The Liebich family have been passionate about wine in the Barossa Valley for almost 100 years. This is a brief look at what was happening around Australia and the Barossa region when Ron and Janet first established the Liebichwein label 25 years ago. Ron is the third generation winemaker to be based in Rowland Flat, South Australia and he’s preparing for his 49th Barossa vintage at age 71.
1992
What happened in Australia in 1992?
Artists in the Top 10 Australian music charts included Billy Ray Cyrus, Guns ?n Roses and Whitney Houston
Average petrol price was 68 c/L
The cost of a postage stamp was increased from 43 cents to 45 cents
The Australian 1 and 2 cent coins were withdrawn from circulation
The Prime minister was Paul Keating
The first WOMADelaide music festival?was held at Botanic Park as part of the Adelaide Festival of Arts
The Cricket World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand where Pakistan?defeated England?in the final at the MCG by 22 runs
The AFL grand final was won by West Coast Eagles, the first non-Victorian team to win
There were about 700 wineries in Australia, now there are well over 2500 (over 150 in the Barossa region)
What happened in Barossa Valley in 1992?
The estimated population of the Barossa Valley council area was 18,000 (now 24,500)
A mixed vintage for wine quality since the warmer regions like the Barossa didn?t receive the heat normally required to deliver the typically concentrated and rich reds wines.
The?Barossa Valley railway line?past Penrice junction was officially declared closed, 18 year later the track between Angaston and Nuriootpa was lifted and a shared path for bikes and pedestrians was put in place
The winery shed was built in Rowland Flat where Liebichwein cellar door still is today
Liebichwein Cellar Door opened in December 1992 operating on weekends only
Steingarten Road in Rowland Flat was known as Narrow Road
Ron was reigning grape treading champion of the Barossa Vintage Festival
The first range of Liebich table wines: 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1993 Shiraz, 1992 Riesling of the Valleys (Barossa fruit grown by Ron blended with some Clare Valley Riesling grapes)
The first Liebich fortified wines: Classic Old Barossa Tawny, Benno Port, Ron’s Blend, Keg Blend
Tending the fruit for Ron’s first Riesling Traminer blend dedicated to his dear mother Lorna as it was her favourite style to drink (trophy winner in 1993 for best sweet white at the Barossa Wine Show)
Ron started planting Merlot, Grenache and Semillon vineyards to complement the older Shiraz and Cabernet in the?40 acre block inherited from older generations
Don’t miss this chance to taste rare wines from our personal cellar!
We’re holding special tastings at cellar door during the Barossa Vintage Festival. This festival has been running for 70 years and in 2017 we are celebrating the 25th vintage for Liebichwein.
Select vintages from 1999 through to 2008 will be open every day for wine tasting flights.
Retrospective Reds include The Darkie Shiraz, The Lofty Cabernet Sauvignon and Potter’s Merlot.
Forgotten Fortifieds include single varietal blends, some over 20 years old.
Wednesday 19th to Sunday 23rd April 2017 between 11am-5pm.
We are proud to present our new release Apera in the style of Sweet Sherry as we continue to hone in on our reputation for fantastic fortifieds.
Ron has been making wine for 46 years in the Barossa region. He makes no secret of the fact that fortifieds, particularly so-called ?white ports? are what got him hooked on winemaking in the first place.
The favourable weather conditions during the 2015 harvest allowed the fruit to naturally become raisins on the vine, perfect for making this style of wine. Semillon grapes almost left forgotten in the vineyard were combined with 1/3 ripe Riesling grapes producing juice that had a rich raisin-like flavour which was lightly fortified with 100% grape spirit to retain 9.2?Baume sweetness.
Raisin Apera is reminiscent of a sticky Botrytis style with warm honey toffee characters. The burnished gold colour belies the youthfulness of the wine. An irresistible perfumed scent of candied citrus mixed with raisins and a luscious sweet finish. The Riesling component lifts the nose and lightens the palate.
This sweet sherry style wine compliments lighter wine drinking moments either before or after meals. Serve chilled on hot days or over crushed ice. Also a versatile ingredient in the kitchen in sauces, sorbets and cocktails.?Try preparing a sorbet or poach your favourite seasonal fruit in a little of the diluted wine.
Raisin Apera is a new addition to Liebich?s extensive range of fortified wines at Liebichwein cellar door in Rowland Flat. It comes packaged in 375mL bottles, a handy size for travelling.
Exclusive to Cellar Door and Mailing List customers.
This single vineyard flagship wine is dedicated to Ron’s?uncle Clarence Walter ?Darkie? Liebich (1920-1988) who encouraged Ron’s winemaking abilities. Uncle ‘Darkie” planted the old 40 acre block on heavy biscay soil on the eastern foothills of the Barossa Ranges in 1969. The vines receive minimal attention and allow nature to do the work.?Dead arm affliction reduces yield but enhances flavour as does the use of hand-pruning and minimal irrigation. ?The vines grow on heavy black biscay soil at Rowland Flat on the eastern foothills of the Barossa.
Special?museum stock 2008 vintage is currently available -?a very good growing season resulting in an extremely low yield averaging 2 tonne per acre. Traditional techniques of hand plunging, basket-pressing with no fining or filtration were employed for fuller flavour.
A unique wine that has been maturing for over five years in various aged American and French hogsheads, producing a multi-layered wine showcasing an enticingly rich nose, balanced intense flavours and subtle oak characters.
Taste Notes: The?nose exhibits black cherries, vanilla, chocolate with hints of sweet anise. Amazingly complex concentrated flavours fill the whole mouth lingering long after the first sip. All this is perfectly balanced with the subtle oak maturation and super silky tannins. Exceptional drinking now, but will reward patience with bottle maturation for another 10 years at least.
Since we have over 14 grape varieties to choose from we are faced with a range of options at vintage as to what styles to make. 2014 was an excellent year for our whites so we produced these two aromatic beauties, one in a crisp dry style and the other sweet and succulent.
NEW RELEASE WHITE WINES ? – ??MARCH 2015
2014 Viognier
This Rhone variety is thriving in the Barossa climate. Viognier is?rather vigorous in the vineyard and seems to have taken well to our heavy/clay soils. In recent years Ron has reinvigorated his passion for white winemaking by exploring the limits of this wonderful adaptable variety. The last 2013 vintage was a lighter body low alcohol style with similar tropical and quince flavours that the 2014 has produced.?Ron made the conscious decision to keep it completely unoaked to capture the essence of the variety.?The luscious palate pairs well with grilled seafood and richly flavoured foods.
Taste Notes: A fresh unwooded style?using gentle basket pressing and cool fermentation to capture?the stunning peach, pineapple and quince flavours.
14.5% Alc Vol
RRP: $19/bottle
Case: $205/12 bottles (save $23)
Previous Vintages:?2013, 2012
2014 Riesling Traminer?Late Picked
Our late picked Traminer Riesling has been a staple in our range since 1993 when we released our first version dedicated to Ron’s mother Lorna Liebich (1917-1997) who always appreciated a sweet drop.?This succulent blend of Riesling (66%) with Gew?rztraminer (34%) delivers a beautiful bouquet with a succulent palate. It will reward cellaring and improve in depth, flavour and complexity developing candied citrus and honey flavours.? Enjoy this wine as an aperitif, with a dessert, or with a delicately spiced curry.
Taste Notes: A delicate style with a?perfumed bouquet of musk and citrus blossom. The sweet palate is balanced by low alcohol and fresh natural acidity.
