"...our challenge began."

The Longhop and Old Plains range of wines are produced by Domenic Torzi (pictured left) and Tim Freeland. The former Gawler high school mates first mooted the idea of making icon wines from the Adelaide Plains in 2002. Vineyards were secured, the requirement being old vines a priority. Our small band of growers have embraced the ideal of delivering premium grapes in order to showcase the power and rich fruit flavours the Adelaide Plains has to offer.

"...escaped the vine pull of the 1980s."

Great wine begins in the vineyard and for Old Plains and Longhop nothing is more important. Our vineyards are unique, remnant plantings that have survived urban expansion and the pursuit of other agricultural profits. They also escaped the vine pull schemes that were popular during the 1980s.
These government sponsored schemes saw old, low yielding vines uprooted with the help of subsidies and replaced by cash crops of vegetables and wheat. In some instances vast tracts of old vine shiraz was replaced by chardonnay! What a waste.
The remaing small vineyards are true masterpieces of wine grape flavour, weathered, gnarly and magnificent in their defiance of commercial expansion.

"...hand made wines."

Wine made by flavour not by numbers, is one way of describing our approach to winemaking. Its a year round, hands on approach that makes our wine unique. The hard work never seems to end but seeing the wines evolve over time is truly rewarding.