Entopia Wines
Introduction
Our 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon won a Bronze Medal at the 2008 Swan Valley Wine Show.
We have just released our Spring in the Valley 2009 newsletter. Click here to read it online!
Entopia is a "real place, which satisfies the dreamer and is acceptable to the scientist, a place where the projections of the artist and the builder merge."Constantinos Doxiadis
Visit our intimate octagonal air-conditioned tasting room to enjoy estate produced wines featuring Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Rosé.
We are open every Saturday and Sunday, from 11am to 4pm. Want to find us? Click here.
History of Entopia
The name of the winery is Entopia which is a town planning word meaning "achievable good thing" and was created by the Greek planner, Constantinos Doxiadis, to describe his vision for the post war reconstruction of Greece.
When Brian and Heather purchased the property in October 1998, it was a fairly run-down horse property with no vines, several old sheds, lots of tyres, wire fences and weeds. They set about clearing the area, and in 2000, planted approximately 1800 Shiraz vines. In 2001, they planted 500 Chardonnay and 1200 Cabernet Sauvignon, totalling over 3,500 vines that are producing about 10 tonnes of grapes at vintage.
The first vintage was Shiraz in 2003, and the wine was made at Swan Valley Wines in Haddrill Road by contract winemaker Julie White. The current winemaker is Rachel Robinson.
In 2004 there was the first vintage of Cabernet and Chardonnay. In 2006 a Rosé was made from early picked Shiraz and a Port from late picked Shiraz.
Grapes are handpicked partly by Brian and Heather and partly by contractors and taken in 20kg tubs to Swan Valley Wines where they are processed. The Chardonnay is first, then the Cabernet and finally the Shiraz, and the picking is usually completed in late February, but depends on the weather. It takes about 5 days with 5 - 6 pickers and two support people for loading and delivery.
The Chardonnay and Rosé are bottled about 6 months after vintage, and the reds after at least a year. The Cabernet is aged for a further year in oak barrels before bottling. Wine is then stored at a constant 18ºC in an insulated cellar on the property.
The property is 4 hectares in area and has frontage to the Swan River. The land has been variously used for table grapes, orchard and as a horse property. The "tree" logo depicts the old apricot tree at the turn in the driveway. This tree could be 50 years old and has an interesting corkscrew twist in the trunk, but is still highly productive.
Brian and Heather have now modified their planting to double the number of Chardonnay vines and to introduce Verdelho vines. These varieties were grafted onto heavily pruned Shiraz vines in late October 2007.
The large verandah which overlooks the vineyard down to the Swan River is available for picnics and daytime functions for up to 60 people.
In nice weather, a picinic on the lawns is available and with advance notice, we can arrange fruit and/or cheese platters.