Effective
November 1st, Bancroft Wines is proud to announce their appointment
as the exclusive UK agents for Skillogalee, a
family-owned and operated winery located in the heart of the Clare Valley in
South Australia. Known for the exceptional quality of their red
and white wines, Skillogalee is widely recognised as one of Clare Valley’s top
estatespracticed sustainable methodologies in the vineyard and the
winery for many years.”
The original Skillogalee vineyards were
planted in the early 1970’s on stony soils and steep, eastern facing slopes at
almost 500 metres above sea level. The first wines were released in 1976 and
quickly gained acclaim: the 1978 Dry Riesling won major trophies at the
Adelaide Wine Show and the National Wine Show, putting Skillogalee firmly on
the Australian winemaking map.
Aware of the exceptional quality of the vineyards
and their potential to produce world-class wines, current owners David and
Diana Palmer acquired the property in 1989. In 2002 they purchased next-door
neighbour Waninga Vineyards, with 30 hectares of 30-year-old vines, bringing
the size of the estate to 60 hectares. While production increased, the Palmers
have taken great care to maintain the quality and characteristic style of the
wines.
Although they eschew organic and biodynamic
certification, sustainability is a top priority at Skillogalee, and every
effort is taken to ensure the best quality grapes are harvested each year. The
vines are hand-pruned and the fruit is mainly hand-picked, with yields kept
extremely low. All wines are produced exclusively from estate-owned vineyards.
Bancroft Wines’
CEO Jon Worsley comments:
“We are thrilled
to add Skillogalee to the Bancroft Wines’ portfolio- our first Clare Valley
producer. These fantastic wines are the product of David and Diana Palmer’s
tireless dedication to their craft. Through careful vineyard work and small-batch winemaking, they let their grapes
speak honestly of the place and soils in which they are grown. Their
focus on family, quality and sustainability make them the perfect partners for
Bancroft”.
David
Palmer, Co-Owner of Skillogalee, comments:
“After 25 years of exporting our wines to the UK we are delighted
announce our new partnership with Bancroft Wines. Skillogalee is a small
family-owned and operated wine company that has practiced sustainable
methodologies in the vineyard and the winery for many years. As such we believe we will fit
comfortably into the model that Bancroft has adopted for the expansion of its
Australian portfolio. We look forward working with the new team, continuing to
build the Skillogalee brand identity as a producer of quality Clare Valley
wines and to becoming a significant part of the Bancroft story”.
