Sidewood Estate
Adelaide Hills , South Australia
Brands
Sidewood Estate
Winery Overview
Sidewood strongly believes exceptional wines start in the vineyard which is why no expense is spared ensuring the health of our vines. Sidewood’s frost protection system is on the of the few in Australia and protects our vines and fruit through the harsh winters and chilly Spring mornings that the cool climate of the Adelaide Hills brings.
The portfolio now encompasses four individual vineyards in Oakbank, Echunga, Nairne and Verdun. The original 300 acre Oakbank vineyard is situated in the Onkaparinga Valley, 380m above sea level and is also home to Sidewood’s 40 thoroughbred race horses that fall under the name, Stable Hill Thoroughbreds. Climate, soil type, an unwavering focus on excellence in viticulture combined with hand-picking and fruit selection play a vital role to ensure that only the best fruit is grown and used for Sidewood Wines. Sidewood Wines are made by internationally acclaimed Winemaker, Darryl Catlin at Sidewood’s state of the art winery at Nairne in the Adelaide Hills.
Chief Winemaker/s
Darryl Catlin - Consulting Winemaker
Winemaker Bio
When he was a kid, Darryl Catlin earned his first pocket money pruning vines in the Barossa Valley, where his family made wine as a sideline. So it’s not too surprising that he’s now a winemaker in his own right, with a string of awards to his name, including Best Red Wine in Australia, which he won with Sidewood in 2014. Apart from a couple of years studying pharmacy, Darryl has always worked with wine. After completing his Bachelor of Wine Science in 2004, he started as a cellar hand at Shaw & Smith in the Adelaide Hills, where he grew to be Chief Winemaker.
Now, as winemaker and winery manager at Sidewood, he says the best part about his job is overseeing his wines from the grape to the glass, closely followed by being able to take his dog Harvey to work with him. “And then there’s that proud moment when you get something into the bottle and then see others appreciate it. That is a fantastic thing as well,” he adds.