Clarendon Hills
Key Terms Pronounced
McLaren Vale's benchmark single-vineyard producer, built on ancient soils, pre-phylloxera vines, and one of Australia's most celebrated Syrahs.
Clarendon Hills is a McLaren Vale producer founded in 1990, renowned for single-vineyard Syrah, Grenache, and Cabernet from old dry-grown vines. Its flagship Astralis Syrah sits in Langton's 'Exceptional' category alongside Penfolds Grange. Roman Bratasiuk pioneered the single-vineyard concept in Australian wine.
- Founded 1990 by Ukrainian immigrant and biochemist Roman Bratasiuk
- Located in Clarendon, 40 km south of Adelaide, with vineyards in Blewitt Springs, Clarendon, and Kangarilla
- Astralis Syrah is classified 'Exceptional' by Langton's, alongside Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace
- Astralis has received two perfect 100-point scores and 11 near-perfect scores from Robert Parker
- Pre-phylloxera vines, some over 100 years old, grown on ancient geology aged 750 to 1,600 million years
- Produces 8 Syrah, 6 Grenache, 3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 Merlot, and 1 Mourvedre across its cru classification
- Named New World Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast in 2006
Founder and History
Roman Bratasiuk, a Ukrainian immigrant and biochemist, founded Clarendon Hills in 1990. He pioneered the single-vineyard concept in Australian winemaking and was the first to produce single-vineyard Grenache from Blewitt Springs. In 1996, Robert Parker named Bratasiuk wine producer of the year. The 1994 Astralis became the first Australian wine priced at $100, signaling a new benchmark for domestic fine wine.
- Founded 1990 by Roman Bratasiuk, biochemist and Ukrainian immigrant
- First Australian producer to make single-vineyard Grenache from Blewitt Springs
- Robert Parker named Bratasiuk wine producer of the year in 1996
- 1994 Astralis was the first Australian wine priced at $100
Location and Terroir
Clarendon Hills draws fruit from vineyards in the Blewitt Springs, Clarendon, and Kangarilla sub-regions of McLaren Vale, South Australia. The estate sits at around 350 metres elevation, with the Domaine Clarendon vineyard, established in 2003, holding the highest altitude in McLaren Vale. The geology is exceptionally ancient, ranging from 750 to 1,600 million years old, with rocky hillside soils. A marine climate, moderated by cool nights from the Great Southern Ocean and St Vincent Gulf, combined with warm days, provides the balance essential for ripening old-vine fruit.
- Elevation of approximately 350 metres; Domaine Clarendon is the highest vineyard in McLaren Vale
- Ancient geology aged 750 to 1,600 million years; rocky hillside soils
- Marine climate with cool nights from Great Southern Ocean and St Vincent Gulf
- Vineyards spread across Blewitt Springs, Clarendon, and Kangarilla sub-regions
Viticulture and Winemaking
All Clarendon Hills wines are sourced from old, dry-grown vines, with some pre-phylloxera examples over 100 years old. Fruit is hand-picked and fermented with natural yeasts. Wines are aged for 18 months in oak, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. This minimal-intervention philosophy is applied consistently across all expressions, preserving the character of each individual vineyard site.
- Old dry-grown vines, including pre-phylloxera examples over 100 years old
- Hand-picked fruit fermented with natural yeasts
- 18 months oak aging; bottled unfined and unfiltered
- Single-vineyard, single-varietal approach applied across all wines
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Look it up →Classification and Range
Clarendon Hills operates a Burgundian-style cru classification with Village, Premier-Cru, and Grand-Cru tiers. Astralis carries the designation 'Premier Grand Cru' and is produced in approximately 500 cases annually. The full range includes 8 Syrah, 6 Grenache, 3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 Merlot, and 1 Mourvedre. Astralis sits in Langton's 'Exceptional' category alongside Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace, and has accumulated two perfect 100-point scores and 11 near-perfect scores from Robert Parker.
- Burgundian cru classification: Village, Premier-Cru, and Grand-Cru; Astralis is 'Premier Grand Cru'
- Astralis production limited to approximately 500 cases per year
- Langton's 'Exceptional' classification places Astralis with Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace
- Astralis has received two perfect 100-point scores from Robert Parker
Clarendon Hills wines are defined by the intensity and structure of old dry-grown vines on ancient rocky soils. The Syrahs, particularly Astralis, show deep, concentrated dark fruit, earthy complexity, and firm tannins with long aging potential. The Grenaches from Blewitt Springs deliver ripe red fruit with spice and a supple texture. Across all wines, natural yeast fermentation and no fining or filtration contribute to textural richness and site-specific character.
- Clarendon Hills Blewitt Springs Grenache$40-60Pioneering single-vineyard Grenache from Blewitt Springs, the expression that put the sub-region on the map.Find →
- Clarendon Hills Clarendon Syrah$45-65Village-tier Syrah from ancient rocky soils, showcasing old dry-grown vine intensity at an accessible price.Find →
- Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah$150-200Langton's 'Exceptional' rated flagship; two perfect Parker scores and limited to 500 cases annually.Find →
- Clarendon Hills Domaine Clarendon Syrah$80-120From the highest-altitude vineyard in McLaren Vale, established 2003, with pronounced cool-climate structure.Find →
- Clarendon Hills uses a Burgundian cru classification: Village, Premier-Cru, Grand-Cru; Astralis is designated 'Premier Grand Cru'
- Astralis Syrah is classified 'Exceptional' by Langton's alongside Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace
- Founded 1990 by Roman Bratasiuk; Robert Parker named him wine producer of the year in 1996
- 1994 Astralis was the first Australian wine priced at $100; production is approximately 500 cases annually
- Vineyards sit on ancient geology aged 750 to 1,600 million years at up to 350 metres elevation in McLaren Vale