Willunga 100

Willunga 100 has spent nearly two decades proving that McLaren Vale's old-vine Grenache deserves serious attention. Based in South Australia, they source fruit from two of the region's most sought-after vineyard sites: Sue Trott's 70-year-old Blewitt Springs block and a heritage planting maintained by the Smart family—a single hectare of vines approaching one hundred years old, located in Clarendon. When founder David Gleave started buying from these growers in 2005, few others wanted the fruit. Today, he says, there's a queue stretching to Adelaide. The key to Willunga 100's reputation is their commitment to single-vineyard expression—unoaked wines that let terroir speak clearly, without intervention.

About Willunga 100

Willunga 100's story is rooted in recognising what others overlooked. The Trott Vineyard in Blewitt Springs sits on Maslin sand soils that amplify Grenache's aromatics; whole-bunch fermentation (10% of the blend) lifts the naturally expressive fruit further, producing a warmer, more muscular wine. The Smart Vineyard in Clarendon, by contrast, benefits from proximity to the Adelaide Hills and loamy, silty soils that lend elegance and aromatic lift—a markedly different character despite being just 8 minutes apart by car and using nearly identical winemaking.

In 2019, Willunga 100 purchased the Blind Spot vineyard, a 19-hectare property in the heart of Blewitt Springs. The estate now controls eight hectares planted to Grenache using bush-training methods. This acquisition consolidated their control over fruit quality and allowed them to express a third single-site perspective. The Blind Spot Grenache ferments with approximately 13% whole bunch, highlighting its naturally aromatic character.

The producer's philosophy centres on clarity of winemaking—minimal intervention allows each vineyard's distinct personality to emerge. Through deliberate choices in fermentation and handling, Willunga 100 has established a Grenache expression in McLaren Vale defined by aromatic finesse and delicacy rather than extracted power, one that honors the grape's responsiveness to individual sites. The winemaking choices are deliberate: when whole bunch is used, it's because the vineyard's sandy or silty soils demand that specific amplification. The result is a portfolio of single-vineyard wines that read as distinct expressions of place, not variations on a house style.

Willunga 100 Wines in Our Collection

The core range begins with the 2024 McLaren Vale Grenache (92 points, The Wine Front 93), a non-single-vineyard expression that introduces the house's lifted, red-fruit-forward approach. For serious drinkers, the three single-vineyard Grenaches reveal the real depth: the 2024 Trott Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache (95 points, The Wine Front) shows muscular structure and aromatic complexity from sand-soil terroir; the 2024 Smart Vineyard Clarendon Grenache (96 points, The Wine Front) delivers elegant, Adelaide Hills–influenced aromatics; and the 2024 Blind Spot Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache (95 points, The Wine Front) presents as slightly more brooding, with the clarity and purity of single-site fruit.

The 2024 McLaren Vale Shiraz (92 points) and 2024 McLaren Vale Tempranillo (92 points) round out the range, giving access to the producer's broader regional and varietal work.

Food Pairing

The Trott Vineyard Grenache—muscular and richly aromatic—pairs beautifully with slow-cooked lamb shanks, beef stews with root vegetables, or aged hard cheeses. The more elegant Smart Vineyard expression suits roasted chicken with herb butter, duck confit, or Mediterranean dishes with tomato and olive. The Blind Spot Grenache works with charcuterie and cured meats, while the Moritz Block Shiraz demands a proper steak or game bird. The Grenache Blanc is excellent alongside seafood pasta or summer salads with anchovy dressing.

What makes Willunga 100's vineyards special?

They source from three exceptional old-vine sites: Sue Trott's 70-year-old Blewitt Springs block, the Smart family's century-old Clarendon vineyard, and their own 19-hectare Blind Spot property. Whole-bunch fermentation amplifies Grenache's aromatic expression from sandy soils.

How do the single-vineyard Grenaches differ?

Trott Vineyard (Blewitt Springs) is warmer, more muscular, from Maslin sand soils. Smart Vineyard (Clarendon) is elegant with aromatic lift from Adelaide Hills proximity and loamy soils. Blind Spot is slightly more brooding, despite proximity to Trott.

Which wine should I start with?

The 2024 McLaren Vale Grenache (92 pts) introduces the house style affordably. For single-vineyard exploration, try Trott for power or Smart for elegance. Both 2024 vintages scored 95–96 points from The Wine Front.

Who makes Willunga 100 wines?

Founder David Gleave established Willunga 100 in South Australia, sourcing fruit from heritage vineyard sites: Sue Trott's 70-year-old Blewitt Springs block and the Smart family's century-old Clarendon planting, plus their own Blind Spot estate.

What style of wine does Willunga 100 make?

Willunga 100 specializes in single-vineyard Grenache and Grenache-based blends from McLaren Vale, made with minimal intervention to showcase terroir. The 2024 Smart Vineyard Clarendon Grenache scored 96 points—elegant and aromatic.

How much does Willunga 100 wine cost?

Willunga 100 wines range between £14.75 and £27.05. Entry-level McLaren Vale expressions start around £15; premium single-vineyard Grenaches from Trott, Smart, and Blind Spot vineyards sit between £25 and £27.