Ulster Park Wines

Some call it the 'Paris end' of the Clare Valley, while others know it as the parish of Auburn. Ulster Park Wines is a staple in this hamlet and is definitively known for the regional red grape hero, shiraz. The farm’s past life was as a dairy farm of repute, now owned and run by the Smith family across two generations. The vines were first planted by the Smiths in 1988 with the flagship shiraz, Matriarch, first released in ’04. Pinot gris has joined shiraz in the vineyards alongside, while a rosé and sparkling wine are easy bedfellows in the simple portfolio. Shiraz really is the focal point, though, with varied iterations released each year to celebrate the full potential of the variety and a reflection of traditional expressions from Clare Valley. -MIKE BENNIE