Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/793596
march 2017 / the tasting panel / 69 "Blending has always been a key to Aussie winemaking; we are after all a blend of many peoples from many cultures. We wanted to go back to these ideals and bring it into the present, fashioning something deep, dark and brood- ing that would strike a spark in the 21st-century consumer. We reckon we cracked it." —Tony Ingle, Angove Family Winemaker One-on-One with Angove Family Winemaker Tony Ingle The Inspiration "We believe wine should be true to its origins but also provide consumers something that satisfies and fulfils their needs. When we came to blend the Hopes End, we were particularly lucky to be able to source wines from some exceptional vineyards from around South Australia, McLaren Vale, Barossa and Murray Valley. We are very privileged to have such a resource as winemakers, with access to fruit from our own vineyards and also some exceptional family vignerons who have been supplying to us for three generations." The Process "Over the weeks of trial and retrial, we tasted hundreds of components, finally settling on a blend led by Shiraz and reinforcing the origin of the wine, South Australia, in all its glory. Grenache for lusciousness, Malbec for structure and jammy characters and, the final keystone in the blend, a dash of Petit Verdot. This was the seasoning that brought all the other components of the dish together. Laced with some stunning new American oak, the wine has silky tannins and a hint of vanilla to go with the rich chocolate and fruit-marmalade flavors and shows a deep purple color in the glass." A Nod to Tradition "Blending has always been a key to Aussie winemak- ing; we are after all a blend of many peoples from many cultures. Back in the origins of our country, when people arrived to embrace this amazing land, they brought many different ideas with them, and this was true in winemak- ing as well as other avenues of life. The early Aussie winemakers mixed French, Italian and German winemak- ing with a pioneer's knack of getting the best from what they had. This resulted in some legendary wines that were blends of varieties and regions. We wanted to go back to these ideals and bring it into the present, fashioning something deep, dark and brooding that would strike a spark in the 21st-century consumer. We reckon we cracked it." TONY INGLE'S TASTING NOTES We wanted to find a complexity in the wine that spoke of the cherry fruit and spice that can be found in great South Australian Shiraz, but also entwine sinews of boysenberry marmalade and chocolate from some lesser-used varieties such as Malbec and Grenache. Tony Ingle, winemaker for Angove Family Winemakers and Hopes End. "The Colonisation Commissioners intended to establish a police service as soon as misconduct within the increasing population warranted it," recounts Angove. "Without guidance or set laws, this quickly occurred, and the term 'Hopes End' was soon adopted for this far-off place with lawlessness and vice ensuing. However, even though its history has been marked by hardship, South Australia has endured as a place where dreams can be fulfilled and the unknown can be embraced." Just as the Angove family's history is inextricably woven into the development of South Australia's wine industry, Hopes End the wine brand is brimming with the optimism and courage that intrepid settlers brought with them to the region in 1886.