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HISTORY
The Pfeiffer winery sits on a high embankment above a sweeping bend in Sunday Creek in Rutherglen in Northern Victoria (not far from the New South Wales border). The winery was built in 1895 by Monsieur Joseph Gassies and purchased by Chris and Robyn Pfeiffer in 1984.
Pfeiffer has two vineyards: the original 55 acre "Sunday Creek" vineyard, which borders on the Murray River and has some vines that were planted in the early 1960s; and the neighboring 25 acre Carlyle vineyard which was acquired in the early 1990s.
Chris was formerly Chief Fortified Winemaker at Lindeman¡¯s and has built an international reputation as both a still wine and fortified winemaker and judge. He is currently Chairman of Judges for the prestigious Royal Melbourne Wine Show and for the Rutherglen Wine Show (Australia¡¯s longest running wine show).
Vintage 2000 saw the commencement of the winemaking career of Jennifer Pfeiffer, Chris and Robyn¡¯s youngest daughter, as Assistant Winemaker, making
Pfeiffer a winemaking family business.
THE REGION
Pfeiffer Winery is situated in one of Australia¡¯s oldest wine
regions ¨C Rutherglen, a distinctive viticultural region with a continuous family winemaking history of over 140 years. Rutherglen¡¯s extended vintage ¨C the longest in Australia ¨C provides options for wines of varying but distinctive regional character. Vintage often begins in January and continues through to early May.
Rutherglen experiences a continental climate - so there is a wide range of temperature variation between the warmest and coldest months as well as in the daily temperature range. This means that throughout vintage, Rutherglen experiences warm, sunny days and very cool, clear nights. This is one of the key factors in slowing the ripening processes and providing such high quality fruit. Rutherglen has a Heat Degree Days Index of 1770 and is 36°South.
The other distinct climatic factor for Rutherglen is that of sunshine hours (SSH). Rutherglen¡¯s SSH is the highest of all Australian wine regions - not hotter, just more hours of sunshine. This plays a significant part in producing the lusciously ripe fruit that makes Rutherglen fortified wines so outstanding. It is not a sudden burst of heat but slow and even, as is the ripening. The result is that fruit remains in good condition and with a good sugar/acid balance. Rutherglen has two soils types - the band of loam that extends east and south of Rutherglen and the sandy flats closer to the river. The Sunday Creek vineyard enjoys the sandy flats & the Carlyle vineyard sits on a gently sloping hill of clay loam.
WINE AND WINEMAKING
Crisp whites and full-bodied red wines are assured and then, with fall¡¯s mild, sunny days seeming to stretch forever, the famous Muscat grapes are picked. These are rightly known as the ¡°World¡¯s Richest Wines¡±, internationally extolled for their lusciousness and intensity. These wines are the heritage of the Australian wine industry, nurtured by generations of Rutherglen¡¯s 8 Muscat producers (families such as Chris and Robyn Pfeiffer) in ageing soleras kept for future blends.
Chris and Jennifer focus on growing the best possible fruit and making wines with great balance and approachable tannins.
The Pfeiffer wines currently available in the United States are:
