THISTLEDOWN, Australia

Thistledown was founded by Master of Wine, Giles Cooke who had a vision for a more elegant, textural interpretation of Australian wine.

Initial explorations resulted in access to many of the best vineyards, many of which were the previously unloved Old Vine Grenache. Incredible, historic fruit sources coupled with Giles’ increasingly adept efforts has quickly resulted in a reputation for being amongst the best in the country. Narrating the stories of these wines to an increasingly attentive global audience is Giles’ heartfelt commitment and mission.

Viticulture

Thistledown works closely with a diverse group of growers across the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Langhorne Creek regions of South Australia and seeks out growers whose fruit is capable of expressing balance, varietal expression and a keen sense of place. In general, Thistledown sources fruit that is grown at about 3 tons per acre which we believe provides us with the optimal combination of concentration, fruit purity and balance. The regions of Barossa and McLaren Vale are blessed with a multitude of soil structures and we like to work with fruit that displays the effects of the changing nature of the soil explicitly - be that the rich, deep terra rossa soils of the Barossa Valley floor or the undulating, sandy soils of Blewitt Springs in McLaren Vale. Much is talked about the role of old vines and they are indeed a fabulous resource. However, they are not a guarantee of quality and in some years, having a trellised, judiciously irrigated middle aged vine may well provide wine of better balance than a dry grown old vine. We therefore like to work with a spread of trellised and bush vine vineyards, old and new, dry grown and irrigated. The consistent factor must be limited yields and balance.

Winemaking

Crafting lithe, energetic wines that illustrate the benefits of great sites and intelligent, low-intervention winemaking. Thistledown share a particular passion for Grenache and, in ever more detail, Thistledown continue to unpick the rich patchwork of South Australian Grenache – reassembling it in their own inimitable style. This unique blend of superb fruit sources and experience in both the New and the Old Worlds helps craft wine of subtlety, texture and detail – wines perfectly suited to complement rather than overwhelm fine food. In one of the most geologically diverse regions in the world, Grenache thrives but has not always been valued – until now.

Highlights
  • Thistledown is committed to showcasing the diversity and beauty of the region through wines which faithfully translate vineyard site to bottle.
  • All growers are paid a fair price to enable them to maintain their vineyards and invest in progressive vineyard management practices.
  • Sharing their particular passion for Grenache and, in ever more detail, Thistledown continue to unpick the rich patchwork of South Australian Grenache.
'Giles Cooke MW has spread himself broadly, but never thinly. He makes a suite of wines from the Barossa, as well as another, arguably more central, suite from the Vale, with grenache the vital heartbeat. The whole Thistledown range is of the highest order, but it is hard not to focus on that colourful palette of grenache cuvées. Single-vineyard wines from distinguished sites and multi-site blends, but always old vines, and always farmed impeccably, with each nuanced in its making to reflect the fruit profile off those sites – these represent some of the most engaging, fragrant, finely structured and compelling wines in the country. It’s no wonder they’ve topped the Halliday Wine Companion grenache varietal category twice in recent years. The 2025 Wine Companion winner was the 2023 This Charming Man from the Smart vineyard in Clarendon. Varietal grenache is still not celebrated as it should be, but that’s a wine to take to the world, to say "look at what is possible".'
Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wineries of 2024 - 29th Place
2024 This Charming Man, Single Vineyard, Clarendon Old Vine Grenache won GRENACHE OF THE YEAR and RED WINE OF THE YEAR before going on to take the top prize - WINE OF THE YEAR! Sourced from one, highly prized block on the iconic Smart Vineyard in McLaren Vale’s Clarendon sub region, this is the second year in a row that the same wine has scooped the Grenache of the Year award, and the third time in total that they have scooped up that coveted trophy.
Halliday Wine Companion 2025 - Wine of the Year
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