Do you care about animals and love to drink wine? There’s never been a better time to visit Langhorne Creek.
The power of collaboration was a force to be reckoned with when six Langhorne Creek wineries came together to support their beloved neighbour — Monarto Safari Park.
Image credit :: Monarto Safari Park, David Sievers.
Kimbolton Wines’ girl boss and deadset legend, Nicole Clark, has frequented the safari park countless times, and her passion to help the animals has never waivered. Kimbolton was already raising vital funds for cheetah conservation with their popular Cheetah wine, a 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, but it was time to level up. “I’m blessed to have a gorgeous winery ten minutes from the best safari park outside of Africa — what else could I do to help?” says Nicole.
So, Nicole rallied five additional wineries from the Langhorne Creek region to form Grapes for Good. Kimbolton Wines — together with Bleasdale Vineyards, Bremerton Wines, Lake Breeze Wines, The Winehouse, and Vineyard Road Wines — have created a unique mix of vinos, with part proceeds supporting Zoos SA’s conservation mission.
More than 70 percent of the species at Monarto Safari Park are threatened with extinction in the wild! Your support keeps the fight going to save them. Grapes For Good not only gives you another reason to head 50 minutes up the freeway to Langhorne Creek, it also gives you an itinerary and six animal-themed wines to collect.
Lake Breeze Wines: The Bongo
With less than 100 bongos left in the wild, Lake Breeze Wines chose this cutie patootie as the face of their Bernoota Shiraz Cabernet blend. “Blackberry, plum and a hint of choc mint, the Bernoota is our hero wine because it encompasses those sweet trademark Langhorne Creek flavours,” says owner Robyn.
Lake Breeze ticks all the prerequisites for a superb winery, with gorgeous vineyard views, a fine dining restaurant,
a welcoming cellar door, cosy fireplaces, stunning Tuscan-style outdoor seating and a new event space that will blow your socks off. It’s where to take your interstate friends to really show off SA.
:: Website
Bleasdale Vineyards: The Plains Zebra
With numbers decreasing in the wild, the Plains Zebras are facing a troubled future. Langhorne Creek’s oldest vineyard, spanning over 170 years, is proudly helping to save them from extinction.
But what about the wine? “Our Mulberry Tree Cabernet Sauvignon (which was named after the century-old mulberry tree on our vineyard), has aromas of mixed berries, dark chocolate and violets,” says Wine Club Manager Mardi.
While grabbing your bottle of Cab Sav, we suggest going back to where it all began for this award-winning winery in 1850, with a behind the scenes tour. Soak up the stories, then wash it down with a wine tasting before heading off to the next winery.
:: Website
The Winehouse: The African Painted Dog
The Winehouse is supporting one of the most endangered mammals on earth — The African Painted Dog — with one of their most popular drops, the Gipsie Jack Dolcetto Rosé.
“Lifted aromatics of rose oil and florals, with hints of handcrafted boiled lollies and strawberries and cream — this drop is interesting, just like The African Painted Dog,” says Cellar Door Manager Kate.
Gipsie Jack is best served with mates by your side, and that’s perfect because there’s plenty of room at The Winehouse! With a barn-style restaurant, the space is light-filled and super family-friendly, overlooking a gorgeous lawn area and vineyard. It’s the kind of cellar door where you can settle in for the arvo with a cheeseboard, lunch and one of their craft beer flights.
:: Website
Kimbolton Vineyards: The Giraffe
Fiano and giraffes — the perfect blend! “We chose an ancient Italian wine grape variety that grows perfectly here in Langhorne Creek, and we paired it with the gentle giant of the savannah — the giraffe,” Nicole says.
There are less than 70,000 estimated wild giraffes in Africa right now, which means they’re at risk of extinction. By adding this Fiano to your collection, you’re helping Monarto Safari Park continue their conservation efforts.
As fresh as the feeling you get when you step inside Kimbolton Wines, Fiano is crisp and textural with lovely acidity, and their cellar door is an Instagrammer’s dream, with a rooftop overlooking vines for days, a grassy garden made for picnics and a light-filled dining area. And just when you think it couldn’t get any better, they have your kids sorted, too. The Kimbolton Kids’ Flight is exactly what the parental gods ordered, with tastings of Bickford’s cordials paired with local cheese, chocolate and sausage — they’ll have the time of their lives, and you will, too!
:: Website
Image credit :: Kimbolton Wines, Duy Dash. 
Vineyard Road Wines: The Meerkat
Like a full-flavoured Shiraz, the lovable meerkat is personality plus, making them the perfect match. “Supporting the meerkat was a no-brainer for us — they’re social and a little bit cheeky, just like our team!” says Cellar Door Manager Karen.
Vineyard Road’s signature Langhorne Creek Shiraz is packed with forest fruits. As well as an on-site choccy wall featuring Fleurieu Chocolate Company, they have an entire room dedicated to Vasse Virgin skincare — so between wine flights and piping hot flammekueche, you can peruse this natural skincare range.
:: Website
Image credit :: Zoos SA, Adrian Mann.
Bremerton Wines: The Ring-Tailed Lemur
These sisters are doing it for themselves… and for the Ring Tailed Lemur who is in deep trouble in the wild. Bremerton Wines owners Lucy and Bec are passionate about wine and collaboration. “We live and breathe Langhorne Creek, so to team up with five other wineries to help a greater cause was easy for us.”
Representing the Ring Tailed Lemur is Bremerton’s Mollie & Merle Verdelho. “We chose to make a fresh, vibrant style of wine to express the pure varietal characters of our region. Using only free-run juice results in a clean, focused Verdelho with lifted perfumed citrus aromas,” says Lucy.
If you haven’t visited Bremerton Wines in a while, a lot has changed. Their massive cellar door renovation has seamlessly combined the original cellar door with the new, creating loads more space to enjoy their delicious pizzas, pies and wines. Always thinking, ‘What’s next?’, the sisters are also building a distillery on site to meet the demands of their new baby, Willson Gin.
:: Website
Now you’ve got the gist of this unique Langhorne Creek tour, set a date and start collecting. As Nicole says: “Grapes for Good is proof that wine can be a force for good. Every drop can go a little further and make a real difference!”
:: WEBSITE ::
Sponsored.
