Pirramimma Wines
McLaren Vale , South Australia
Winery Overview
In today’s climate of global corporate wine ownership and multi beverage models, Pirramimma has stood the test of time from 1892 to today.
Still family owned and run, and largely from the same property founded by AC Johnston over a century ago comprising over 100 hectares of prime McLaren Vale fruit, Pirramimma and the Johnston family are synonymous with McLaren Vale. Four generations of Johnston’s have called McLaren Vale home, making Pirramimma one of Australia’s oldest wineries to still be in family control.
Our soils, once worked to exhaustion under a traditional European philosophy of farming have been for decades nurtured slowly back to organic health. Our wines, respected and revered worldwide are the end product of knowing intimately the certain characteristics of our home vineyards.
Geoff Johnston, current custodian himself celebrated fifty vintages alone at Pirramimma, giving the wines the best possible chance of being picked and nurtured into some of Australia’s best wines. We have pioneered varieties suited to the region, such as Petit Verdot and Tannat, which with the climate changing around us are best suited to McLaren Vale and our taste profile. The acclaim speaks for itself, with Pirramimma being awarded in 2021 it’s fifth AWC Vienna Best Australian Producer title.
Available in
Canada, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Vietnam
Seeking Distribution in
Denmark, France, India, South Korea, UK, USA
Winemaker Bio
Now in the capable hands of Geoff Johnston, a winemaking graduate of Charles Sturt University and grandson of the winery’s founder, Pirramimma has seen many significant changes, including the construction of a 3100m²
naturally cooled rammed earth barrel storage facility and the expansion of vineyards to 240 acres and 13 varieties. Known as a “Professor of Soil”, he has also spent over 25 years converting Pirramimma’s sterile land into a living organism, as well as reducing the winery’s ecological footprint through various projects including solar systems, dams and even a wine turbine.
As a winemaker, Geoff has a worldly perspective. After a study trip to France his interest for the Bordeaux grape variety, Petit Verdot was developed. Geoff planted a small trial area of the grape in 1983, which has since expanded to 35 acres of mature vines. Pirramimma Petit Verdot vintages have been awarded internationally multiple times with European wine magazine WeinWisser asking… ‘is there any better Petit Verdot in the world?’
Geoff not only pioneered Petit Verdot in Australia, he was the first to introduce the Southern French variety Tannat to McLaren Vale.
In 2021, Geoff celebrated his 50th vintage – a fitting half century for the accomplished cricketer and dogged batsman.