Special label to celebrate 50th anniversary

Pernod Ricard’s Australian wine brand Jacob’s Creek is celebrating the golden anniversary of its Steingarten vineyard by launching a new label for its 2012 Steingarten Riesling.

Fifty years ago, Orlando winemakers made the decision to plant Riesling vines on a steep, rocky site on the top of an exposed hill in South Australia’s Eden Valley.  Situated on the aptly named Trial Hill, the ground was so hard dynamite had to be used to break up the schist rock in order to plant the vines. The vineyard subsequently became known as Steingarten (stone garden in German).

Since then, the wine named after this vineyard, Steingarten Riesling, has gained critical acclaim internationally for its delicate, complex and dry style. The wine, produced only in exceptional vintages, is one of Australia’s greatest age-able Rieslings and represents the pinnacle of white winemaking at Jacob’s Creek. The wine was originally released under the Orlando name. In 2005 it was relaunched under the Jacob’s Creek name.

The 50th anniversary of the vineyard will be commemorated with new front and back labelling for the Steingarten Riesling 2012. The front features a painting of the Steingarten vineyard by the late acclaimed outback artist Pro Hart, MBE. As this was a privately commissioned piece, the artwork has never been publicly displayed in galleries, making this a unique label to mark the special occasion.

As founding members of the International Riesling Foundation (IRF) Jacob’s Creek has incorporated the Riesling Taste Profile on the back label of the Steingarten Riesling 2012 to indicate the wine’s dry style.  

 Bernard Hickin, Chief Winemaker at Jacob’s Creek, comments: “Steingarten Riesling is a fine wine with a long history and interesting heritage - a wine with 329 awards to its name. I’m proud to celebrate this premium Riesling and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Steingarten vineyard, in such a unique way.”

Steingarten Riesling 2012 will be available in Autumn 2013 in nothern Europe, China, Hong Kong and Australia. RRP £16.59/AUD$31.99.

8 July 2013 - Felicity Murray