RUGGABELLUS - 'rugged beauty' from Barossa, Australia

Abel Gibson moved to the Barossa when he was two. As he says, “I have no recollection of life before this place.” And indeed, though he is a first-generation Barossan, the spirit and the history of the place runs deep in him. Back in the day, his father was a viticulturist for Penfolds, and a familiarity with and love of the land was almost a given, but it took a comprehensive tour of the world (not a winemaking pilgrimage, mind you) to drive that specialness home in a life-changing, life-affirming way: “I realised that I missed the things that I had grown up with here. The colour tones, the eucalyptus, the colour of the grass, the rocks in the summer… It’s something that is unique to here, quite mystical and enduring…”

Gibson has since worked with some of the Barossa Valley’s most treasured makers – Penfolds, Rockford, Chris Ringland, Charles Melton, Spinifex – but he never trained formally, so his approach leans on a combination of tradition and instinct. And while there is a deep respect for the craft and the wines of the established greats, his was never going to be a path of imitation. Gibson had his own view, his own things to say.

He and his wife, Emma, launched their label in 2011 from the 2009 vintage, and it was quite an eye opener at that time. Their wines are fresh, fragrant and medium weight. Ruggabellus practices biodynamic farming, and work with like-minded growers from some leased and managed parcels. No pumps are used in the winery, with all liquid moved by gravity. Ferments begin with natural yeasts and no new oak is used. From 10% to 100% whole-bunch fermentation is employed for the reds, and various levels of skin contact for the whites – sometimes near to a year.

Discover their wines!
Ruggabellus Efferus 2016
Ruggabellus Timaeus 2016
Ruggabellus Fluus 2017

Have a taste of these wines here! Like what you have tried? Why not get a wine flight for just $40 to enjoy here? Feel free to bring your own food

Details

Fri 15 July, 4pm - 7pm
31 Binjai Park

Fantome Saison

Fantome Saison