From the Viticulturists Desk...

The season so far can be described as mild. Our Vineyard temperatures have been on average or slightly below for October, November and December. We have had small rain events regularly which has almost negated the need for irrigation and has maintained a fresh and healthy canopy and allowed the bunches to fill out nicely. We expect to start harvesting Chardonnay and Pinot Gris in mid to late Febrary, following by the reds in March.

Australia Day Celebrations

Be a Smarty and grab a Chardy this Australia Day...

With 20% off our full range of Cumulus Wines you would be crazy not to join in on the celebrations. 

It's as easy as presenting this code AU2012 with your order and we will have it delivered to your door.

So, go on, click on the BUY DIRECT tab on the website and celebrate Australia Day.

Offer ends midnight 26th January 2012.

Celebrate with our Rose'... on us!

In support of the Rose' Revolution, to celebrate Spring and with Summer just around the corner. We have our 2010 Rolling Pink and 2010 Luna Rosa available for a limited time only at $120 per case (that is only $10 per bottle!) 

You can order your Rose' here via our website.

A wonderful wine to celebrate this festive season.

Rose' Revolution

ROSE' REVOLUTION TASTE & TWEET

With over 25 different venues hosting tastings or dinners on Thursday 10th November for the 2011 Rose Revolution and over 70 different Rose's on tasting for free at the Argyle Sydney, you will be spoilt for choice!

If you can't make it along to a venue, you can still join in. Grab your favourite dry Rose' and get involved by tasting and tweeting. Simply by using the #roserev with tasting from 7:30-9:00pm AEST. There is a twitter competition to go in the draw to win some Riedel glasses.

Join in on the Rose' Revolution to celebrate Dry Rose with all the details you will need right here...'http://rosewinerevolution.com/events.html

2008 CUMULUS SHIRAZ & 2009 CUMULUS CHARDONNAY SOLD OUT

If you managed to get your hands on a bottle of our 2008 award winning Cumulus Shiraz and our 2009 Cumulus Chardonnay you are very lucky! 

It is with great pleasure (and sadness) that we have officially sold out of our current vintage on our online store.

If you wish to ensure that you do not miss out on any of our future releases, ensure you keep visiting our website and facebook page for updates.

5 Stars in 2012 GOLD BOOK

Rob Geddes 2012 Gold Book

Climbing Merlot 5 stars *****

"An affordable good example of a hard to get right variety. Blueberry, Mulberry, Raspberry aromas with a splash of spice herald a fleshy true to varietal body with fresh ripe fruit, silky tannins and medium bodied length that finishes with a red berry fruit and subtle oak."

Cumulus Orange Chardonnay 5 Stars *****

"...A wine to keep coming back to complexity and getting finer each year the fleshy palate with soft acidity, is under continual refinement. Silky textures and bright stone fruit with the perfume of Orange."

Cumulus Estate Wines features in NSW Business Sustainability DVD

"...Regional businesses which have taken innovative steps to become more financially and environmentally sustainable have been show cased in a major DVD production." "...Cumulus Estate Wines and their sustainability efforts are featured in this DVD.

"...These operations show that businesses in regional NSW are progressive. They are taking innovative steps towards improving their sustainability. This DVD showcases  nine dramatically different regional NSW business operations, the sustainability measures they have implemented, their motives and the outcomes in financial and environmental terms. Their stories show the passion and innovative approaches that are key ingredients in achieving improved business sustainability."

(Armidale Independent, p10)

SKY HIGH AWARD FOR CUMULUS

The results of the international Syrah du Monde Awards were released this week, with Australia’s very own Cumulus Shiraz 2008 collecting a gold medal (one of only 34 awarded) and an impressive position in the competition’s Top 10 syrah/shiraz from around the world.

 The Syrah du Monde 2011 brought together nearly 400 wines from 24 countries, making this competition one of the world’s top events for syrah and shiraz wines. The Top 10 ranking had a strong international diversity this year with six countries appearing among the world’s ten best syrah/shiraz wines. With 3 wines from France, 2 from South Africa and 1 each from Switzerland, Italy and Bulgaria, that left two spots for Australian wines – one from the Barossa and the Cumulus Shiraz from Orange NSW.

Winemaker Debbie Lauritz says "I’m thrilled that our Cumulus Shiraz was selected in the Top 10. Out of all the entries from all over the world, to have our Orange Shiraz included amongst the best is a real boost to the region and proves to me Orange can compete with the best of them.

As wine growers, we fiercely believe in the quality of the Orange wine region and our vineyards. The Cumulus vineyard was established in the early 1990’s and rises to 620 metres, making it high-elevation and cool-climate. The fully mature vines are deeply planted on ancient soils some 450 million years old. The limestone base is overlaid by volcanic-derived basalt from the now dormant Mount Canobolas and this ancient combination of well-drained soils produces vines of unique fruit strength and character.

Orange’s fabulous high-UV sunshine and altitudinal drop in night temperature also helps, creating wines with linear structure and cool-climate spice notes."

Cumulus also prides itself on their sustainable approach in the vineyard, with the long-term view of producing healthy, balanced vines with minimal intervention.

The Cumulus Shiraz (and its sister wine the Cumulus Chardonnay) is sourced from the estates best vineyard blocks and only made in small lots in exceptional years when the quality is deemed high enough.

Cumulus Cleans Up at 2010 Orange Outstanding Business Awards

In November 2010 the CGU Orange Outstanding Business Awards Presentation evening was held, highlighting local businesses that have achieved high levels of excellence over the last 12 months. There were 11 main categories of excellence, and two special categories highlighting efforts in environmental sustainability in both water conservation and energy efficiency.

Of these categories, Cumulus Estate Wines was presented with not just one but TWO awards:

~ 2010 Best Agriculture/Agribusiness Award

~ 2010 Best Environmental Sustainability Award - Water Conservation

Thank you to all nominees, sponsors, our supporters, winelovers and staff.

Press Release