Established in 1998 Hewitson winery is situated in the heart of the Barossa Valley on the historic Seppeltsfield Road and boasts some of the oldest vines in the World. Our fruit is sourced from these dry-grown, pre-Phylloxera vineyards of the Barossa Valley and also single site vineyards in Eden Valley, McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. We believe great wines are the expression of the soils they are grown in and in the seasons they grow. Through knowledge and experience we strive for balance, structure, concentration, power and breeding.

The Old Garden vineyard is the oldest Mourvèdre vineyard in the world planted in 1853. Dry-grown, original existing vines pre-Phylloxera. Eight rows of this rare and unique planting remain to this day at Rowland Flat and produce winemaker Dean Hewitson’s much-lauded single-vineyard table wine bearing the Old Garden name. The vineyard has been hand-tended and dry-farmed by Friedrich Koch and his direct descendants across three centuries.

This single vineyard planted in 1853 is almost certainly the world’s oldest planting of Mourvedre. It is just one hectare and a priceless part of the Barossa landscape. As you might imagine with such old vine fruit and a single vineyard, the wine is a true reflection of the soils and the region. It has savoury dried herb and earthy dark plums plus a spicy, slightly sage-like and ferrous character that’s sustained to a very long finish. A little rhubarb pie character adds further complexity to the palate. A super example of this variety. Date: May 2023; Price: $90.00; Drink: 2023-2031; Rating: 98 Points; Ray Jordan; WinePilot

A rare wine, a rare tasting experience, one that brings the flavours of the soil and the grape together with the emotional connection that comes with drinking wine off the oldest Mourvèdre vineyard in the world. The vines were planted in 1853 on soils that comprise sand over limestone and see no irrigation. This is classic Barossa Mourvèdre (aka mataro): medium bodied, silky textured, red and black fruits flowing alongside a riot of spice, chocolate, clove, pepper and licorice. Fills the mouth and the senses with a seemingly youthful intensity, robust tannins and then you come across a sub-strain of savouriness, followed by chocolate, woodsy spiced oak. It sends the senses wild. What a generous, flavourful, surprising, mouthful. Date: April 2023; Price: $90.00; Drink: 2023-2036; Rating: 97 Points; Jeni Port; WinePilot

The 1853-planted Old Garden vineyard is thought to be the oldest mourvèdre vineyard in the world. Eight years ago I spoke at a symposium in Alicante and took along a bunch of Australian mourvèdre/mataro to show the winemakers and journos. This particular wine caused quite a stir, and the overwhelming response was that the Australian examples of the variety looked more European than European wines. It shows such amazing balance, tension and detail ... all meaty dark and black fruits, exotic spice, biscuity oak and amaro herbs. Savoury and wild, it is the benchmark for the variety in Australia for good reason. Date: Feb 2023; Alcohol: 14%; Price: $88.00; Drink by: 2035; Rating: 96 Points; Dave Brookes; James Halliday Wine Companion

It's wonderfully complex and enticing on the nose with dark fruit, smoked game, cedar and dark chocolate characters, leading to a delectable palate that's substantial and richly textured. Multi-layered and hugely appealing. At its best: now to 2038. Rating: 96 Points; Sam Kim; Wine Orbit

Medium deep crimson. Intense black cherry, red currant, red plum aromas with vanilla, hint marzipan, hint peppercorn aromas. Richly flavoured black cherry, leafy, spicy, graphite flavours, loose knit fine slinky/ al dente tannins and underlying vanilla, mocha oak notes, Finishes firm with crunchy notes. Elemental, quite vigorous and juicy. Needs to settle down, but very good density. Drink now – 2032. Rating: 95 Points; Andrew Caillard MW