Cellar Profile
Now under the stewardship of 5th generation, Jane and Jules Campbell, the family recently celebrated their 150th year of winemaking. Founded in 1870 by Scotsman John Campbell, the winery has become the recognized leader in the production of the world’s richest wine: Rutherglen Muscat. One of the original Rutherglen Muscat producers, they have established a ‘house style’ that is complex and elegant, capturing a rich purity of fruit flavours while finishing clean and dry. Their 70 hectares are planted with old vine Muscat à Petits Grains along with Chardonnay, Roussanne, Viognier and Durif.
Region
A small region in the northeastern part of Victoria, Rutherglen is home to 16 wineries, many of which date back to the area’s 19th Century gold rush. Rutherglen is blessed with warm days, cool nights, and a long dry autumn, providing the blueprints for the optimum ripening of grapes. The region is known best for producing sweet, intensely-flavoured fortified wines made from the local Muscat grape. Still wines made from Shiraz and Durif are also prominent, exhibiting rich fruit and firm tannins with immense aging potential.
Vineyard
Campbells winery and vineyards are situated in the historic Rutherglen wine region of North East Victoria. Campbells was established in 1870 by Scotsman John Campbell. Today 5th generation sisters – Jane as Managing Director and Julie as Winemaker – proudly carry on the family winemaking tradition where their cellars house the world famous Rutherglen Muscat.
Winemaking
Each season, grapes are picked after prolonged ripening to ensure maximum sugar levels and to obtain that classic, Rutherglen raisin character. The fermented wine is blended into the winery’s solera system that blends vintages in order to maintain a consistent house style.
Varieties
Muscat à Petits Grains Rouges is a variant of the more common Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. It has a brownish/reddish hue, hence the name. It is used widely in the production of sweet wines, most notably Vins Doux Naturel from southern France.
Tasting Notes
Rutherglen Muscat is amongst the world’s sweetest and most luscious wines. And this is no exception. 230 g/l of residual sugar mean loads of rich, raisined fruit alongside caramel, toffee and a hint of smoky oak. The palate is full and heady as you’d expect and the finish lingers for days. A complex, intense and well balanced sticky.