Battle of Bosworth
McLaren Vale , South Australia
Brands
Battle of Bosworth, Spring Seed Wine Co, Springs Road Kangaroo Island
Winery Overview
Battle of Bosworth in McLaren Vale was established by Joch Bosworth and Louise Hemsley-Smith in 2001, and make their wines from vineyards that were established in the 1970's by Joch's parents.
The mission is to grow exceptional wines in harmony with nature. Driven by a respect for the land and a desire to produce wines that reflected the essence of McLaren Vale, our organic journey began 30 years ago, leading us to become McLaren Vale’s first organic winemaker.
Battle of Bosworth Wines and the Spring Seed Wine Co brand are produced from 100% estate grown organic fruit. These two brands encompass a variety of wine styles and price points from Sparkling Wine, White and Red still wines and a fortified.
In 2016 Joch and Louise bought established vineyards in Cygnet River on Kangaroo Island and in 2018 launched the Springs Road Wines and opened a cellar door in 2018.
Available in
Canada, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, USA, Vietnam
Seeking Distribution in
Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka
Winemaker Bio
Raised in the clean fresh air of McLaren Vale, Joch spent his formative years helping his dad in the vineyards and fishing in the crystal waters off the St Gulf St Vincent, 7 km to the west of the Willunga.
Following successful study at Charles Sturt University in New South Wales in viticulture (Associate Diploma 1988-1990) Joch headed overseas, working for a season at Robert Mondavi in the Napa followed by a vintage in Oregon, at Willamette Valley Vineyards.
Back in Australia he worked at Goona Warra, a small Victorian winery in the Sunbury wine region, where he worked for several years. After three years as resident viticulturist and winemaker Joch returned home to the family vineyards in 1995 to take over the reins from father and founder, Peter.
Joch’s commitment to organic principles in the vineyards began with an increasing sense of discomfort about using synthetic chemicals on his soils and at the same time, that using natural, old fashioned farming techniques was utterly feasible in a climate as benign as McLaren Vale’s.
“When we began converting to organics in ’95, there was no roadmap,” Joch says. “McLaren Vale’s climate suited it, I wasn’t keen on chemicals, and it simply felt like the right direction for the vineyards. So, we made a start and worked it out as we went.”
Max Allen in his book, The Future Makers; Australian Wines for the 21st Century, describes Joch as one of the ‘most important organic winemakers in Australia’.
Joch was named McLaren Vale’s grape grower of the year at the annual McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association’s (MVGWTA) Wine Industry Awards in September 2008. The award recognises best practise viticultural management in McLaren Vale, as well as commitment to innovation, environmental sustainability and grape growing excellence.
Joch celebrated 30 years of organic wine growing in 2025 with 18 months of impressive wine show awards including Trophies for Best Red Blend (for the Heretic) at the 2025 McLaren Vale Wine Show, Best Organic Wine at the 2024 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards (for the 2023 Battle of Bosworth Cabernet Sauvignon) and the Chairman’s Award for the 2024 ‘Puritan’ Shiraz (at the 2024 McLaren Vale Wine Show), for the wine that ‘best represents the past, present, and future of McLaren Vale' - a nice validation for his hard work over the years In the vineyards.
