainfall.
We carefully prune our vines to keep crop levels below 3 tonnes per acre, while watering as little as possible, spraying as little as possible, and making the best wine possible. Simple, really.
This commitment to limiting crop levels maximises quality. High natural acidity gives the wines a clean finish and good cellaring potential.
Outstanding wines
Our first real vintage was 2008, and the first wine we completed (the ’08 Lofty Valley Unwooded Chardonnay) won a Silver Medal and was awarded the highest point score of any 2008 Chardonnay in the Adelaide Hills Regional Wine Show 2008.
Since then, James Halliday has awarded our Pinot 95 points (2013), and the Chardonnay 96 points (2012) and 94 points (2012).
Our 2012 ‘Steeped’ Pinot was judged the “Hottest” wine in South Australia.