As part of the break-up of the assets of Normans Wines, the American producer Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates, until recently in merger/acquisition talks with BRL Hardy Ltd, has purchased for an undisclosed price the 172ha Eringa Park property in McLaren Vale. 97 ha are already planted to a range of largely red grapes, including some 79 year-old grenache. Other plantings include shiraz, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and nebbiolo, plus a small area of chardonnay. Former Normans winemaker Peter Fraser will continue his association with the vineyard through Kendall-Jackson’s new Yangarra Park label, a new Australian brand it introduced last September. Located towards the east of the McLaren Vale wine region, and at an elevation of 591 feet, Eringa Park – which is to be renamed as Yangarra Park – is is slightly higher than most of its vineyards. Kendall-Jackson has hinted that the ‘ranch’s’ variety of houses and buildings could form the basis for a future estate winery. The Yangarra Park brand will however continue to source fruit from a number of South Australia’s cooler areas.
