Rockford Sparkling Black Shiraz

Established in 1984, Rockford has long been an inspiration for several generations of Australian winemakers. Founded by the legendary Robert (Rocky) O’Callaghan, the winery is a family-owned Barossa institution using traditional Barossa grape varieties, with some vines dating back to the 1880s. Much of the winery equipment also dates back well over 100 years, and the use of a traditional basket press gives their iconic Shiraz its name. This unique approach to traditional winemaking, results in a range of wines which represent the pinnacle of quality that the Barossa has to offer. Oak plays only a supporting role, while the wines are fragrant and beautifully textured with a great capacity to age

Each year after vintage Rockford choose specific parcels of Shiraz for their Sparkling Black Shiraz. Following maturation in oak barrels for two years, a portion of this ‘newer’ vintage wine is blended with some of the Rockford Black Shiraz ‘base blend’ wine. It’s a rolling blend that has been 35 years in the making, growing in complexity with every vintage. It’s this base wine that gives the Black Shiraz its consistency and complexity maintaining the Rockford style year in, year out.

After blending the wine is bottled and then undergoes a second fermentation. Once this magical transformation from still wine to sparkling wine is complete, Black Shiraz is aged on yeast lees in the same bottle then hand-riddled, disgorged and liqueured with their own fortified Shiraz. Finally, it is carefully packaged by hand by a small and committed group of long-term Rockford employees. Because it’s a blend of many vintages, the date on the bottles refers to the year that Black Shiraz was disgorged