32nd in The Real Review 2024 Top 100 Australian Wineries
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Nestled on the northern slopes of Gaanha Bula-Mount Canobolas in Orange, NSW, at an elevation of 1050 meters, the De Salis family’s winery is led by Head Winemaker Mitch Svenson.
The estate’s Lofty Vineyard and Forest Edge Vineyard are celebrated for their dry-grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, crafted with a minimalist approach that reflects a deep respect for nature’s rhythms. This philosophy is driven by a desire to capture the unique interplay between the vines and their microclimate, producing wines that honour traditional Old World techniques.
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De Salis Wines are crafted with wild yeast fermentation, undergo full malolactic conversion, and are made with no additives beyond a trace of sulphur, allowing the purity of the fruit and terroir to shine through.
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De Salis was established in 1999 as a ‘garageister’ winery located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches by research scientist Charlie Svenson. Known as ‘The Francateers’, Charlie, Martin Ostrowski and Andrew Collins produced award-wining wine from premium Cabernet Franc sourced from famed artisan wine maker Murray Smith of Canobolas-Smith.
Whilst researching the production of renewable fuel ethanol at the University of New South Wales, Charlie spent many vintages learning the dark art of minimalist wine crafting from the eclectic Murray Smith. During this time, an eight-year search resulted in Charlie and wife Loretta, acquiring one of Australia’s most ideally located, stunningly beautiful and highest wine grape growing locations, Lofty Vineyard.
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De Salis is named in honour of Charlie’s original Australian ancestor and great, great grandfather, Leopold Fabius Count Fane De Salis, an Englishman, born in Florence in the early 1800’s who emigrated to Australia and established a colonial home in the Cotter District, close to what is now Canberra in the mid 1800’s.
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Featured Wines
Lofty Pinot Noir
2021
A reflection of the earthier end of the broad spectrum that is Pinot Noir. 61% new French Oak brings a great backbone of structure to this deep ruby Pinot.
The nose presents toasted fennel, cassis, toasted cardamom, strawberry leaf, raspberry and Crème Brule. Ripe red berry fruits, nutmeg, cherry cola, vanilla and fine long barrel tannin.
Cellaring 8-12 years.
Chardonnay
2022
Handpicked in small parcels over 2 weeks, each bin was whole bunch pressed. The first pressing and free run juice was settled for 24 hours before fermentation with fine pulp in 40% new and older French barriques.
After full secondary fermentation and a year in barrel this elegant Chardonnay is showing a nose peach, lemon curd tart, stuck match, vanilla cream, eaton mess. A palate of yellow nectarine, dulce de leche, oatmeal, chalky back palate, hint of seawater and oyster shell.
Drinking well now and cellaring 8-10 years.
Rosé
2022
A blend of 114, 115 & 777 Pinot Noir clones. Destemmed then soaked on skins in the cool room overnight, pressed and then settled off bulk pulp. Fermented in 2-5 year old barriques and allowed to complete malolatic fermentation.
This luxurious Rosé is light salmon in colour, with a nose of strawberries, cream and savoury undertones of kombu and dashi. Stone fruit, macadamia nut and cultured butter on the palate with fine peach skin tannin and a lovely fine minerality.