Two Hands Wines was founded in early 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz.
The original aim shared by Michael and Richard was to
make the best possible Shiraz-based wines from prized Shiraz growing
regions throughout Australia. Their intention was, and still is, to
showcase the diversity of Australian Shiraz by highlighting regional
characteristics and allowing the fruit to be the primary feature of the
wines. Two Hands refers to the very personable approach taken with each
parcel of grapes, no matter how big or small. The wines are carefully
guided through the viticulture and winemaking process by Michael Twelftree and winemaker, Matt Wenk.
Two Hands' first
vintage was in 2000, starting with just 17 tonnes of fruit. In 2004 a
state-of-the-art winery was built in the picturesque Barossa Valley in
South Australia, specifically designed for small batch handling. To
maximise the individual regional and varietal characteristics and to
allow for greater quality control, every parcel of fruit, no matter how
small, is handled separately from crushing through to fermentation and
oak maturation. Premium fruit is now sourced from six of the finest
Shiraz growing regions in Australia, and Two Hands work closely with
their own vineyards and band of growers to ensure the full potential of
each vineyard is reached.
From the outset, Two Hands set out to
be unique. This approach is reflected in everything from the names of
the wines through to innovative packaging and, not least, the wines
themselves. Two Hands has grown to be a clear market leader and now
exports wines to over 24 countries around the world. From small
beginnings, the winery has been able to manage its growth organically
whilst maintaining an absolute quality focus.
'Quality
without compromise' is a core value that drives all Two Hands decisions
so, not surprisingly, the wines have received international acclaim from
respected wine critics, with Robert Parker proclaiming Two Hands as
'...the finest negociant operation south of the equator...'
In
November 2012, Two Hands was named in the Wine Spectator's annual Top
100 for the 10th consecutive year, an achievement that has never been
equalled by any other winery the world over.