Petaluma Winery

Petaluma was founded by Brian Croser in 1976 with grand plans to identify great sites for particular varieties to produce South Australian regional styles of high quality from distinguished sites, an idea that, at the time, was revolutionary. Initially this included some surprising releases including a Spatlese Riesling from the Laradoc Valley, next to the Mitchelton winery and a Cowra Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer. The Gewurztraminer was the last wine from Petaluma exhibited at an Australian wine show.

In 1978 Petaluma purchased the Piccadilly site, now owned by Brian Croser, from which the Petaluma Tiers Chardonnay is still sourced. Soon thereafter Petaluma took over management and then bought from the The Evans Wine Company a quality Riesling Vineyard in the Clare Valley, from which Hanlin Hill is still sourced, and a parcel of Shiraz and Cabernet vines in Coonawarra. At a later date the Shiraz in the Coonawarra vineyard was removed bringing the Petaluma Coonawarra to the Cabernet Merlot blend seen to this day, and allowing the bottling of varietal Merlots. In 1992 Shiraz and Viognier were planted in the Mount Barker region of the Adelaide Hills marking the last major addition to the Petaluma portfolio. In 2001 Lion Nathan mounted a hostile takeover of Petaluma with Brian Croser remaining figurehead of the company until 2005.

Petaluma Winemaking

Petaluma has always had a strong winemaking focus arising from Brian Croser’s constant attention to detail he instilled at the winery he still regularly visits. Wines are made with classic methods although certainly do not shy away from using modern techniques where they believe them to be appropriate.

Petaluma Wine List

Petaluma remains compact it is offerings. There is the Hanlin Hill Riesling, Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot, Coonawarra Merlot, Adelaide Hills Viognier, Mount Barker Shiraz, Essence Coonawarra Botrytis Semillon, Adelaide Hills Chardonnay with two additional single vineyard Chardonnays from the Summertown and Tiers vineyards.