Welcome back to the Two Hands Wines newsletter! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are soaking up the summer vibes. As we ease into the new year and return from our Christmas break, we’re already looking ahead to the excitement of the upcoming vintage. The vineyard is alive with energy, and there’s plenty to share as we gear up for another amazing year in our 25th year of winemaking. Let’s dive into what’s been happening and what’s on the horizon!
AT CELLAR DOOR
It is with great excitement that we announce the appointment of a new Cellar Door Manager, Vanessa Seppelt. Vanessa brings a wealth of experience to the team and we know that you will be very well looked after when you visit. When you next visit cellar door please say hello to Vanessa and you can read more about her in our ‘Meet the Team’ section below.
We are open over the entire Australia Day long weekend and what better way to celebrate than to enjoy some great Australian Shiraz, that embraces the many premium wine regions we source our fruit from. Whether you’re a Gnarly Dudes or Ares drinker please visit the cellar door over the long weekend and pickup your favourite bottle to enjoy with friends and family.
We always recommend that you make a booking for busy weekends to avoid any disappointment. Please call the cellar door team on 08 8568 7908 or email cellardoor@twohandswines.com to make your reservation.
IN THE VINEYARD
Veraison “the change of colour of the grape berries” pronounced ver-Ray-zon.
With the recent warmer Barossa weather, we have started to see early signs of veraison throughout our Holy Grail vineyard. This is an exciting point in the growing season indicating vintage 2025 is getting close! As more and more of the bunches develop their colour, they also start to develop flavour and sweetness.
Our Viticulture Manager Peter, along with his team Alex and Lara, are very busy monitoring the growth, managing water and tying up the ‘sur Echalas’ trellised Clos block at Holy Grail. Another important task that we often do at this point in the season is bunch thinning. Whilst it might seem counterintuitive to remove some bunches from the vines, this important practice allows for better stress management of the vine, particularly in dry years like this year. It also removes under developed bunches allowing for better ripening of the other bunches and improving overall flavour and quality.
2025 Tour Down Under
Wednesday 22nd January we had the Tour Down Under race came through the Barossa and the eagle-eyed cycling fans out there may have seen the peloton whizzing past the Holy Grail vineyard on their way through Seppeltsfield. Seppeltsfield and Marananga turned on a show with the above head shots of the date palms as the helicopter few by our Cellar Door. If you are a cycling fan, make sure to book your trip next year in January to enjoy the beautiful scenery and of course great wines the Barossa has to offer, find a shady spot and enjoy the race in person.
images via Channel 7
IN THE WINERY
In preparation for Vintage 2025, our 25th vintage at Two Hands, we starting to see the first signs of the winery preparing for grapes to arrive. We are starting to receive the first samples from our estate and grower vineyards for analysis. Over the next few weeks Jett and Camryn, our lovely lab assistant, will be busy processing grape samples; measuring sugar, acidity and colour to help determine the optimum time to harvest.
We have also had a shipment of new oak arrive this week freshly stamped with the Two Hands logo. These barrels have been topped up with Shiraz from the 2024 vintage to make room for the new wines coming soon. We use a variety of oak producers for our barrels to give different elements to the various wines that go in them, but all the barrels we use are French oak.
EVENTS 2025
We have trips planned for Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth & Canberra throughout the year. Keep an eye on the Calendar of Events as we update it multiple times throughout the year.
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Barossa Vintage Festival
23rd April 2025 – 27th April 2025
Barossa Valley
Our event is a collaboration with our Marananga neighbours!
Marananga Meander – Four Shades of Shiraz
25th April 2025
A modern walking tour through Marananga. This fun-filled culinary adventure highlights Barossa’s most iconic varietal along Barossa’s most iconic road, Seppeltsfield Road, with stops at Two Hands Wines, Staguni, Seppeltsfield Road Distillers, and Greenock Creek Wines. Expect Shiraz inspired sips and eats with everything from bold wines, tasty plates of food on the verandah of the old Marananga School and seriously delicious gin cocktails.
Book Tickets! 2025 Vintage Festival
Your Marananga Meander – Four Shades of Shiraz itinerary includes stops at:
• 11am-12pm – Two Hands Wines
• 12:15pm-1:30pm – Staguni
• 1:45pm-2:45pm – Seppeltsfield Rd Distillers
• 3:00pm-4:00pm – Greenock Creek Wines
WINE OF THE MONTH
ANGEL’S SHARE
McLAREN VALE SHIRAZ
Angels’ Share, a gorgeous silky rich shiraz.
McLaren Vale is the birthplace of South Australia’s wine industry and home to some of the world’s oldest vineyards. Shiraz is the most important varietal for McLaren Vale; generous, plum-mulberry fruit profiles, sometimes chocolate/mocha characters with notes of earth and spice and soft, supple tannins.
Order six or more bottles of 2022 Angel’s Share Shiraz and you will receive TWO complimentary bottles with your order! This limited time offer is available over the Australia Day long weekend, so don’t miss out.
SHOP NOW The Picture Series
Angels share refers to the small amount of wine that evaporates from oak barrels during maturation, Medieval winemakers assumed that angels watched over their wines and that they took their share. A fan favourite of many from our Picture Series.
Vanessa grew up in the picturesque Adelaide Hills and moved to the Barossa Valley in 1997. In 2003, she found her way into the wine industry at Murray Street Vineyards, where she played a key role in establishing the cellar door, which opened in 2004. Throughout her career, Vanessa’s roles have been customer-focused, whether working in cellar doors or traveling as a brand ambassador, bringing the winery experience to a wider audience. Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys good food and wine with friends and is an avid dancer, performing regularly with a local dance group throughout the year.
Q&A
What brought you to the wine industry?
Started in 2004 as a means to ‘get out the house’ with two young children (1 and 3 years old). Started in the Cellar Door at Murray Street Vineyards. I was a primary school teacher at the time. I guess I was bitten by the wine bug and excited by the opportunities that came my way.
What is your favourite Two Hands moment so far?
Being the newest team member, working for 3 days and then heading to the Christmas party! One way to meet the THW team.
Favourite Two Hands Wine and why?
Given the season is Summer I do reach for Hell Freezers Over. It is everything a Chardonnay should be. Fresh and crisp. Slightly buttery, quintessential to the grape variety and super refreshing. Yes… I am a confessed and obsessed Chardonnay fan.
What are you most looking forward to in 2025 at Two Hands?
Being part of an established and renowned winery and bringing my passion about the wine industry to the Cellar Door, my team and our visitors. I look forward to meeting those who have been a part of the THW journey.
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