Our Story

Estate grown and family operated, an Adelaide Hills cool climate wine that strives for impecable quality.
The cool climate Griffin Vineyard at Kuitpo, est. in 1997, is owned and operated by the Griffin Family. Kuitpo is located in the Southern Adelaide Hills, 10 kilometres due east of McLaren Vale. The vineyard is located on Tynan Road approximately 3 kilometres from Kuitpo Hall, at the top of a valley, 350 metres above sea level, commanding spectacular views south down the valley while also providing a cooler mesoclimate. The vineyard is located within the Adelaide Hills GI zone.

26.5 hectares are under vines, planted in 1997. Five varieties are grown - pinot noir and chardonnay on the western aspect hillside, with merlot, pinot noir and shiraz on the eastern aspect hillside. Our sauvignon blanc is at the south western end of the vineyard running east-west over the crest of a hill. The soil profile is generally made up of topsoil between ½ and 1 foot deep with clay subsoil and some patches of limestone and sandstone. Prior to planting the rows were ripped in excess of 1 metre deep and the soil improved. Row spacings are 2.75 metres while the vines are spaced at 1.5 m apart. Pruning is done by hand leaving between 17 and 20 x2 bud spur positions, except the Sauvignon Blanc which is cane pruned to 40 buds per vine. The trellising is single cordon VSP with single foliage wires raised twice during the growing season. Where possible the canopy is ballerina style to allow dappled sunlight onto the fruit. The vines are irrigated according to the year and their requirements, with this assessment being made by the use of visual vine physiology cues and soil moisture data gathered via moisture monitoring probes.