Peter Schell and Magali Gely established Spinifex Wines in 2001, they have had a home in the Barossa Valley for over twenty years and hold a strong commitment to and passion for the Barossa. They also have a strong French connection, both physically and philosophically.
Magali’s family, who up until recently were vignerons with a long lineage in Lunel, near Montpellier, and Peter having spent considerable time early in his career working French vintages in regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Provence, and the Languedoc. Time spent in the south of France has fuelled their interest in making unique, hand crafted wines with personality – generous and honest expressions of the varieties and their provenance.
Our relationship with dedicated growers from the Barossa and Eden Valleys has been the foundation of Spinifex Wines since inception. Understanding and utilising the natural variations between vineyards sites, the diversities of soil types and the distinct mesoclimates in the Barossa, have allowed us to create wines with balance, character, depth of flavour and Barossan generosity.
In 2014 and 2018 we purchased established vineyard properties in Eden Valley, the Rostein Vineyard, and on the Barossa Valley floor, the Dominion Vineyard. These sites produce pure expressions of the climatically suited varieties of which they are planted to, which are integral parts of our premium bottlings.
At Spinifex we believe that the best wines come from outstanding vineyards, where the terroir imparts its unique character on every grape. Our focus is on finding and caring for these special sites, considering them the foundation of our winemaking journey. These unique vineyards, with their inherent variations in soil and mesocimate, provide the ability for us to create a stylistically and varietally broad range of wines.
Our winemaking philosophy combines old traditions with new ideas. We use both classic methods and modern techniques to bring out the best in our grapes. This mix of craftsmanship and innovation helps us capture the land’s essence and the unique qualities of our vineyards, resulting in a collection of wines that celebrate the distinct qualities inherent in every varietal.
